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Lead extraction scheduled

Hi all,

I finally found the right surgeon and hospital to perform my lead extraction (I got two opinions both doctors wanted to extract the old leads)

I will be going to Cedar Sinai in  Los Angeles Nov 5th for extraction of all four leads. 26 & 16 years old as well as the implant of a new pacemaker (hopefully this time back to my left side; non dominant) and two new leads. (He wanted to do a wireless but i definitely do not want that) way too new of technology and twice t...

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Remote vs. In Clinic PM Evaluation

Is remote monitoring a better option than peridic monitoring in Dr.'s office?

I have a Medtroncs PM, implanted at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore in July 2022. They sent me home with a remote monitor and a quarterly PM evaluation report posts to my medical record. Unfortunately, my local cardiologist (the one that referred be for a TAVR and pacemaker) is not in the Hopkins network and has no interest in reading/discussing the Hopkins  quarterly evaluation reports; instead,...

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Gerry and the Pacemakers

I saw this quote on here from someone else and now of course it has a completely different context.

I wonder if Gerry was thinking about IPGs when he or his group came up with that name?

I doubt it.

In my imagination, I can see Gerry belting out You'll never walk alone with his backing group of two lead pacemakers strumming their guitars and bashing the drums at 60 BPM.

Gerry could always get together with the Mersybeats.

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Going through it

Hi everybody- names Chris, 53 year old male, 3rd degree heart block. Implanted about 4 months ago and back to work. I have been feeling pretty good until  recently, have been dealing with reflux and nausea. All that is fine, but mentally I've been watching my Apple Watch hit 60 bpm more regularly and I know that if the PM wasn't there I probably wouldn't be writing this post. It's just.. I'm going through a lot existentially right now. I'm pretty young to hav...

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Dr. Andrea Natale

Any members had procedures performed by Dr. Natale.

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Quarterly Download, ectopic beats and Front Squats

Sorry for the economy of posts here, but I have a couple of quick questions:

1) On Monday I'll have my first remote download.  Will I notice this when its happening?

2)  On the exercise front, any particular opinons about doing barbell front squats? I'm a bit cautious  given the proximtry of some of the lead connections that I can palpate to the underside of my collar bone.

3) Since placement 10 weeks ago, I've experienced an "ectopic par...

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Reclining beds and pacemaker

Soo I plan to order a reclining bed for my mom who I take care of. However,  I am wondering if these reclining electrical beds interfere with pacemakers since I will be near the bed most times. 
I asked the store if the bed has magnets or does it interfere with pacemakers and they didn't provide concrete answers. 
 

Does anyone know if these beds interfere with pacemakers? 
 

thanks 

:)

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Airport security scanners

I know this has been covered before but the replies are from a few years back. I wonder what was the current opinion about passing through them. In my mind there are three types:

1. The archway that you first walk through after putting your baggage on the conveyor to be XRayed

2. The box you stand in if something has triggered on the walk through

3. The hand held wand that whizzes over your body.

I have somewhere a pacemaker card but am travelling tomorrow and if...

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The countdown has started

Had my second 3 monthly virtual clinic yesterday which is the run up to my second replacement.

Virtual clinic is upload pacemaker data and get a phone call.

Next appointment probably October face to face.

Estimated battery life 7 to 16 months.

Hoping that this time they get me in before the pacemaker does something unexpected like change mode.

The ectopics that plagued me last year seem to have stopped and it was suggested that I reduce the Bisoprolol dose to 5 m...

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Pacemaker and dental work

Hello all,

So I've been a pacemaker dependent for about 35 years... third degree heart block. I use to have braces and got those removed a while ago..I'm really good with caring my teeth. Brushing twice a day, flossing, mouth wash... yada yada...

now I am very much afraid of the dentist...  I think I'm more afraid of the antibiotics and the affects of my pacemaker... even though I never had issues before. My cardiologist suggested I take antibiotics for teeth...

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Pacemaker

On my fifth PM for the last few days been having ribcage discomfort ,chest feels heavy ,just feeling unwell. 

 

Should I contact my doctor

 

 

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Stuffy noses

I wake-up with blocked nose every morning for the last 6 weeks, had my pacemaker 5 years ago, although this is hayfever season in uk and taking one 180mg  fexofenadine hydrochloride tablet daily, eased off total nose blockage allows me to breathe, but lots of mucus comes out of my noses before clearing up.

The following day the same problem repeatedly. 

Any advice would be appreciated 

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Sotalol vs metoprolol

Thanks to all who posted about these medicines. I learned enough that I feel comfortable asking my doctor to put me back on metoprolol.

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Young Adults - Anyone had luck with the vital beat protection product?

G'day all,

I'm a 23yr old with 2 pacemakers (must've forgot to remove the old one during my surgery!) and I've lived a solid life of sports, however aside from my full-time role, I box a significant amount and spar. Thing is however, I used to have my pacemaker implanted under my ribs so it was very well protected so I never had issues, until I got the new one which is implanted up on my chest area quite significantly exposed.

Since the new implant for the past yea...

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Introduction

My name is Tim and I had a Medtronic pacemaker inserted on February 20 for Congenital Progressive Heart Block. My mom has it and her mom had it. I have known since I had a heart block since I was 24 years old and am now 57. My cardiologist said I should ride my bicycle "as much as possible ". So that's what I have been doing.  My site itches like crazy and the seatbelt hurts. My pacemaker has needed some adjustments, but I feel great. Does anyone else have Congenital Progre...

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Sotalol vs metoprolol

I had been on metoprolol since My afib diagnosis about three years ago. Since my heart started stopping for seconds at a time, I had a pacemaker implant about two years ago.  I felt I was doing fine, and so did my cardiologist. About six months ago, my cardiologist left, and I can't get in with a new one until December.  An electrophysiologist in the same practice called me about three months ago and said he was switching me from metoprolol to Sotalol. Since then, I have ha...

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Biotronik settings and maybe a Consultation ...

I had a Biotronik Entira 8 DR fitted in August 2023 to treat complete heart block.

In respect of the symptoms I was cured instanty.  But I am a very active 63 year old and have struggled to get my fitness back.

Ahead of my first check-up in late 2023 and at the suggestion of someone on this forum ("Penguin") I contacted Biotronik, and the helpful Tech Director called me and suggested having CLS enabled.

I'm not sure if this improved things.  My heart...

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Hard time dealing

I had my PM placed in May 2024. It was a fast process from the diagnosis to the placement I didn't have much time to process anything. Since the surgery my QOL has decreased. I'm in constant pain at the incision site, my body rejected the stitches and started "spitting" them (imagine fishing line coming out of your chest, terrifying) Feeling of pressure, pulling, pinching, ect... I work as a nurses aide and it's physically demanding, the cardiologists office gave me 4 we...

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sending a PM and not getting an answer, or answer a query and not get a response

I sent a PM  to "admin"  "private message" and did not get a reponse.  About what is not happening on this site with the new owners.  Do not know  about you but to me that is quite rude.  Of course we deal most of the time with those who ponder their needs and when we respond they do not.

Do not know which is worse.

new to pace

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Fitness Watch HR below lower Tracking Rate Setting

I know that fitness watches are not the most reliable monitors for HR, but I have to ask.  

Since getting my PM two months ago, my Polar watch (which has optical HR tracking and is worn on my non-dominant wrist - left for me), has never gone below 60 which is where my lower tracking rate is set.  Makes sense.  However, these last 10 days or so, I'm seeing repeated HR's in the low 50's on my watch. The low rates come when I'm sitting or sleeping.  Is t...

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You know you're wired when...

Intel inside is your motto.

Member Quotes

Yesterday was my first day mountain biking after my implant. I wiped out several times and everything is fine. There are sports after pacemakers!