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Discomfort in pacemaker area.....

Hi everyone.....

I got my pacemaker about 9 months ago and have felt pain and a pinching sensation in my left collar bone and around the pacemaker, since the time it was implanted. It only gets worse when I do any physical activity, like yard work. I asked my EP aboiut it and he said that it was caused by irritation from the pacemaker on my collar bone....he kiddingly suggested that I gain weight, but then, how do you gain weight in your collar bone area? Since I am 57, I don't nee...

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St. Jude touts pacemaker's longevity

Company says just-approved Zephyr can last up to 14 years
BY CHRISTOPHER SNOWBECK
Pioneer Press

Which company's pacemaker is the one that keeps going and going and going for the longest period of time?

Little Canada-based St. Jude Medical announced regulatory approval Thursday in the U.S. and Europe for its new Zephyr line of pacemakers. Among other innovations, the Zephyr has an expected 14-year lifespan thanks to a new feature that conserves the amount of ener...

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*~~!HaPpY bIrThDaY sHaRoN!~~*

Sharon (auntiesamm): May 7, 1940

I remember it clearly: October 31, 2006, around dinner time.
I came on this site, so very nervous; I’d thought I just drop a line.
My implant date was set, yet my knowledge on the subject was so barren,
But here came a wonderful person, and her name is Sharon.

Sharon mentioned that she lived near by in Rancho Santa Margarita,
And I had a sudden thirst for a Strawberry Virgin Margarita :)
After this initial craving, I...

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Pacing more often now

I just had an interrogation on Thursday and found out that I am paced 32% of the time now. In July, right after I got my PM, I was only paced 5% of the time. Each interrogation shows the numbers creeping up. The tech tells me that this is normal, but it is a little concerning for me. Does this mean eventually I'll be at 100%? I don't know why I am worried about it, but at 42 years of age I don't look forward to that. I guess I just want a little reassurance from those who have been where I...

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St. Jude Medical Pacemaker

I was implanted with a St. Jude Pacemaker model 940923 on December 1, 2004. Six months ago I was told my battery had 5 years of life. Last week I was told my battery will last only one and half years. Is this normal? Shouldn't my battery be lasting longer? I am 100% dependent on my pacemaker. Thank you for any information you can give me.

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Thank your for this site

Hi everyone,
I got my first PM inserted in November last year and since then this website has been a precious help. Thank you for setting it up and thanks to all of you to share your experience. As I have just read it in a recent post, we may have our family and friends, it is always different to talk to people who really share it for real. I have felt really good for the past 3 months, even if I did felt a bit sore and uncomfortable for the first 2 months. I had my operation done in Scotla...

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Sleeping mistake.

I just had my PM placed April 30.

Last night I was sleeping and woke up with my left arm were almost raised above my shoulder. I am hypersensitive about not wanting to pull my leads out of place. What should I feel if I do pull one out of place? I have a 2 lead devise. Will it feel just like it felt just before I have the PM if only one lead is dislodged? Do you know what the corrective measure is? Is it just a resetting of the lead(s)? Does this create more/new problems with my...

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Is Donating Blood Possible, Now?

I have been donating blood for a long time at the local blood bank. But, I haven't for a while, awaiting for my PM. Their screening is pretty tough when it comes to heart related problems, and such (lots of questions). I haven't checked if I can still donate. Does anyone do it post PM implant? Thanks.

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Good morning,

After battling CHF for over 9 months that became progressively worse, I was implanted with a Medtronics Adapta on the 18th of April. Never before had I experienced anything like this. Up till the implantation, my biggest complaint was the inability to breath due to all the congestion that kept building up. Everytime I simply moved, it felt like I just ran the 440. I managed to end up with 3rd degree heart block and a pulse rate in the upper 20`s.
The day I was taken to have this thing impl...

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New Heart Now Never Missing a Beat

Hello,

I am 37 and just received a PM. I am not sure how I should handle this. It is all too wierd. I had to get the PM because I was felling chest pains with shortness of breath and lightheadness. I had an angiogram which showed I had fgreat arteries. The doc concluded that I needed the PM. Once I got done with the op, It was so emotional I was crying because I could breath deeply. I immediately had tons of energy. I have so much energy that I have been having trouble sleepin...

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irregular heart

maybe someone with irregualar heartbeat can help me out. i am very active. play tennis, jog etc. my heartbeat is around 80. when i get on a threadmil maceovhine and say i get a heartbeat reading of around 85. every few minutes, at same speed, it will spike up 20 to 25 points and immediately come down to 85. then go from say 85 to 78 than to say 90 back to 85. my heart feels good, no pain or short of breath. if i increase speed and my beat goes to say 110 after a few minutes it might...

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St. Jude Medical Gets Pacemaker OK

Thursday May 3, 10:29 am ET
St. Jude Medical Receives U.S., European Marketing Approval for Zephyr Line of Pacemakers

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Heart device maker St. Jude Medical Inc. said Thursday it received Food and Drug Administration and European marketing approval for a new type of pacemaker.
The approvals cover the Zephyr family of pacemakers, which are designed to save time by automatically performing follow-up testing before a patient sees a doctor.

In...

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Trekking...

Dear All,
My father has got a pacemaker implanted almost a year ago. I just wanted to ask whether anyone knows whether going to a high altitude will do any harm to the pacemaker. actually he is planning for a trip to a high spot. Please reply me as soon as possible.

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one year

Well one year ago I got my pacemaker. It's hard to believe that time has already gone by. I can tell that my energy has improved with it and as more active. (though I felt fine beforehand) Even though I don't always post or answer questions I'm glad I found this site. I enjoy reading other answers. My husband/family are always there for me but they don't understand everything. Thanks for being here.

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ZEPHYR

Good Morning Fellow Pacers,
I am scheduled to have lead extraction and a whole new unit installed in Burbank on May 16th. The surgeon noted that I would be getting a Zephyr model from St. Jude. I realize the press release just came out on this yesterday but I wondered if anyone oversees has already gotten this model and if so how do you feel it is working? I currently have an older St. Jude model and have had so many problems (this is my 4th surgical procedure in 2 years). The problems...

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thanks

Just want to thank all you great people for replying to my posting. It sure means a lot to know that you are not the only person with a PM or ICD. I hope I can help others in the way you have all helped me.
Sincerely,
Gary

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alaska

I have taken the Alaska cruise and enjoyed it. I would say to just stay on the ship and enjoy the scenery. When you go ashore in the towns in Alaska there will be 2 or 3 ships in port with about 2000 passengers each. The side walks are so full of people you can hardly walk down the street. There are a couple of train trips that are worthwhile. They get you out of town.

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Sleep sweet Sleep..

Okay..I'm confused about the whole not sleeping thing. I mean I understand that I'm not sleeping...and kindof why, because my heart rate drops so low...and we figure I'll be paced almost 100% of the time...my question is...will I get a night where I dont wake up and I sleep all the way through? I swear I'm about to go crazy. I'm going in on the 9th for my operation (yeah!!!) so afterwards, I'll sleep better right? Gosh I hope so...Found out I am getting a Victory St.Jude Pacer...is that a good o...

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New PM

Hi
I had my Pm inserted last wednesday.A medtronic duel lead. the operation went well and healing has been relitively pain free.I still don't feel like I have my energy back yet hope that will come but the dizzy and light headedness seems to have gone for this I am oh so grateful. This is not a complaint but I would like to hear from other PM people does the strange awareness of the bump at the collar bone go away and do you get used to it being there.
Thanks to all , this is one gre...

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HRT and PMs

Further to my question as to whether there were any ladies with PMs on HRT, here is my answer to the comments received. I had my St Jude Victory DDR PM fitted 16 days ago and wondered whether HRT is permissible for ladies with PMs. Prior to the PM issue I had been intending asking by doctor if I could go on HRT.

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You know you're wired when...

Intel inside is your motto.

Member Quotes

I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.