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A Good Pacemaker Book To Read

I can't remember where I heard about this book; it was either NPR or The Economist magazine.

"Machines In Our Hearts" by Kirk Jeffrey, available directly from Johns Hopkins University Press.

It covers the history and development of pacemakers and defibrillators, federal regulation, and the health care industry.

Not as dry as you think. It mentions the competition between brands, all the personalities involved, the technology as it developed, as well as the econ...

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PM , have it 13 years

So I've my pm 13 years.   (This is my 5th) 

I've complete heart block since birth

Battery has only few months left . I'm surprised I'm not due my new pm yet . I'm wondering what symptoms I may feel when battery running low. 

I do notice that when I walk up hill only for a minute or so I'm out of breath straight away and also according to heart rate on garmin I rarely go above 65 even when moving fast!!!

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Pacemaker & Flutter

Hello,

I have had paroxysmal afib for 30 years. It wsa treated at Cleveland 16 years ago and my heart worked great. But then I had back surgery at Barnes Jewish in St. Louis and afib returned. Another ablation converted the afib to left side flutter, but I can't seem to get rid of that. Had a third useless ablation with no benefit.

So now my cardio guy want to ablate my AV node and install a pacemaker. From reading notes here this does not sound like it works all that well sin...

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Svt? Still or different 🤔

If you follow my Questions here , I'm getting concerned  those episodes of svt or extra beat or could it be the coffee I drink ? So today I was driving and felt that episode of a few seconds around 5 seconds I felt like a fluttering but I felt literally for that whole time I felt every beat but felt like it was getting slower n slower I got scared what is it ? 

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ECG - QALY and Kardiacare clinician reviews

I have a Kardia 6 lead monitor. I want to purchase a subscription to QALY which is a service that provides unlimited clinician interpretations of ECG's taken at home. I found this out on the forum here (thank you @Daedalus). 

I noticed that QALY say only lead 1 of the ECG will be reviewed. I wondered if this is good enough? 

Kardiacare offer a similar priced subscription. This allows the Kardia device to use more algorithms to give a bit...

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MVP and increased ventricular pacing

Hello to all !
I got my pacemaker in May, 2020, so I'm coming up on 3 years. I have learned a lot since those days when I knew very little about pacemakers. I have gotten along quite well with no problems during that time. I go tomorrow to see my doctor for the first time since May, 2022. The device rep will also be there who I haven't seen since November,2021.

I've learned a lot from the wonderful contributors to this forum and I wanted to ask your thoughts on this.

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RNRVAS - Type of PMT

Hi all, 

I wondered whether any of you had experienced RNRVAS? (Repetitive Non-Re-entrant VA Synchrony).  It's a type of pacemaker mediated tachycardia but unlike PMT there are no algorithms devised as yet to treat it / detect it.  There are however, programming methods used to help prevent it.  These are described in the link below. 

I'm interested in the symptoms and how to recognise it as I'm still struggling with previously described night...

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ET call home

I was killing time, waiting for my truck to be repaired, walking around a Lowes (home improvement store) today when I got a notice that my PM sent a transmission. I recieved the recept of transmission email tonight. 

I just saw the device tech yesterday. I have been having a lot of PCVs but my PM didn't register them.  Anticipating the appointement with the PM tech, I sent a few transmissions over the last week or so when I was having PVCs.  One elect...

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Blood Pressure Monitors

Update:

My insurance company just let me know that I can get  BP monitor through them at no charge. So I thank you all for your recommendations.

 

Can you recommend an easy to use Blood pressure monitor for me to use at home? I need one that is easy to ready, simple, accurate, and that I can use by myself. I don't want anything fancy or hi tech, meaning that don't need to be connected to a smart phone or the intern...

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Gastroscope etc

Lavender,

glad all went well and thank you 🙏🏻 for nice and clear explanation of the whole process. I am considering myself to have that done....last one was about 15 years ago...so is very timely.😊

stay well ...be safe and happy 😃 

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Update: endoscopy/colonoscopy

I had the endoscopy/colonoscopy procedures today. I'm pleased to report that great care was taken by the medical staff. They said pacemakers are not a problem with these procedures. ICDs are more complex but doable. I wore a heart monitor the whole time as well as had blood pressure monitored.

The prep was not bad at all because they use only a four cup gavilyte-g method night before and then four cups morning of the procedures.  "Gavilyte-G includes electrolytes...

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What do you think?

Hello,

I am needing to go back to the pacemaker clinic to see if they can help with an emerging minor issue with how I am responding to my pacemaker settings and would appreciate if anyone has experienced similar so that I know that is the likely cause.

My  dual lead pacemaker is set such that it is only sensing and pacing in the ventricles and will only pace if the ventricular beat is less than 40bpm. It's not really relevant why its set to this.

This means th...

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Tattoos

Anyone taking blood thinners and get a tatoo? I'm 74 years old PM since 2016,been taking blood thinners since 2001 after angio and stent. Plavix first, Pradaxa, Eliquis, and now Xeralto. Alwaysvwantef a Phillies Tatoo. 

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Pacemaker test

Who her absolutely loved getting their pacemaker run through the test the first time. Not me at all. I had mine put in last May. So a week after it was installed I had to go get the staples out and run it through the test. Well she didn't tell me she was going to slow it down. When I tell you I thought I was falling off the face of this earth. I grabbed the chair arms with a death grip.I'm a big guy 5' 9' and 265 lbs. I yelled what's going on I feel like I'm falli...

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Pacers

Hello all.

nice to read something different even though we are all treading on River of Life the best we can!...if only we didn't know fears!?...life is precious and beautiful 😍...be mindful and kind...

2016 was my turn to get my first Pacemaker...totally unexpected; yet nearly seven years later, I thank Millie {my name 4 my Pacer} each morning on awakening .....I am awake because of my Pacemaker ❤️💜 what a blessing 😊...I am 71 year old femal...

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100% Pacing - No Net

100% Pacing - No Net

 

*Every heart*

*has so many beats*

*designed by the maker with love*

 

*To give life*

*to all living things*

*until they’re called up above*

 

*A heart can be broken*

*or swell up with pride*

*even require a battery*

*to continue life’s ride*

 

*Don’t waste your time worrying*

*how long you’ll be livin*

*make every beat co...

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More information

I'm thinking about adding a men's necklace to my body information about my PM and other basic medical info.

I already wear a titanium medical alert bracelet that gives basic info.  And I carry the Medtronic card in my wallet.

BUT -- here's the issue.  I usually don't have my wallet on me when: I'm mowing grass; working in my shop; taking out the garbage; sitting on my patio or deck. ETC.  Aways carry while in car.

So, I was thinking about a...

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Looking for a Heart Monitor that stays on and is easy to view

Hello All,

Looking if anyone knows/uses of a heart rate monitor that actaully stays on and doesnt shut off after 20 secinds, that is easy to wear and view,  and perhaps alerts you if your rate goes to high/dangerous level. 

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Pacemaker

I am new to all of this and feel like I will get better answers from folks who have had a pacemaker for a while. I recently just had a pacemaker put in the first of this month actually. I haven't felt that great for the last 3 years and chalked it up to my adult onset asthma that I was "diagnosed" with 3 yrs ago. 
I ended up in the hospital Feb 1st with a lot of pain and honestly thinking I was having a heart attack. They had me in a room within 15 minutes of arri...

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dual -chamber wireless pacemaker trial

Sarasota Memorial Hosiptal in Sarasota, Fl is participating in Clinical Study of World's first Dual-chamber, wireless Pacemaker for those with slow and irregular heart rhythms.  One of 80 research sites globally testing Abbott's Aveir DR dual-chamber leadless pacemaker.  The study period is for one year.

Abbott's Aveir VR single-chamber leadless pacemaker recieved FDA approval this spring after a pivotal, multi-center trial found it safe and effective for...

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You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for gaining an extra ounce or two.

Member Quotes

Your heart’s electrical system has a manmade helper. A helper that only knows to do what it is programmed to do and will perform that function day in and day out, without fail. Now, go enjoy your new grip on life.