Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

Post Message!

atrial fibrillation

Recently I had 3 brief ( less than 60 seconds) of rapid atrial rate interpreted by the PM  ( or the tech) as atrial fibrillation. Paroxysmal AF (PAF) in terms of exact defintion  ( duration, frequency etc)seem to be a bit of a unsettled issue. Though the current 2014 guidelines seem to recommend anticoagulation for any PAF regardless of degree other EP docs do not follow that plan. There is also the issue of false postives ( Something called RNRVAS  and something called far fie...

Read More...

Pacing percentages

I just had my 3 month checkup.  I transmitted the information from my wireless Medtronic Carelink monitor from home and the nurse practioner from my cardiologists office called me this morning with the results.  She said everything looked good.  No events.  I was pacing 89% from the upper part and 1% from the lower part.  When I had it checked 2 weeks post implant it was only pacing 40% and 1%.  Isn't 89% kind of high and isn't that a big increase? &...

Read More...

follow up visit and setting

Hi,

I am having my first follow up visit tomorrow after having my pm put in 3 weeks ago.  I have been very happy with the outcome so far.   I am set at 60 but was wondering if they would up it to maybe 65 if that would change much as far as my energy level.  I am still not having as much energy as I was expecting but wondering if that is because it has only been 3 weeks.

I will say I am happy with the brain fog easing up.  I have only had about 6 spells of...

Read More...

New and better BP

I am status post pacemaker implant on September 12, 2016 for congenital complete heart block. I have returned to work. Everything is going well. My scar has finally flattened out and looks like other pacemaker scars I have seen instead of a cinched up sack! I had to go to my regular doctor yesterday because my prescription for my BP med had run out. My pressures used to be about 145/90 with medicine before the PM. Now I am running around 122/60 and have seen my systolic be at 111. Before...

Read More...

Electrophysiologist

Looking for an Electrophysiologist in the Chicagoland area, would like to know if anyone would recommend a good one they might know. Thank you

Read More...

Update

Hi all, have had a wee sad time of late my Mam passed away which for her is a kindness she had dementia and cancer and at the age of 88 I'm glad she is at peace.

In between times I was back seeing the Cardiologist and we decided to stop the beta blocker as he didn't think it was really helping with my problems at night. So going Au' natural for while to see if my heart just settles on its own after years of fighting against blocking/meds pacemaker the ablation, kind of makes...

Read More...

Turning rate response off

i am asking to turn off Closed Loop rate response  on my Biotronik tomorrow.    Anyone else done this?  What can I expect?  What questions do I need to ask rep?  Will this do away with all rate response?  I don't need pacing except to prevent long pauses (18 secs) and low HR during sleep (probably induced by beta blocker to treat aFib).  Currently pacing at 58%.  Hoping to get down to single digits now that I am off beta blockers and...

Read More...

burning sensations from pacemaker leads

I had my pacemaker inserted in August 2016 and i am frequently experiencing burning sensations in the area of the leads. this causes me anxiety, and my blood pressure is through the roof.  I've never had problems with either my heart or blood pressure.  pacemaker was inserted for sick sinus syndrome.  i am really concerned and would like to know if others experience this and is this a normal feeling, and how long this will continue to happen..  worse yet is there a cha...

Read More...

st jude merlin

Doctor called me in because of information from my merlin transmitter. Does anyone know what it can be?

Read More...

Resting Heart Rate Setting

My two lead PM was installed 8/12/16 and resting HR was set at 60. Over many years, my resting HR usually was 55-56. Should I consider having the resting HR lowered to save battery life, would it have any affect on long term heart dependence on pacing. Currently pacing at 89% and wondering it loweering the resting HR might reduce this to perhaps 50%. Very active 70 year old.

Read More...

Ventricular pacing

Hi

I have found in this site, that a lot of ventricular pacing can be harmful for the heart.

I have pacemaker inplanted due to mobitz type II heart block and SSS. At first checkup 10 days after implanattion I found, that I have been less than 1% artrial paced and 38% ventricular paced. I'm wondering if  38% is to lot and at next checkup I need to have some adjustments or it's ok.

Read More...

Rate response setting

What is the rate response setting. What does it do when it is on? Why should it sometimes be off?

Read More...

Heart rate

I m 24 year,aged woman. I got pacemaker in march My heart rate always lies between 82_88 , when i work it goes between 96_100 i want to know whether it is safe or not. I always worry that whether it s battery will last long or not . I want to know is there any body of my age or I m youngest here.

Read More...

First follow up visit

I had my PM placed 9/12/16. Went for my first checkup today. I thought we would see the doctor and he would remove my steristrips and that would be it. Instead I saw this girl who placed a device over my pacemaker and said she had to check it. She did not tell me she was going to do this but then she lowered my heart rate. Scared me to death. Palms got sweaty. Felt funny. She said I missed a couple of beats during that. Not a pleasant experience. She also sped it up which did not bother...

Read More...

Questions!!!

Hello Everyone!

I have a few questions to ask today.... Pacemaker iimplanted May16th 2016, emergency surgery as I was diagnosed with total heart block.  Had tests done, the Drs don't really have an explanation for my condition, though one hinted on Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure.  Because this was an Emergency, I was not given a choice of model or brand, or told that much about a Pacemaker in general.  Thank God for internet.    After operation, I did good...

Read More...

PM Settings and pacing percentages

I have been meaning to post to say that after 11 settings changes in less than 2 years,  that I am finally happy to report that I no longer feel the block during exercise.  I wanted to thank Inga, TraceyE, DonR, Good Dog, BlueBowTye and all of you who were such a help to me in adjusting and learning. The change they made last Fall only extended the search interval from 512 ms to 1024 ms , so I felt the blocks every 8 min during a spin class rather than every 3-4 ( wit...

Read More...

Pacemaker checkups in Spain?

Hi 🙋

I am in the UK but wondered if any expats in Spain are on here and what they think of the Spanish system regarding treatments, checkups and how it compares to the UK (can you do the remote testing there?) thanks 😊

Read More...

First post-op visit with EP after pacemaker

This my first visit, 10 days post-op.  Please help me with some questions I should ask besides the obvious ones about driving, etc.

 

Read More...

Turning off Ventrical Pacing

I had a St Jude Medical dual chamber PM2224 inserted less than 6 months ago and I am still having troubles adjusting the settings.  The PM was inserted after I was diagnosed with chronotropic incomptence (inability to raise heart rate during activity).

I require atrial pacing, but so far there is no indication I need ventrical pacing.  My PM is set to DDDR "just in case" and I am told that it does on occasion pace my ventrical.

When I start moving (chasing my k...

Read More...

Pacemaker Settings please help

Hello everyone, 2 years ago I receieved a replacement pacemaker. I had a dual chamber Medtronics that lasted me for about 12 years. What puzzled me is that when they replaced it they gave me a St Judes Pacemaker. My doctor told me that Medtronics and St Judes are almost alike.. anyway I just asked them to please kep my settings the same. With my Medtronics I had them set it up beautifully that I was doing anything I wanted to do, I played basketball, went hiking, I mean just about anything an...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

Your signature looks like an EKG.

Member Quotes

Stay positive and remember that your device is your new best friend.