Most Recent Messages

Best setting for runners

I am a 56/yo runner and received a Boston Scientific pacemaker 5 years ago for Mobitz Block 2. Pre-pacemaker, my resting heart rate was very low but running was never an issue for me. Currently atrial pacing is 20% and ventricular pacing is 70%. My ventricular pacing has increase significantly as I was pacing in the low 20's when it was first implanted.

Since receiving the pacemaker running has gotten progressively worse. Early on I described the feeling as hitting a wall...

Read More...

Palpitations and capturing/recording

Hello fellow paced friends!

I am curious if anyone has been successful recording palpitations/arrhythmias through an upload while they are happening.  I have a dual chamber medtronic pacemaker (almost 7 years) to treat complete heart block and recently experienced an event that felt like my heart rhythm was very chaotic and things were just very out of sync.  Honestly it felt like everything was misfiring!  I sent an upload the next morning but nothing showed up on t...

Read More...

Early Pacemakers

I've attached this link to a 2010 article that outlines the early history of the pacemaker.

https://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149%2810%2901042-8/fulltext

It's extraordinary that the first device was developed as a result of choosing the wrong component in the circuit.

The first device ran on watch batteries (cells) connected in series to give about 8-volts.

if you include the battery, the circuit in the article has nine components, a transformer, two tra...

Read More...

shocks

My wife is receiving a mild shock every 8 hours on the hour. Can anyone advise?

Read More...

Hallelujah!

posted this to some friends...
 

So had a major tweak on my pacer last week or so ago.    

Upper HR had been set to 140


When I would hit that upper limit, the device auto drops my HR to around 80.   

Imagine going along on a ride or a weight workout and all in a sudden you body starts pumping out half the blood it was 

Yeah it’s that dramatic.  

So we talked at the doc about what I do etc.  

220...

Read More...

Lead replacement

Thank you so so much Tracy_E, Aberdeen and Lavender!! Wow, you guys are truly amazing. You have set my mind at ease. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and sooth my concerns! I love being given a "fresh" start every new dawn...stay blessed! Will keep you posted. I appreciate you, and all of the best that life has to offer to you!!💐🤗💃

Read More...

Scared

I am a serious newbie have only had this since Wednesday morning and honestly scared to death I will pull the leads out.   The decision to implant this came up so quickly I didn't have time to breathe.  At 3 in the morning with my shoulder on fire at the incision site I keep wondering what I got myself into.  How long does it take before the jim jams go away?

Read More...

Peacemaker life

Hello! I'm 24years now and a complete atrioventricular block so 2 years ago i needed a peacemaker. Now, i have 2 years with him but i have a question. How much can i live with this? With a peacemaker.. i mean, i will live a normal life and died at 70-80-90 years old or i will die in the next years?.. i mean, can i live a normal life or not..because i don t wanna die young. when I searched on the internet, the life expectancy of people with stimulators was 8-20 years

Read More...

Pain accross the chest (occasional)

My wife received a pacemaker 4 months ago. She now has an occasional pain across her chest. sort of like an electrical charge but goes from one side to the other. The physician said he thought she was still healing. Any thoughts?

Read More...

Celery Juice

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone drink celery juice or juices other kinds of juices whether vegetables or fruits?

I would like to start implementing this in my day to day diet but unsure if it's safe for us heart patients.

I plan to ask my cardiologist.. I'm not taking medication but I'm trying to naturally treat a gut bacteria. 
 

thanks all 

 

 

Read More...

Pacemaker

In 2003 I had a Medtronic pacemaker implanted with two leads. A couple years later they had to add a third late. Everything was going okay until I moved to Tallahassee Florida and of course had to get a new EP. Changed pacemaker in 2014 to Boston Scientific but still used the same leads. Unfortunately I got stuck with an issue even after that pacemaker was recalled and they had to put a new one in so that was number three. The issue was after the second pacemaker I have been stuck with an awf...

Read More...

Left arm color

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I had my pacemaker implanted.  I thought my left arm looked pinker than my left arm but tried to ignore it thinking I might be imagining it.  But today I've spent the day comparing my arms.  My daughter came over and I showed her.  She agreed that my left arm is definitely a pinker color than my right arm.  It's also weaker than my right arm and my shoulder has some slight pains.  I think those things are normal but I'm...

Read More...

Pm ventricular lead replacement

Hey everyone! So glad to have found this site! Had a pm inplanted on 13 June '24. Had 23 years of tachycardia/brady/extra systoles and eventually syncope. Upon release from CCU after 2 days, I noticed excrutiating stabbing pain under left rib. Went back to thoracic surveon and him and technician said all looked fine. Pain eventually went away after 4 weeks and was replaced by pacing under my skin at exact place where stabbing pain was. Specialist tech came and found the Ventricular lead i...

Read More...

Sleeping on that side

So, I just had my pacemaker installed last Friday. That shoulder is still pretty sore. I'm still taking it super easy too. My question though, is when can I sleep on that side? Like how long before it's safe to?

Thanks in advance!

Read More...

Whom to Believe

As a curious 🤔 person I decided to attempt gathering information on possible treatment other than replacing my CRT-D. 

The fourth EP I interviewed seems to be a winner from my viewpoint.  No lecture, spoke appropriately to me.  As we discussed my situation the doctor confided he could not confirm my leads are compatible with the device he is considering as a replacement.  I pulled out my Medtronic ID Card with my Lead ID numbers.  The Lead ID numbers on my Medtr...

Read More...

Heart, blood pressure & sleep monitor

Hi I recently was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrom and received a pacemaker  August 12, 2024.

I am curious if others are using devices such as fitbits (anything really!) to monitor sleep, blood pressure and heart rate and if you hanve recpmendations on good devices. 

SSS deveolped as a result of failed sleep apnea treatment. There are times when it's been recomended to not use CPAP for a few days and I want to know whats happening.

Also I want to know blood pr...

Read More...

Battery change pacemaker with problems

Hi all

i had a battery change in April and all went fine with recovery.

i feel that my pacemaker isn't sitting right, feels like it's on my collar bone and it just aches all the time.

when i sleep on my left side i wake up with the freakiest muscle spasm which affects the whole side of my body. I've recorded it to show my family as it's unbelievable.

has anyone experienced this? Do you have any advice? I just feel worse off after my battery change.

<...

Read More...

Pacemaker Mediated Tachycardia

A V node ablation and dual chamber pacemaker about two years ago. Due to my age (80) and being very active, it took ages to get settings which enabled me to lead my normal life. However after constantly pestering my pacing clinic and making modifications to my exercise program , a compromise was reached.

However, over the last six months i've had three occassions where my heart has raced so high to the point of my almost fainting. My wife called an ambulance on two occasions bu...

Read More...

Pacemaker

Are ectopic beats dangerous?

Read More...

1 year checkup

One year checkup for my current device today. Previous checkups not relevant because this is a new heart with a new set of problems (not AF and heart failure but intermittent high grade heart block with ventricular standstills)

Paced 40%. Delay adjusted to reduce that. My new heart has an intrinsic base rate of 100+ so lengthening the delay should not be an issue and will help battery life (currently 7 to 8 years estimated but it's too early to start worrying about that. A...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You forecast electrical storms better than the weather network.

Member Quotes

A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.