Most Recent Messages in General Posting

Dual chamber pacemaker

I have a dual chamber pacemaker.  The pacing was shut off to my right atrium because my providers said I was in Afib most of the time and it was not doing any good to pace the atrium and it was just using up my battery.  So now I only have pacing to my right ventricle.  This was confusing to hear, since I have complete heart block and thought the reason for my dual chamber pacer was to keep atrium and ventricle working together.  Also thought the pacing to the atrium was h...

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CRT-D

Hi,

I will have a CRT-D device implanted this coming Monday.  I have a left bundle branch block leading to heart failure as described by my cardiologist.  I am anxious and apprehensive about what I am facing.  I hope that my symptoms (fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, etc.) will improve.  Any input from members with similar experience would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Mike O

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Rollercoaster

Hi I am supposed to be going to Alton towers next week and would like to know if it is ok to ride on the rollercoasters with having a pacemaker has anyone been on the rides any advice would be helpful as my drs isn't sure 

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Any pilots in here?

Hi, just wondering if there are any active pilots with a pacemaker? I am getting ready for my check-ride, and now looks like things are on hold. Just wondering if you put in for the waiver, and are now cleared to fly?

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NYHA Class 1

This has been bothering me for some time and I'm wondering if anyone  here has this included on their transmission reports. My pacemaker is Medtronic, dual lead that I got in 2020 due to 2nd and 3 rd degree Heart block. 
At the top of my report, under History, it says " Normal sinus, frequent 2nd and 3rd AV block, NYHA Class I. 
When I Googled NYHA Class I I found that's the heart failure classification. Class I being no restrictions on activities or symp...

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question

I have had a pacemaker since December 2021. Four times within four days of a remote or in-office transmission, I have had an "episode" which may affect me for about 24 hours. The symptoms have included confusion, memory lapse, extreme tiredness and a desire to sleep, an "icky" feeling. Tests in urgent care or ER have revealed nothing. Can anyone comment on similar experiences?

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RF ablation of Atrial Tachycardia

 

EDIT: I added an image of the ablation sites in the gallery.

Friday was my RF ablation. When he came in I told him about an episode the night before after going upstairs and starting a bath that lasted for over ten minutes. He said he thought that sounded more like an AVNRT type of thing. While interrogating the device he says "3 ventricular high rate episodes, thats new for you!" The initial plan was to have me awake for the first half but was changed last minute...

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EF and CRT-D

Hello! It’s been awhile since I have been on here. I received my CRT-D back in 2015. My EF was 25 at the time. It went up to 50-55 within two months of pacing! The only med I was taking was a blood thinner and Coreg CR 20. Fast forward 8 years…I have 7 months left on pacer and now my EF has dropped to 35-40. I have 808 PVCs in an hour…yes…that many! Anyway my EP that implanted my pacer out me on Mexiletine twice a day. Major heartburn and headache. They tried adjust...

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Looking for a travel case for Biotronik Smart Messenger

I'm wondering if anyone could recommend a travel case which is fairly close to the size of the Biotronik Smart Messenger.  

I've seen the generic electronics travel cases on Amazon, but was looking for something smaller, to take up less space in my laptop bag.

Any case suggestions are appreciated.  All the Best.

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Fluttery feeling

I received my pacemaker on 8/9/2023.  After I had it interigated for the first time. It was only pacing atrial which I thought that was what it only was supposed to do. I have a on demand dual chamber, one lead in right atrium and another lead in the left ventricle. I started v pacing while in the hospital still and had a flutter my feeling right under my left breast. Is it normal to feel pulses from your wires?  It has done it every day around the same fine then occasionally d...

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So when is the payoff?

To recap: I'm a little over two weeks post implant. Diagnosis: 1st degree AV block, bradycardia, chronotropic incompetence. 

I was essentially asymptomatic until early June when my HR dropped to 40 while cycling and I was light headed as a result. These episodes were getting progressively worse, going from a few minutes a couple of times a day to near constant at the time I was implanted.

Look back (I keep pretty extensive records of my health) I see there were n...

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Is it working

Hi,

I had my pacemaker fitted just over a week ago August 3rd. Before the implant I was asymptomatic I had had no incidents of fainting or blackouts just an occassional dizzy spell and palpitations. After the procedure I have had some incidents of palpitations accompanied by dizziness, but basically everything is as it was. I will be having my six weekly checkup and assessment when any faults will be detected. Are there any symptoms that things are not going according to plan?

<...

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Newbie here

Hi--

I uploaded a picture to my profile. 

But it's sideways.

I don't see how to reposition it. Or delete it. 

I guess it expresses this stage of my life so soon after implantation. 

I'm sideways. LOL

Thanks, 

Rose

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Medical I D bracelets

Just wandering if most people with pacemakers wear an ID bracelet? I do carry my card in my wallet. 

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Terminalia Arjuna

Anyone have any experience with the above herb? There's lot's of positive studies for various conditions one of which is heart function. Just curious if anyone here has tried it out :)

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New recipient

I appreciate everyone that takes the time to comment. It's an adjustment physically and mentally, learning to live and feel confident with the pacemaker. I think my shoulder pain is due to not been active enough not moving around the first 2-3 weeks. I was afraid I would move my leads. The more I regain my confidence that I am ok the better I feel in walking. In addition I was in ICU for 3 days not moving when first received a temporary pacemaker the 3 days later my permanent one. I am se...

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Surgery on Sept 1 to get pacemaker for 1st time. General Pacemaker questions

Hi!

I am scheduled to get a 2 lead pacemaker on September 1.


I have some questions. I tried to ask them all at the Cardiologist but I keep forgetting half of them.

After my pacemaker is implanted can the cardiologist change my minimum heart beat rate? Or is that permanently set at implantation? I ask because each time I ask what my pulse will be the answer is 50, 60 or 72. ???? I want it set to 60, I think? It has never been 72 my entire life so that seems un...

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Recent pacemaker recipient

Received my first Boston Scientific pacemaker due to a complete heart block  7 weeks ago after collapsing while walking my dog.I am 66yrs and usually very active daily 2-3 mile walks, water aerobics 2-3 x a week. This all came as a surprise to everyone that knows me. Adjusting to this new way of living but it's been a slow progress. It's only been a few days that I can walk all around my house. Left arm/ hand has not come back to normal yet. Scar healing well. Adjusting and grate...

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New Ventricular Tachycardia

I'm a 62 year old woman who has a St. Jude dual lead pacemaker implanted February 2019. I wore a holster monitor which showed one episode of v-tach. My cardiologist back then stated he was sending me to EP and in all likelihood, I would get a defibrillator/pacemaker. The EP didn't believe I needed a defibrillator, but noticed I had sick sinus syndrome. So I received a pacemaker. I've been lucky with no issues until last fall. I moved to another state and got a new Cardiologist &am...

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60 YEARS AND COUNTING

My oh my, has this industry grown, as well as given hope and life to people with technology that didn't exist 70 years (or so) ago. Think about that! We are all here today telling our stories, and cheering others on. I am so excited to see what innovations are just around the corner.

I was hooked up to my first pacemaker on August 6, 1963. Yup! I am celebrating 60 years of life this weekend! My first generator was external, and the size of an old-time ham radio. I had open heart sur...

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Member Quotes

I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.