a slightly lower "floor" (bpm) might help

• by johnshcarter
• 2009-06-29 11:06:51
• Checkups & Settings
• 1589 views
• 0 comments

I have had a pacemaker since 1998. A dual lead Kappa, its battery "ran down" in 2006, so since there is no provision for replacement of batteries, I got a second pacemaker in 2006.

Both times the PM was installed, I found that to avoid feeling "flushed" all the time, I worked better by having a 50 bpm "floor". It does not look like I will get the same 8 years out of this new PM battery since it "is working more of the time".

From my limited personal experience, I would recommend having a cardiovascular surgeon inplant your pacer. I had the "screw in" leads from the beginning, so there was no possibility of a lead "falling out"--AND, in the nine plus years that I have had a pacer, they haven't moved. Oh, yes, both of the cardiovascular surgeons who did my inplants very specifically "tied" the pacers in place. Mine have actual attachment points to use.

Just a brief "extra" comment. I developed an inflammation in my blood in 2008 and have gone through six specialists and thirty tests--including being x-rayed from top to bottom--all "inconclusive". I think it was due to CRESTOR-a statin. If one develops pain in the calf muscle, front thigh muscles, and/or knee or hip joints, try going off your statin for at least three or four weeks and see if you get any better. Personally, if cholesterol is going to do me in, so be it, but I will never take another statin drug. If interested, google "spacedoc" for more information.

Good luck all.

JC