Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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Coming up to second pacemaker

Hey there!  It's been a while since I have been on here - got a Medtronic pacemaker in 2014 following surgical complication from having a mechanical aortic valve inserted,and seem to have slowly stopped coming here as life continued as normal, without any pacemaker issues as far as I can tell.  But I am 100% dependent, and so the battery is getting low. The most recent check, in February, suggests surgery for a replacement is likely in December.

So my question is: have the...

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Beta Blockers even with a low blood pressure?

Hello everyone

Has anyone got a low blood pressure but is still fine with Beta Blockers? My blood pressure is usually 80-110 and so the docs have refrained so far from prescribing them. 

Another question, do they help alot in getting arythmia reduced (I have extra beats and what have you not the whole day, my heart is just bouncing around and since I have the arythmia I have a constant dizziness). So I thought I would give it a try anyway and hopefully they would help. The do...

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Please keep posting. You never know who is reading!

I have stayed quietly in the background for the last few weeks reading all of your stories, questions, answers, triumphs and difficulties.  The positive difference that you have all made to my personal journey toward receiving a pacemaker 3 days ago can not be under estimated.  I have decided to come out from hiding now to say thank you to you all.

People who are faced with making a decision to get a pacemaker sit in a cold clinical world full of tests and results, m...

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Getting on (with life)

Checked in with my cardiologist yesterday. Reports from Medtronic have shown no afib for over a year. No other "incidents" either. This, along with pulmonary tests in January that showed no change, leads me to believe that I may actually live a while yet! However, as I've been telling my doctors, it sure seems like I ought to feel a lot better than I do. I still have slight shortness of breath with exertion--dr says I should lose the extra weight I put on during lockdown. I...

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Does stroke volume matter?

I'm wondering how much stroke volume matters. I have read several articles saying that is just as important as EF, if not more. 

I have a fairly high EF of 55-70. But my EDV, ESV, and stroke volume are all low. I called their office today to see if this could have anything to do with my continued symptoms. The nurse I spoke with said that the pumping power of my heart is great, and that's all I need to worry about, but that I should call the neurologist about anot...

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CRT-D & power recliners

Just ordered power recliner chair & am now wondering if this will affect my CRT-D.

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Mammogram, frozen shoulder and displaced device

I have a mammogram coming up on Friday. I'm a little nervous. It's been 4 months since I received my device but it has significantly shifted down into my breast since then. I would say at least an inch lower and I thought it was extremely low to begin with.  I did search previous posts so I've seen that the mammogram experience post device is different for everyone, but specifically anyone who has the larger crt-d device that has a lower placement and recently...

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PM pinching

Hi

Not been on for a while, I hope your all doing well. 

Had a new lead fitted just over 12 months ago,since then I get a pinch when I move in set ways, I started to gard my movements and my shoulder became stiff,as I have had a frozen shoulder I didnt want to go down that path so I joined Active life at local sport centre I have been doing gentle stretch and Tia Chi for 3 months but feel it hasn't helped.I feel as is the lead by my clavicle catches on something (don'...

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Cleveland Clinic

Alright guys, I'm back again.. I was seen by my neurologist after my most recent episode at the beginning of February. He was not too happy that I had not had the tilt table test done and referred me to an EP in his network to switch my care to. I had an appointment with my current EP on the 3rd of this month, which I kept, planning to see what he had to say and let them know I would be switching to another..

He came in and his demeanor was completely different than any other appoin...

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Newly implanted

Got my biventricular device 2/15 in NJ from same surgeon that did my ablation.  Just had my first follow up visit/wound inspection.  I had a myectomy with my sternum sawed open 11 years ago so the incision site to me looked good.  Dr claims all is well with wound and pacer is doing what he had hoped.   Back to work(kitchen GM) and walking around the neighborhood with no issues.  Feel good, I guess I was a bit more symptomatic than I realized before the implant. &...

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New and nervous

Just diagnosed with LBBB after passing out on a hard sprint.  Going in for stress test and echo and Holter next week.  Definitely lbbb on ekg though nothing significant on heart xray..  

Its all new to me at 47 never thought I would need a cardiologist much less be told i would possibly need a pacemaker 

Weight is good, very active(weights/running/walking etc)   i don't smoke but have a few drinks a week and I eat right.

What can I expe...

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Replacement Biotronik home monitor

Good evening to all - I was contacted today by my PM clinic to appear next week to bring my 4-year-old Biotronik home monitor in for a replacement - is anybody else getting the same instructions?  I don't know if this is an upgrade or essentially an equal replacement due to findings of problems.

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Gasps and falling backwards

I received a pacemaker in September 2021.  I was diagnosed with tachycardia and bradycardia.  It scares my husband because I seem to have involuntary intakes of breath like gasps followed by an audible sigh and then also I sometimes start to go backwards.  Has anyone else had these problems?  

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Newby

Your story sounds exactly like mine. I too was a healthy 60 year old female. I exercised ate well and took care of my health. My diagnosis came on suddenly too. I went to ER was admitted and the next day I was having a pacemaker put in for heart block. This was 3 months ago. I am adjusting and feel blessed to have been given a second chance on life. I am back to work and have been walking and taking my yoga classes. 
 

You too will be back to normal soon😊
 ...

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Kardia home EKG, missing P-wave, and my PM

Like many of you (I assume), I have one of those mini-EKG units from Kardia with which one can do a primative EKG at home (essentially a rhythm trace). I had an ablation in the right atrium to stop flutter, but then I immediately developed SSS. At that point a PM was installed which paces my right atrium at ~100%. Before those procedures, I could see the P-wave, the QRS complex, and the T-wave on the Kardia traces. Now with my PM doing 100% of the pacing, I no lo...

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For those that may be interested- dual chamber leadless PM

For those that may be interested; Abbott is beginning clinical trials of its new dual chamber leadless pacemaker. It is an exciting advance in the technology with the potential to eliminate the leads!

https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2022-02-07-Abbott-Announces-Worlds-First-Implant-of-Dual-Chamber-Leadless-Pacemaker-in-Pivotal-Trial

 

Dave

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Symptomatic left bundle branch block

I am wondering if there is anyone else that exists with symptomatic left bundle branch block without other heart conditions. I am a 30 year old mom of 2 and have been told my only option after failed medications to treat my debilitating daily symptoms is a pacemaker. I'm excited to think I may be able to function as "normal" again and do normal every day activities but also terrified because this seems like such an unknown condition. 

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pacemaker and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Did anyone ever get 100% pacing in lower ventricle for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

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ICD

since one week or so I have been experiencing muscle pain around the ICD site and under the left arm, is there anyone expérience such proplem ? 

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Mother Nature keeps looking for new ways to kill us

I have recently entered my seventh decade. Generally in good health despite Volta, my new replacement pacemaker, installed just before Christmas 2020.Until now, I thought that my heart was eventually going to get me. Maybe, maybe not. In early December, I had a biopsy. It turned out positive for prostate cancer. Things went quite rapidly after that. I underwent curietherapy (also know as brachytherapy or low dose radiation therapy) on Februray 1. Prognosis is good.  That...

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You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

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