Most Recent Messages in General Posting

Post Message!

Breast augmentation

So I'm getting breast augmentation surgery in a few weeks (i've already been cleared by my EP), but I was wondering if anyone here might have gotten subpectoral breast implants while having the pm subcutaneous. Both doctors, and myself obvoiusly, are concerned about placing the implant subpectoral and then having the pm show even more (like that the implant might make the PM rise), when part of the reason why I'm getting the implants is to hide the battery since I'm...

Read More...

Why do we have SA node pacing if the issue is only with heart block?

Hi 

If we have a heart block what is the reason for needing to also be paced from the atrial lead?

I see that some of our members on here have sinus node issues as well as certain blocks so I assume in that situation both of the electrical messages are managed.

In others I see that they have only conduction problems from the SA node and the ventricles are paced. If the ventricles are paced in this situation does this not automatically restore the heart/paced rate t...

Read More...

Exercise test

I had a treadmill exercise test a few weeks ago which showed that I was going in to atrial tachycardia and my pacemaker was switching from DDD to DDI mode. The highest my heart rate went was 125 and then for the remaining duration stuck at 90 odd. I was so out of breath and my legs were like jelly. 

Am I right in thinking that I am struggling to get my heart rate up and getting weak and breathless because the pacemaker is going in to DDI mode? Does this mean that the ventricles are...

Read More...

Max rate question

I have had my PM for about a month now. It works great but I keep bumping into my max rate setting which switches to 2:1 and causes me to get dizy, exhausted, and weak. PM is for AV Block and I started with max 130, then went in with complaint and they bumped it up to 150 which helped alot but I am still hitting the max and dropping to 2:1.  My EP told me that it is dangerous to turn the Max rate up too high but it clearly is not high enough yet.  Can anyone tell me why it is danger...

Read More...

How often do you have Echocardiograms

Just curious how often people have echocardiograms? My doctor suggested I get them every 1 to 2 years.  He kind of left it up to me but then ended the conversation with maybe once a year. I think once a year is unnecessary for me. My last EF was 68%

Read More...

ELA medical KORA 250 DR

With this uit fitted my Garmin 810 and Bryton units give erratic heart beat indication whilst cycling.  If I put in abit of effort they both indicate heart rate of 200bpm.

Can anyone assist

Read More...

Sports

Hi I wanted to ask if I can take swimming classes barring in mind I had the pacemaker for almost 7 weeks and my shoulder hurts a bit and I can't lift it completely since I didn't lift my arm for 5 weeks 

Thanks in advance 

Read More...

Sudden rate drop

I had sudden onset complete heart block last February and had a pacemaker placed. I've been doing fine, for the most part. This morning I was spinning and my heart rate got up to 167 (I have an Apple Watch and a separate HR monitor) and suddenly my HR dropped to low 80s, I got off the bike and laid down, though I didn't feel bad. After a couple minutes my HR jumped back up to a little over 100, which would be consistent with it coming down 2-3 minutes after stopping. Anyone else ever...

Read More...

Heart rate dropped

New member here, I  Got my pacemaker put in in August. Tonight earlier I had some sharp pains and according to my fit bit my heart rate got down to as low as 46. It's normal now but should I be worried? Because it's not supposed to get below 60.Thank you in advance

Read More...

Thorpe Park

Hey everyone! Curious if anyone has experience of going to thorpe park? What did you think, did you go on everything and feel safe in terms of your pacemaker moving/damaging you etc?

Thinking of booking to go there sometime next year (pandemic dependent ofc) but not sure if i should. I'm currently 3 months post surgery from my first replacement where i got a dual lead fitted. The pacemaker is not under the muscle unlike my previous one so im very aware of it and scared of hitting it...

Read More...

Removal of unused pacemaker

Here's an interesting one...

As a paediatric patient I had my pacemaker inserted into the abdomen but now that I'm an adult the latest replacement has been in the chest/shoulder. My old system has not been removed and the medical team don't want to remove it without good reason due to the risks of general anaesthesia and a redo sternotomy (it would have to be a sternotomy, I've checked). I fully understand these risks, although they may perhaps want to explain them again...

Read More...

2 months in new CRT - D

Hi all, 

52 year old male with 2 month old Boston Scientific CRT 247.  Still out of breath upon minimal exertion.  Prior to implant, this was not the case.  I lead a very normal life even though my EF was 20%.  I was treated for bradychardia and arrythmia's.  Sometimes getting out of the car and walking up a set of steps can have me feeling sluggish....other times not.  No rhyme or reason to activities that take me from 60 bpm to 85-90 an...

Read More...

Sinus congestion

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to take for sinus and chest congestion? Was told due to having Hypertension and a pacemaker I can't take Sudafed. It's gotten so bad that not being able to breathe right is waking me up at night. I called the cardio and all they said is I can take allergy meds but no decongestant but it's pretty miserable. PM seems to be working fine so I don't think it's related. Thanks for any suggestions. 

Read More...

Second opinion on pacemaker decision

Good evening

It's been a week since my pacemaker was fitted and honestly (excluding the pain of the surgery) I feel much worse than before I went in.

I know my thoughts are not grounded in full logic at this stage of my recovery but I still can't help thinking that a monitor would have been more appropriate than a jump to a pacemaker.

I've been reading more about blocks ( I still clearly don't understand it fully) and it can be a very difficult decision to de...

Read More...

Recent recipient looking for advice

I am 6 weeks in with a  St judes Assurity DR MRI dual pacemaker.

UK based

In 2019 I had a serious electrolyte imbalance due to lack of potassium (probably caused by severve reaction to high blood pressure meds) 3 emergency trips to hospital and test results lost, and had tests repeated.

I was diagnosed with a mobitz 2 block. My first appointment in early 2020 was postponed due to Covid-19. My pacemaker was finally implanted in late Sept 2020. I have been looking for a s...

Read More...

Medtronic w/ Apple watch HeartWatch app - low BPM

I am two weeks into my Medtronic two-lead pacemaker. I feel great! 

The lower threshold on the Medtronic is set to 60 BPM. A few times a day the HeartWatch app on my Apple Watch will display a <60 BPM (I.e. 45 or 57 etc.)  What is happening?

Does the Apple watch catch the dip in BPM before the Medtronic?

Read More...

Pacemaker features

Hey all

I'm 22 years old and i have never imagined i would get a pacemaker and didn't want to do the surgery and my pm seems to be incompatible with MRI scanning and the security gates could be harmful that's what my EP told me he wasn't sure he had to call someone to ask ,it's so frustrating that i didn't get to choose the features of the device i tried to read the manuals and i checked Medtronic website but it didn't say anything about my type of...

Read More...

Heart Block and auto immune disease

Hi all

My name is John I'm 45 and I had my pacemaker fitted Tuesday. A complete out of the blue situation.

I was found to have bradycardia as low as 30 and a varying mobitz 1 and 2 heart block.

I'm still in shock but starting to come to terms with it.

Before this I have been extremely fit and healthy. I run 20 miles a week and bike a few hundred miles a month. My normal resting heart beat was around high 50s.

What I would like try and understand is what h...

Read More...

Pacemaker poking

Does anyone feel the pacemaker poking their heart or is it only me idk how to describe it, i don't want to say tiny electrical shocks but maybe poking is a better way to describe it 

Ps. I have had my pacemaker for 1 month 

Read More...

COVID-19 VACCINE

Maybe I am getting ahead of myself here but what are your thoughts on the new Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine?  Would you take it if your health system offered it to you in the next few months?  Would you feel safe to have the vaccine at this early stage in its development ?

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

Three months of free Internet comes with each device.

Member Quotes

I have an ICD which is both a pacer/defib. I have no problems with mine and it has saved my life.