Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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Private health insurance UK

Hi All,

 

I am moving to Mexcio and have a pacemaker. Anyone have any idea on if there are health insurance policies that allow pre-existing pace makers. Im 30 and fit s a fiddle (little pacemaker controlled Adam-Stokes syndrome, but otherwise well!)

 

UK citizien and no USA residency unfortunatly. 

 

J 

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Need advice

Has anyone gotten their pacemaker removed permanently? Long story short I am not using it at all anymore and have 9 years battery life left, plenty of time to see if I will use it again before having the option to get it removed, replaced or get a monitor. Not sure what I’m going to do yet. I sometimes have anxiety just thinking about it, like what if I didn’t need it all along and would have gotten a second opinion (even though it was an emergency type of situation). 

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Decision to get an ICD

Hi, thank you for the support that this group offers!  I’m a 62 year old male and am trying to weigh the risks and benefits of having an ICD implanted and would love any and all perspectives and inputs that you can provide.

According to my doctors, I am on the “cusp” of needing an ICD. I have a slight risk of having a heart attack, but only slight. I guess any risk is not a good one. I have medium hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, meaning that the wall of my heart has...

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verapamil

I am on verapamil 180mg for  atrial tachycardia   For the past 2 weeks I have a follow up I’m avout 5”6 and 200lbs idk if I need a high dose because all though they have been working my heart still here and thier races fast but it dose calm down now instead of staying high like it use to so should I ask for high dose 

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shallow breath

Hi, got a pacemaker 2 weeks ago. All is well but I am experiencing shortness of breath periodically. NOT a collapsed lung. Doesn't hinder me, just a bit disconcerting. Had a check in today and the NP said this is normal, what do y'all think. I am a 65 year old male...pretty healthy.  Thanks

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New Pace Maker

I received a new dual chamber Boston Scientific Pace Maker on 7-31-19.  They had to do a revision the next day due to one lead not staying in place.  I had bradycardia and normally had a HR around 49 to 51 at rest.  I am 72 yrs old.  In addition to several additional conditions, I also have emphysema.  It was hoped that the pace maker would  increase by energy level which was severely low and also help with the breathing issues that I had on any exertion.  A...

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TSA concerns

I am troubled by airport security procedures and wonder what rights pacemaker patients have vis a vis TSA and other international security screeners.

Specifically, when not accompanied by a friend or spouse, pacemaker patients can be separated for prolonged periods of time from their valuables in their screened carry-on luggage, such as money, medications, wallets, passports, etc.

In the chaos of airport security it appears that anyone could easily steal or mistakenly walk off wit...

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Anybody have a nickname for their pacemaker?

I call mine "Sparky".

Anybody else got got a pet name?

:)

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Does having a pacemaker prevent CPR certification?

CPR Certification is being offered through work, and while doing the prep exercises, it struck me that having a device might actually prevent me from being able to get my certification.

Does anybody else have any experience with this?

 

Thanks in advance...

 

 

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Introduction

Hi All! I just got my pacemaker 5 weeks ago! It all happened quickly and I was diagnosed with Sick Sinus Syndrome and AFib. All of this is so new and confusing and overwheming. I don't really understand what my pacemake settings are (I have a duel lead, St. Jude). I am a little unclear on exercise limits. Any advice what be so appreciated!

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Introduction

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to the club -- thank you to the gentleman who responded to my contact regarding trouble joining... trying again worked.  Don't know what happened the first time, but happy it went through the second.

I got my first pacemaker at 6, almost 50 years ago, due to nerve damage from a VSD repair.  I'm about to get my 9th...10th? (yes I've lost count)...this Friday.  

I'm so grateful to have found a place where I can...

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Twitching after last visit

Is it normal to continue to have twitching in your chest after they adjust your AICD? It’s been 2 months .. I had it in the very beginning after surgery ( January) , it went away but now this time it didn’t ??? 

Thanks for any help 

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Headphones

Has any of you had problems with using headphones whether its wireless or not , using bluetooth or not ?

I appreciate any input 

Thank you 

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Switching from Warfarin to Eliquis

I am switching from Warfarin to Eliquis and picked up my first bottle of Eliquis at the pharmacy today. The instructions I have read online at numerous sites just say: "Warfarin should be discontinued and Eliquis started when the international ratio (INR) is below 2.0."

My interpretation is this: Stop Warfarin completely. Wait 3 (more or less) days and have an INR test. If INR score is below 2.0, start the Eliquis. If it hasn't fallen below 2.0, wait a few more days and ha...

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Tomorrow I get a CRT-D

I'm new to this group, and this is my first post.  Tomorrow I am scheduled for surgery to get a CRT-D.  I have a Left Bundle Branch Block, and an EF of around 32.  I am 50 years old.  I am really nervous about the procedure and the subsequent recovery, and honestly whether it will actually work and increase my EF.  My EP seems to think I could be a "super-responder".  So far, I haven't had any symptoms, such as swelling, fatigue, or shortne...

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NEW GUY

I am new to the club, having discovered it only now but I have had my pacer since 2013.  I have it because of hypersensative choratid sinus syndrome which as discovered on an airplane over the Atlantic.  It has been quite the experience for sure, greatly impacting my life at first but now just a life ring that keeps me going!  Anyway, it is good to be here and able to connect with others in the same boat.

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PM at 24 years old - Syncope episodes and 20 second heart pauses

Hey all, just here to see if anyone has had an experience similar to mine that might know more than I do. I started having syncope episodes about 4 months ago with no prior warning/history/anything. After 3 episodes I went to the cardiologist and he was pretty convinced they were vasovagal episodes due to the consistentcy of them (all first thing in the morning while or immediately after taking a hot shower). Then things started to change. I had 3 more episodes at work while sitting at m...

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New Pacemaker Location

I have had a pacemaker since I was 8 (20+ years). It was in my abdomin until recently when it was moved to under my chest muscle and the leads changed to intra-venious. Trying to figure out the limitations I am going to have to live with now. I never let the pacemaker adjust my lifestyle, I played college sports and my leads seemed to do fine. I am very active and enjoy workout out, which I know is going to take a hit. They put the pacemaker under the chest muscle and you can't notice it...

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RIGHT SIDE PAIN

Hello, I just had a PM put in on August 22, 2019, and so I'm very new to this.  I don't know if everyone's PM is on the left side, as mine is, and I was wondering if anyone else was experiencing pain on the right side of the chest?  It especially happens when I lay down and at the same time, I get a very painful sharp pain up the back right side of my neck/head.  If you've experienced this also, do you know what the reason is for this?

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Pacemaker and beta blockers

Hey guys just here to vent feel free to add, well I ended up in ER! I tried to be bad and stop taking pills! Oh well long story short had a PM put in me this spring, was ok for a while until my heart started to go crazy this summer, put me on beta blockers, motopralol, I tried for almost a month but made me tired, maybe I should have tried longer? Got off them for a few days wich landed me in the hospital, heart was racing with skips, I guess you can say I was   In denial  about all...

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You know you're wired when...

Titanium is your favorite metal.

Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.