Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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leads and devices

My first Pacemaker fitted April 2014 was a St Jude (Abbotts) Endurity DR PM2160.  Two leads were fitted.  Pacesetter St. Jude 1888TC -52  CWM0479 and Pacesetter 1888TC- 58-CWL0527.  (last 2 nunbers of each lead have been left out)  Soon after i had a Node Ablation.

Is anyone able to identify the lead and device manufacture dates from the above numbers please?  Or should there be a seperate ID number?  The St Jude (abbott) pacem...

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Monitoring heart rate and recognizing atrial fibrillation

Hi, I have a SSS and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Have had pm since 2008. Everything goes quite well so far. Except every now and then have  atrial fibrillations during nights. That makes me very tired in mornings. AF feelings dissapear during daytimes.

Wonder if it would be usefull to have a monitor which constantly monitors AF and alarms if any. So have any of members experiences of those home monitors.

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3week post op.. still not 100%?

Hi all, I'm 3 week post PM implant and still feeling like I'm having fuzzy/slow moments. Majority of the time I'm feeling normal which I now realise is fantastic!

There are no patterns to these moments but today for example, I felt a bit light-headed/off balance/slow, when both surrounded by colleagues chatting (I'm doing fazed return to work) and also when walking through a supermarket.

I'm wondering if I should try tinkering with my settings? Currently on abo...

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Posture correction brace for kyphosis and upper back pain

Has anyone with a pacemaker required a brace for upper back pain, slouching, kyphosis? S/P anterior cervical four level disc fusion  and need to find a brace for shoulder slouching since surgery. All braces I find strap goes over the pacemaker pocket at left axillary area. Anybody know of anything different.?

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Micra

Have the Micra since March 2019, just had an adjustment to rate, finding the correct setting is a work in progress. Any one else with this device having symptoms of neck pressure intermittently?

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Meditronic pacemaker

My Medtronic pacemaker app has been working fine until Jan 1 it now is not recording my physical activity what could the problem be

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First Post for SlowSam

Let me introduce myself. I'm 73 years old with a long history of a slow resting heartrate, quite often in the low to mid 40s for the last 10 years or more. On December 11, 2019, I had a pacemaker implanted: a dual chamber SJM.

I was having some episodes of light-headedness and some instances of struggling to stay awake, especially in the afternoon. My EP considered that these symptoms plus some ECG anomalies, were enough to convince him that I needed the pacemaker.

I know...

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Elton John

I read Elton John's autobiography over the holidays and loved how he mentioned getting his pacemaker in a positive light, flew to London for surgery then got back to touring. 

"I was only in the hospital for one night and, rather than feeling debilitated, I thought the pacemaker was fantastic. It seemed to give me more energy than before."

p.s. this book was AWESOME! Highly recommend. 

from Me: Elton John Official Autobiography

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Driving through the DVLA

Hello all

This is my first posting since joining the pacemaker club and wondered if anyone can kindly help me.

I passed out when I was driving my car and crashed in April of 2019. I went through every Neuro test for that to be ruled out along with every cardio test. The last test was for them to fit me with a long term heart monitor in October.

Within 6 weeks of having the heart monitor fitted, I passed out again to which the heart monitor detected my heart pa...

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Colonoscopy

I am 57 and for a variety of reasons have put off the recommended colon screening since I was 50

i decided to man up and schedule one. They called today and were asking me routine questions .....one was "so you have a pacemaker " - since I do they said I have to come in for a "consultation " ....the colin screening is preventative and free through my insurer ....this pre con is not .

thw scheduler said "it's just a co payment " ... I love how gene...

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ICD

Does anyone know whether you can have the occasional drink.   I glass

of wine or a part of a deer.   I have read that it can set off your defibulator.

I have been without my licience since it was implanted in  August and should

have it back at the end of Febuary.    If I can't drink  its not something that I

have to have in my life.

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Joined too soon

I won't be posting for a few months now. My primary concern isn't related to considerations related to a new PM, it's about whether or not the PM will solve my medical issues long-term. A PM may have little effect on Cardiac Sarcadosis long-term. If my  outcome is positive after various tests, I will post again and try to help others when I know more. If not, best wishes to everyone. 

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Life expectancy

Hi everyone! My name is Huzaif and I've had a pacemaker for almost 15 years now since I was 5, which is when I received my first one. I was implanted with a pacemaker because of a complete heart block. I am 19 now but the question of will I live long enough to see my own kids or grandkids always pops up. I always wanna have a chat with my doctor about the life span of someone with a pacemaker but I get too scared. I thought maybe this forum could be it. I have lived an extremely normal li...

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My AV Block

  I did a lot of posting yesterday regarding concerns related to my Pacemaker and LV remodeling. 

  I was on a family vacation just after my Pacemaker was implanted and I deliberately didn't think about the situation much until the vacation and holidays were over. 

  Today, I realize LV modeling isn't my first concern. I was diagnosed with RBBB in 2010 during a routine stress test and because I had a history of pulmonary Sarcadosis in my...

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Buzzing and vibrating

I have a Medtronic Azure XT imppanted since August of this year. In early November I started feeling some  buzzing and vibrating sensations on my left shoulder , area near the pacemaker , arm and down to my foot. Basically almost my entire left side. Also started to feel dizzy lightheaded and off balnce at the same time.  EP did not seem concerned , said checkup was fine.  Told me to make an appoinmenrt with a neurologist... Has anyone had a similar problem?

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Last Question for the day (I promise)

The PM rep told me I was being paced 7% in the upper chamber and over 90% in the lower chamber. 

I remember my EKG pattern after the PM was implanted and it was definitely a Atrial pattern. I just Googled it.

 Does this mean I do not need to be as concerned about LV remodeling, or am I completely off base. I have a Dual Chamber Assurity PM 2722.

  I do not know if I am Atrial paced, ventricle paced, or both. Which of those approaches offer the g...

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Maintaining my Ejection Fraction and Hearts Condition

Hi, this is my 4th post to this forum. I am very pleased that this site even exists and I have a lot of questions. I presently know enough about my PM to be dangerous, lol.

  From my earlier posts you will see that I received what I think (not certain) is a Dual Chamber PM roughly 3 weeks ago. It is a Saint Jude PM.

  With the holidays and all the confusion, I haven't had much time to analyze my situation. I know I feel a lot b...

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Tender again...

I had my CRT-D implanted March 2016, while for the first 4-6 months it was more sore and painful than I bargained for, it had settled down.

Just about 10 days ago I went for an ultrasound and as part of the examination I needed to hold my arms above my head for 10 mins or so. 2-3 days after I started to feel a little tender where the leads dive down beneath my collar bone. It continues to be sore.

I guess I've just pulled the tissues where my leads are attached, but wonde...

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Has a Pacemaker weakened or strengthened your heart muscle?

I have been reading various posts and I feel like I know very little about the effects of a Pacemaker on the heart muscle itself. 

From my first post, members will see that the implementation of my Pacemaker evolved very quickly. I was going from 2nd to 3rd degree heart block back and forth and there was a consensus that I needed the device. I was told my heart muscle itself was very healthy. 

  I am feeling much better now. What I am wondering is what sho...

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Any Members Experience a PFO?

I had all the symptons of a stroke. Facial droop on left side, words slurred, dizzy, fell....then episode passed. Occurred again, but for shorter time Flown to Stroke center, ALL sorts of test--MRI of brain showed 4 areas impaced by clot, yet no residual effects.

THINK cause due to PFO, a small hole in heart from birth that did not close...a small pocket where blood can "gather" then "escape".....

Also have some irregular heart beats--have had pacemaker since J...

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You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

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