Most Recent Messages in General Posting

Today's Special Pacer:

Todd.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TODD!

Todd Harris (tah1432): May 22, 1970

37 in 2007……you wouldn’t happen to be born at 7am or pm would you? Because that would be cool:

Born at 7, and now your 37 and its 2007
All these 7s! I feel a lottery number coming on….

May you have a wonderful birthday and perhaps win the lotto :)

Take care,
~valerie

Read More...

felt electrical shock from laptop?

Hello folks...

This laptop has been overheat and shutting down...And this morning i got a shock in my left hand while lifting one corner of it. Actually got shock a couple of time.

I did call up the manufacturer...and checked the web site...seems this particular model does have issues...and was advise to bring it in...

In the meantime...still typing on it ...how ever wearing a rubber glove on the left hand.

Opinions...Smitty?...anyone...

Read More...

cardiofocus

Hi Everyone,

Someone suggested I check out cardiofocus.com.(I think in response to my questions about stroke).It is very negative and
scarey. It portrays Afib as a progressive disease with stroke twice as likely as the regular population even with anti-coagulants-otherwise 5-6 times more likely.It states that our quality of life is severly reduced-the equivilant of severe rheumatoid arthritis.Not very comforting. Anyone have a different perspective ( I have a pacemaker for bra...

Read More...

24 yrs old and tired of being tired!

Hello,
I'm brand new to this site and this is my first post. My short story is that I'm going in on June 5th to consult about/get instructions/and schedule pacemaker implant. I am 24, married with 2 elementary school aged children.

Here's the longer story: I have what my dr. calls a severe case of NCS or VVS (neurocardiogenic syncope or vaso-vagal syncope) with the extra kicker of >5 seconds asystole (heart stops when I faint), and thus he has been pushing the pacemaker for a...

Read More...

We're here ;-)

Hello everyone! Well we have good news... My husband and I are here at Peter and Nina's home. We are having a wonderful time! Peter is doing fine and Nina is beautiful!.. We are so thankful for the wonderful friends we ave made here in the UK. How very lucky are we.
We will keep you posted of our exciting activities as our visit progresses.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day.
Pacergirl and Peter .... Timbo and Nina ;-)

Read More...

Pace Maker Advice

Hello from Central Arkansas. I'm Angela, the big 50 on July 13th. I really would appreciate your advice knowing what you know now and your experience now. For two years I was misdiagnosed as having simple seizures because I couldn't wake up and my EEG was abnormal. Finally the doc discovered my heart rate was too low and took me off the seizure meds which were causing my problems. Thank God that is over with.

After lots of tears and tests we know I need a pace maker. My heart does no...

Read More...

We are at the Airport ;-)

Hello everyone,
For those following our journey, (others please disregard) we have arrived at the airport and we have made our way through airport security. It's been a while since I have had a stranger touch me like that! No problems traveling with the pacemaker. The journey to meet Peter and Nina is going to be worth every mile we travel. My husband and I are very excited about the trip! I'll keep everyone posted as the day and miles go by. Presently in Wichita, Kansas..... Soon to b...

Read More...

IPod MP3 Interferes with PM

I just read a post on an Apple site which documented some research done in Michigan by a student.

He discovered that the IPod interferred with patients' PM in 3 different ways:

Oversensing of events
Telemetry interference
Inhibit of PM occurred in 1.2% of study group.


I am taken aback by this finding, but I do believe it is correct.
For more info, google "IPod interferes with pacemaker"

Read More...

Help! Is there anyone out there like me?

I am so frustrated. I recieved a PM on Mar 23 at Mass General Hospital where my Doctors don't have anyone else like me. They can't seem to figure out how to set my PM. I have second degree heart block and a very high hear rate when I exercise. Before my PM my heartrate would drop from 160's or so to the 80's and stay there for a couple of minutes causing me to become dizzy and light headed. Then my rate would jump back to the 130's even though I was resting. Now that I have my PM it seems it...

Read More...

Question re Leads

This may be a very stupid question, but I'll ask it anyway. I know someone in this very helpful group will have the answer. If I had a different brand of PM implanted, would the leads also have to be replaced? In other words, could the existing leads still be used? Betty

Read More...

Skipped beats

Hi everyone,

I just wondered if anyone could help me with a problem I've never seen on here before.

When I crouch down and bend over e.g. when looking under something, or cleaning the floor, my heart pauses. It feels like it's skipping a beat and doesn't do it any other time.

I've had my pacemaker (for heart block) since January and have had many settings problems but I'm worried that this is more of a placement issue as it only happens in those positions. My p...

Read More...

knowledge seeker

Anyone recommend a good book on AF that is really helpful?

any members in greater Boston who know about the bestg AF Dr's around here? Jim in Newton, MA

Read More...

Thank you

Hi,
I just got several very thoughtful and helpful responses to my postings.My question:
Is there someway to e-mail the individual person to thank them or ask a specific question based on their response. Jim

Read More...

Feeling tired all time

I got St. Jude Pacemaker in November of last year. I was very tired all the time. I thought after I got I would my pacemaker I would have more engery but I don't. I felt real good for a couple of weeks after getting it but after I went back to work, tireness came back. I would like to get up and walk in the mornings before work (I used to walk 2 miles before I went to work), but I don't have the energy. Sometimes I think something else is wrong.

Read More...

hmmm....

Well, I need to get with the times b/c my computer smarts are....well....not present. I have computer "not-smarts"

This "avatar" thingy...is that like a picture I can put from my computer to this site or something? If so, then I saw some people have it, but you need like a 10000 X magnifying glass to see what in the world the picture is, lol.
help?
thanks :)
~valerie

Read More...

Hello from Finland

Hello all pacers!
I just want to say hello to everybody and wish you all good spring.
Summer is coming soon and here in Finland everything
in the nature looks very beautiful.
As you everybody know,Finland is also called; the land of thousands lakes.
Esa Karhu
e.karhu@kolumbus.fi

Read More...

Implanted Defibrillators Are Getting Better

By Ed Edelson
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, May 11 (HealthDay News) –– Implanted defibrillators, which deliver occasional jolts to the heart to keep it beating regularly, are becoming much more reliable, experts report.

"What really sticks out is the continuous improvement and the fact that we see a very low level of electronic failure," said Dr. Robert J. Hauser, a senior cardiac consultant at the Minneapolis Heart Institute, who led a study of the devices made by three...

Read More...

Market Research Study for those with pacemakers or ICD's

If you have heart problems, a pacemaker or survived a heart attack we need your input for a medical market research study. We are in the process of coming out with a new medical device and need your expertise. If you are interested in participating we will come to your house and interview you and pay you for it. You won't even have to leave your own home. This is only taking place in the Boston and Chicago area. You will be compensated $150 for this 2 hour opportunity. If you are interested and...

Read More...

A Special Day Indeed :)

Pacemaker: a zillion dollars
Pacemaker replacement: one billion dollars
Prescription Meds: 8 million dollars
Doctors check ups: one thousand dollars
Trips to the ER: 800 dollars
Getting a terrific response from Smitty: priceless.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SMITTY!!!
Smitty: May 15, 1929

Some memorable quotes by the birthday boy:
*** May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet...

Read More...

Anyone from central Wisconsin?

If you read my replies in the topic below about iPods and pacemakers, you'll see that I wrote to the reporter about the misconception that pacemakers are only for "old" people. You can see a copy of what I sent her in that topic posting.

Anyway, she just responded to me:

"Hi, thanks. This would be a good story if I can localize it to central Wisconsin. Do you know anyone in our area with a pacemaker that is not an elderly citizen? Our hospitals are not very helpful in conn...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

Member Quotes

Yesterday was my first day mountain biking after my implant. I wiped out several times and everything is fine. There are sports after pacemakers!