Most Recent Messages in Complications

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Pacemaker induced left ventricular systolic dysfunction

Good morning everyone,

I'll try to make my question brief, despite the lengthy subject title.

I had Medtronic dual lead PM implanted three months ago (along with a TAVR, the day before). I am 100% paced. 74 years old.

I had an echocardiogram last week with my local cardio. He called me in to discuss it. My ejection fraction went down enough that he was concerned  and is scheduling a nuclear stress test to determine if my 80-90% clogged coronaries need stenting. The...

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Atorvastatin

I am 64 years old, had my pacemaker in July 2019, and I have never have problems with cholesterol in my life and my cholesterol levels are normal. The Pharmacist wanted to introduce me to 20mg atorvastatin per day, knowing that this tablet will lower my cholesterol levels more. Has anyone having the same issue or what advice can anyone recommend? It would be highly appreciated. 

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Co-Vid after affects

I am wondering if anyone has had any issues from having Co-Vid.

After getting vaccinations religiously, wearing mask and staying out of crowds, I ended up getting Covid for Christmas this year, which I of course ended up sharing with my husband.  Started Dec 23 and I am just about done now, but still testing positive.
I have a CRT Pacemaker, 4 1/2 years with this one.  In the past four or five days I have been feeling some butterflies in my chest that...

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PM Flipping

Hi,  Wondering if this is a normal thing. 

I woke up lying on my side as usual and I stretched my arm up and notice my PM was up on its side. Totally freaked me out and made it a very restless night the next night.

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Pericarditis

I am a 72 yr old nationally ranked athelete who had a PM implanted 3 months ago for total AV block.  There were a series of minor complications from the surgery (punctured lung, repositioned lead, etc) but nothing major.  After the surgery I did not feel right. I had multiple symptoms: flutter, Thumps in chest, lightheadedness, and tightness/heaviness in my chest. They changed some PM settings (DDI to VDDR) and the flutters and Thumps went away. But the tightness/irritation in my ch...

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Dizziness & Fatigue

Recently had some issues with dizziness & lethargy 

Had a PM intergation, 24 Hr Holter Monitor, Echocardiogram & blood work preformed. 
 

The PM only picked up short episodes of AFib on  Saturdays when out drinking beer with mates. (Over the months since my last intergation, no other periods or arrhythmias were picked up) 
The 24 hour monitor didnt pick up any periods of AFib or other arrhythmias only a few ectopic bea...

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URGENT ADVICE

Hi All

The last couple of years have been mostly up with some downs. I am fitted with dual chamber PM since 2019 for Heart Bloc 2:1

However the last couple of weeks have been pretty rough. I am suffering from lethargy & tiredness, occasional night sweat,  muscle weakness in calves & thighs (when not exercising & exercising), discomfort in the chest, headaches & dizzness. 

I attended hospital yesterday, had a PM integration (some bouts...

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Beta Blocker

I am wondering if anyone has or is taking a beta blocker and has trouble sleeping. Since being being dx with LBBB and getting my ICD in 2018. My cardiologist put me on bisoprolol and I have had trouble sleeping. I wake up at least 2 or 3 times during the night.l quite often have trouble going back to sleep. I also have dreams every night and often wake up tired. Before my heart issue I would very rarely remember dreaming. I also have fatigue which I think is from not getting enough sleep...

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Pacemaker Heartrate

I had my third pacemaker installed last November. They told me it is set so that the pulse cannot go below 60. However, I have a new cuff at home, also an oxi-pulse finger device which many times record a HR of as low as 38. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

Another thing is they were going to change the 2 lead wires which are now 22 years old. But last minute they decided not to, due to my age (88) and possible bleeding etc. The one wire is known to give off &quo...

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Pacemaker for Athletes

Hi everyone.

I am a 54 year old endurance cyclist, cycle guide and coach, who, 6 weeks ago, had a pacemaker implanted for 3rd degree heart block.

I have developed pain around the pacemaker in the chest, swelling in the left arm and purple bruising along the blood vessels around my left shoulder. I feared an infection or thrombosis and was checked in the local hospital and given the all clear to go home. However the pain, swelling and purple bruising still remain and it's...

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Pacemaker movement

Hi everyone,

was diagnosed with breast cancer in April of this year and as I need radiotheraphy had to have my pacemaker moved to my right hand side. When i  am 9n my side the pacemaker protrudes out of my chest and i can put my f8ngers around the side of the box. When my pacemaker was on the left side i could only vaguely feel the top. Is this normak or ok?

thank you in anticipation of advice.

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mendomike

I got my 1st PM implant in 2019 and it worked great but by 2022 at the age of 75 my heart needed a bit more help and I had a TAVR (synthetic heart valve) procedure in February of 2023. From that point on all was good. My blood pressure stayed in the 120/65 range and I was a happy camper. However at the time of my TAVR procedure an electrophysiologist noted a little irregularity in how my ventricles were working. He said it could eventually lead to problems and that eventually I should get an...

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Pacemaker issues

I got my pacemaker on July 19, 2023. From the time I got it I've had two continual issues. When I'm riding in the car, truck is worse, bumpity, bumpity, down the road, I get a strange uncomfortable feeling in my chest, an achy feeling and fluttering that makes me feel like I have a a piece of hard candy stuck in my throat. Secondly, intermittently, when lying down at night I have sharp pains at every heart beat for several seconds and then it goes away.  Has anyone ever had this...

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pacemaker and spasms

I have a chest/abdominal spasm that starts immediately following the following scenarios...

After an ECG is started, after an ultra sound wand is placed over my heart area 

After the wand of a device check machine is placed over my heart area

When a stethascope is applied to muy chest area.

Has anyone had anything similar happen ?

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Pain

Have had pain for 2 days in left collarbone.

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Leads

Hi

Has anyone had problems with a lead moving after many years?

Having on going issues one of which is intercostal packing after new device put  in. Various settings have been altered and was doing ok, just the occasional episode but slowly it's returned to occurring more frequently. 
Getting and x ray to check then possibly another look at settings. 
Jane

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ICD connection with loss of memory

My "heart story" is that of quite an interesting journey, but long story short, I had a dual ICD inserted in January of 23 along with an ablation for atrial flutter.  I continued with extreme fatigue and episodes of afib (no more a-flutter) and pvcs.  In September, the dr and ICD tech adjusted the settings on my ICD -- one of those tweaks being that they turned on Rate Response.  The tweaking didn't seem to help -- in fact, I think I have felt worse.  Then a...

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VO2 max sharp decline after getting a pacemaker

JMC43 have you found the cause of the rapid decline in your VO@ max . My VO2 max declined from 30 to 16.8 in 2 months.

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Insulation break of lead & antibacterial envelope

Hi

i Recently underwent my 5th generator change.

this one was different in so many ways:

1. My pacemaker went into battery power save mode: this is terrible! I started feeling crappy on a Friday and come Monday I got a call from the doctors that my pacemaker changed into this mode on Friday.

2. I then had an urgent generator change on Tuesday (the following day from finding out about the battery save mode being on) By urgent I showed up at 11:30am (as told too) but did...

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Dizzness and tightness feeling in heart after pacemaker implantation

Hi,

My father, implanted a dual chamber pacemaker (pm) to treat atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation 2 weeks ago, but ever since he is not feeling ok. He still feels dizzy when stands up, when walking normally in flat surfaces and of course when walking on stairs. He feels strains and tightness in the heart occasionally as well. He needs to stay for a while until his situation normalizes. During this symptoms he feels he is having arrhythmia as well. He descri...

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You know you're wired when...

You can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.

Member Quotes

My eight year old son had a pacemaker since he was 6 months old. He does very well, plays soccer, baseball, and rides his bike. I am so glad he is not ashamed of his pacemaker. He will proudly show his "battery" to anyone.