Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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More settings questions

I have never been advised to any upper limit settings. I know that my PM is set at 50 so my heart doesn't go below that...but that's about all I know.

I am confused because other people are asking about upper settings. Are their different PM'ers that have low settings and high? And perhaps that I just have a model that only has lower settings?

What happens when a person gets to their high setting number? Say if your high setting is set at 130 and you hit 130...what does t...

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What does a "rate responsive" PM do?

I had a "dual chamber rate responsive" PM from Medtronic installed Monday 14th December. My problem was low pulse, down to 7 seconds between heartbeats during my sleep, in combination with flutter.

The PM is programmed to keep my pulse above 60 bpm, and it seems to work just as intended. When my pulse drops slightly below 60 bpm, a correction occurs immediately, bringing the pulse back above 60 bpm. The doctor told me it gives my right atrium and my right ventrikkel a 0,5 volt stimul...

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PM adjusting and settings

Hi :) I was wondering if someone could please explain to me the settings on the PM...I am semi active person..when I first got my PM the upper was set at 130...okay so then when I went for my first PM checkup..I told the Dr that I was semi active and liked to walk and sometimes ride my bike..so he set the upper at 140 left the lower at 50...and the rate response was not on... so after I read some of these postings..I am confused on the settings...I understand the lower setting but am confused...

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St Jude RF with Merlin@home? Requires landline tel

I am active on the forum today -- PM is going in tomorrow :)

I am getting a St Jude Anthem RF with a Merlin@home home station. The home station reads data from the PM nightly (or another time you are near the station), and using an old-fashioned telephone landline and modem, dials in the data the the merlin network, where it will be analyzed for any irregularities.

I was very excited to receive such new and advanced technology, but rather disappointed about the telephone la...

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Just had a clinic visit...

and had a huge breakthrough with my recurrent arrythmia post-PM!

Long story made extremely short, failed ablation led to PM in March due to AV node getting damaged. 100% paced ventricular, 60% atrial. Recurrent Sinus Tachycardia post PM implant.

I am going to get some of this terminology wrong, but my Sinus Tachycardia was popping up throughout the day (130 bpm), but I didn't feel it until I got home from work etc etc and my body started to relax. Then the episodes becam...

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Pacer replacement

Well, its final. I have a voice mail from the cardiologist office that he wants to replace the pacer next Thurs. That's the day he does checkups and has the Medtronics tech in town. I'm glad he is doing it now. It is getting close on batteries and it affects plans for being out of town. I don't intend to have anything other than a local anesthesia so its no big deal. I was looking at some of my notes from when I had the original put in and I went for a 1/2 mile walk when I got home from the hosp...

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new PM settings and BP

I have had totally radical blood pressure after the PM was installed. My doc started me off at 90 BPM and 6 weeks later dialed it down to 80 and then 5 weeks later down to 60 where it is supposed to stay. He said none of these settings would affect my BP. However each time my rate was lowered my BP got better (lower) over time. Now my BP is perfect 9 times out of 10 when I check it.
Question, has anyone else had this experience?
Thanks!!!

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winifred saunders

I had a pacemaker inserted in December 2009 but in spite of two checkups and settings I am getting a continuous vibrations
in abdomen area. Is this a usual reaction?

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Public places with landlines

I don't have a landline and my cellphone doesn't work for having my telephone checks. The person I usually go to to use her phone is out of town, and the church I used to go for when she isn't available said I can't use their phones anymore (after three times). The phone at my doctor's doesn't work with the 1-800 number. I tried to senior center today and their computers interfered with the reading. Library same problem.

Does anyone have any suggestions of where I might find suit...

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Relaxing

I went and had my pacemaker checked today. Met with a new rep. He kind of looked like Anderson Cooper....always a plus! LOL

He drew pictures, explained things, printed me sheets...the works. I got more information from him than the last a-hole who didn't help at all.

Things are looking up...rather my perspective is! And it's about time!

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all. You have all been so wonderful to me that I am sending you hugs and well wishes in th...

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New member

Hi, I'm new to this club on behalf of my son. He was a preemie @ 31wks and has complete heart block along with other CHD.
He had his pacemaker implanted @ 6 days old. He has the smallest single chamber PM available. Today was his 3 month follow up, they reduced the amplitude from 4.5 to 2.5, I'm wondering if they will reduce this each time and if the only implication is less drain on the battery.(He's paced 100%).
Thanks,
Melanie

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Lead Dislodge

I had my first visit today since having my ICD put in on Oct.30, 2009. The doctor advised me that one of the leads has dislodged and I need to go for another surgery to correct this situation. I have an appointment with my surgeon on Wed. Dec. 16, 2009 and will probably have surgery soon thereafter. Has anyone else experienced this? I have a Medtronic ICD. Good luck and Happy Holidays to all.

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How long will PM store information?

Do the pm's store information for 3 months only? I think I have missed an interogation.

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Settings and issues

I have had my pacemaker since 2007 and have had adjustments made on occasion. I have a single lead pacer for sick sinus syndrome. During the warmer months I play a lot of sports, softball, field hockey etc. so they set my sensing to accomodate the activity. Two days ago I felt like I was going to pass out and my HR has been in the 120-140's. Today I had my PPM interrogated and the sensing was making my pacemaker think that when I walked I needed a higher increase so my rate would shoot up in the...

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When should I be scheduled to have my pacemaker re

Hi,
I see my cardiologist every January for a pacemaker check up.
In January 2009, I was advised that the battery had two years to run. Working on this basis, I figure I have around one year to go.
When do you think my cardiologist will actually do the replacement? Six months before? Three months?

It'd be great to have an idea of how long before the battery end of life they do the replacement.
thanks
Kate

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PM usage time...

As a result of a complete heart block, ended up with a PM on 17November2009. Was told by a Medtronics technician that it is being used 5% of the time.

If the PM is being used 5% of the time, is this criteria based on the heart rate going to 60 or below in a certain timeframe? If so, what is the timeframe?

If not, can someone shed some light as to how this 5% is calculated/determined?

Thanks for your help.

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22,000 PVC's

Hi all,

Just an update on my checkup yesterday. I forgot to ask for a print out, but this is what i remembered.

She said i have had 22,000 PVC's in the last 12 weeks, does that sound alot? Tech said that was a normal amount to have.

They have turned me down to guardian angel settings, no rate responce or other fancy setting, just on 45bpm all the time.

So hopefully now there will be no test in the early hours to wake me up.

Can you have PVC'...

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Fast Heart Rate

I just transmitted over the phone and the tech called me back a few hours later to set up an appointment for an EKG and follow up Dr. visit due to several incidents of fast heart rates. I have not felt the fast heart but I have felt slightly dizzy a few times lately and a few weeks ago I felt like I was going to faint, which has not happend for the last many years since I had the pm put in. My battery life is fine. I am on no medication.
Is this something I should be concerned about?

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Checkup Tomorrow

Hi all,

Just after some advise please, i have asked to go in for a checkup tomorrow.

Something seems to wake me up around 5 - 5.30am most days, My PM tech thinks it could be the PM doing a test or something that it has to do everyday.

So im going to see if they can change the time to the day time so it doesn't disturb my sleep as im knackered.

Also im going to ask them to turn it down to 40bpm at night, so that doesn't wake me either, as when it was fi...

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Newbie thanks and update

I want to thank you for the comments on my last posting. It
made a difference. Went for 1st visit today..here is story.
Boston Scientific-Altrua60 implanted Nov 24. Now DDD, set
at 140 (I exercise a lot), pacing is 28% Atrium and 96%
Ventricle. Delay setting is 360ms. Pulse rate for arrythmia is
set for 60. Diagnosis: left anterior vascular block, right bundle
branch block and 1st degree Atrioventicator.

I am shocked at the 96% pacing rate, didn't know...

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