Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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One Year CheckUp - Only 1.6% Usage?

Just in from my first annual check up with Medtronic Surescan that was implanted May 2018 for Second Degreee AV Heart Block. Had issues with implant procedure that required two more trips to the hospital, including an extended stay on high-dosage antibiotics after the incision came open. Took six months to convince the doctor to lower the setting to minimum Heart rate of 40 and no max (I am youngish - 46 - active, fit with low resting HR previously). In December 2018 I was pacing 5.5% of...

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Still here!

Annual check up.  I dont drop by very often nowadays but always make the effort to say hi after the annual check up.  Pacing 79% atriium, 39% ventricle.  Atrial fib only 1% of the time, this is really down from my early pacing years, and, I know the date and time and it was when I was extremely upset about something when I had a 1 hour episode.  Still swimming most days, 3 grandchildren now who  take up a lot of my time.  I feel really well and am living life to...

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Out of breath going up steps

It has been 4 months and husband is still not feeling great.  The cardiologist is sending him for a sleep apnea test this Wednesday.  Has anyone got results from that and it actually made a difference with the pacemaker?  There are times that he says he felt much better before this was implanted.  I know that he did,, but when they tell me it is being used 97 percent of the time I am just wondering if we were just fortunate with our timing.

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heart rate adjustment

I recenly had my first pacemaker check-up. The technician said she was going to adjust the rate. Did not tell me what the re-action would be. I felt immediately, desperately ill - like I was going to drop dead there and then. She saw my re-action and presumably just dialled it up again. Is this normal. I felt fortunate that I was in the rooms of my cardiologist but I don't want to go through this again. I mentioned my re-action to the cardiologist but he didn't make much comment.

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What are the various settings and what do they mean

Hi

I received my PM in December 2018 due to a rapid onset Left Bundle Branch block. I was previously running or hiking every day. I have gone back to those activities but still think I am not back to my previous performance levels. I have had three adjustments so far and the last was the best. However neither the Clinic Nurse nor my Dr. has been willing to give me an explanation of the adjustments they made or what effect they have.

 

Heart rate. Initially it was set at...

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Presyncope due to low settings?

2 questions for you guys:

Have had my PM (dual lead PM) for 3 weeks. 32 years old. Bradycardia and syncope were why I got it. 

My settings were 50 bpm (low) 130 high, with rate response turned off. 

Over the last week I had 3 presyncope episodes (more than just feeling weird), thought I was experiencing syncope and at the last moment my PM would kick in and bring me back (pretty scary stuff!!). First one I thought "Oh well, that was weird, but everything is we...

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Settings

Hi All,

Hope someone can answer this query for me,

Device in VVI,  Ventrical sense >99%

Ventrical pace <1%.

Thanks if you can let me know, 

 

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Sudden drop

Hi y'all.

I have been searching for this topic, but I figure I'll just ask my question.

PM was recently reset to 70/140. It was suddenly dropping to at least half at exertion ( for example HR of 130 and the PM would bring it down to 60).

Like I said, it was just raised a little because of this. But it is still happening! I guess that means that at exertion  I must be reaching at least 140 or 150. PM kicks in and for hours I am at 60 or so, definitely not getting...

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Medical Mystery, Something Broke?

I am hoping to tap into the collective wisdom of forum members on a perplexing problem.

Background:  I am 66 yrs old, fairly active; exercising for 3-4 days a week by walking 3-5 miles at a time.  I had a complex set of symptoms that delayed diagnosis until I saw an EP doc.  I had brachycardia and sick sinus syndrome; in addition I had cervical spinal stenosis affecting innervation of my respiratory muscles, resulting in low oxigenation at rest and on exercise.

I ha...

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Pacemaker Adjustments

Hi everyone. I'm 57 and fairly active. I just got my pacemaker implanted on April 24 (for an AV block Mobitz 2). I've definitely noticed a big improvement. However, I still experience "skipped" beats sometimes, usually when I'm doing something strenuous (going up stairs or working out). I also have started to experience light headedness if I get up abruptly. Do I need to have my pacemaker settings adjusted? If so, do you have any advice on what the se...

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Echocardiograph pacemaker optimization facilities?

Does anyone have recommendations for facilities that perform Echo-guided BiV pacemaker optimization?  I'm in SC and the two facilities I've gone to don't do it.  Thanks.

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Throat Pressure/ difficultly breathing

Hello! ( Apologies for the lengthy post)

I’m  a 33year old  female. I had a PM implanted (for a completely AV Block) about 8 months ago and things have been pretty stable since then (asides the post-op pericarditis which cleared up quickly).

However after a few months I started experiencing a pressure in my throat which comes with some difficulty breathing (especially when eating). I have discussed this at my follow visits to my cardiologist and cardio Nurse but th...

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Strange tachycardia every day since the PM was incerted.

Hi, I recieved a Boston Scientic PM about 3 months ago. For slow HR and pauses ( 2nd degree block )  Since day one of going home I have had these bouts of tachycardia and go into v pacing. I have had the device checked and they say "Its working fine." I was told it would only work if my HR was below 60 at night when sleeping or resting. Twice I've been to the tech and  she say "its working fine, just some SVT. I have rapid pulse two or three times a day....

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First anniversary

I am 80 years old and just 1 year yesterday I had my PM fitted. I do not understand the technical terms all I know is my heart used to skip a few beats now and then and the cardiologists decided that this would be the best thing for me to have.

At first I had quite a few problems feeling unwell with Atrial Fibrilation and at one time I started to wish I hadn't had the proceedure done. However after several vists to th Pacemaker clinic at Glenfield Hospital....

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Does changing settings contribute to more oxygen flow to brain and reduce "foggy brain" feelings?

Hi!

I am wondering if any of you PM carrier, have headaches? Suffering from headaches? Have suffered from headache related to your PM. Aka. occur after the PM was installed, in a shorter, or longer period(monts/years)? But did get well after some adjustments or other actions.

The headache is more of "foggy head" and have more a tension headache character than a normal headache.

I had my PM turned off in dec 2018. And turned back on in May 2019. In that period, betw...

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MEDTRONIC Circuit Errors

Hello! I recently had a pacemaker checkup, and was informed the Medtronic ADVDD01 pacemaker is experiencing problems with particular settings (And some other pacemakers also possibly). I unfortunatley was using one (VDD) and have been moved to VVIR until an update is found.

 

"The root cause for this issue is related to a design change to an integrated circuit in a subset of devices that were distributed between 10 March 2017 and 7 January 2019."

http://wwwp.m...

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Heart Rate

An excerpt from my recent PM optimization report: "

Other Findings:   Due to ventricular ectopy and restrictive diastolic filling heart rate was increased to 85 with a slight reduction of LV OT integral. Increasing left ventricle first to the maximum allowable setting demonstrated a slight reduction in mitral regurgitation with an apparent increase in ejection fraction. The LVOT integralincreased to 14.7 from 12.7.

CONCLUSIONS
Impression: Pacemaker optimization...

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My pacemaker is showing from my skin

Hi there, this is a question that I'm pretty sure is asked a lot around here.

So basically I had "eating disorders" when I was about 12-13, I didn't eat much food because I didn't feel hungry at all, and as a result I got extremely skinny.

I'm recovering, and I got a sort of "chubby belly" I guess, but you can clearly see the pacemaker as if it was fat.

Is this a bad thing or not?

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Rate response

Thanks Ian. I’ll see how it is and see my GP - Cardiologist if no better.  I have no confidence at all in the pacemaker technician in our area.  However I have an excellent GP and cardiologist. 

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Rate response setting

 I recently had my rate response setting changed as my heart rate Has not exceeded 100 bpm on exertion. I was last checked a year ago.  Since the change I am suffering from fatigue and exhaustion I’m not able to go for my usual walks. At times I also feel as though I have a sort of ache in my heart not really chest pain this is new. Has anyone else had a similar experience ? I am thinking of ringing the technician so that I can be seen again is that appropriate?...

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You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

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