Most Recent Messages in Conditions, Meds & Tests

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Cardiac pet scan

I had a cardiac pet scan today! I haven't discussed the results yet with my doctor but I saw that my resting ejection fraction is 72%.  Is that normal ? I read where if the EF is too high , it means there is heart damage? Have any of you had a cardiac pet scan? 

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Sudden increased pacing

Hello, has anybody ever had a sudden dramatic increase in ventricular pacingwhen they're pacemaker was routinely interrogated? If so, did you find out what caused it? Did it cause you problems? And did it need to be addressed? Thank you

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PVC Question

I have  a Medtronic Claria MRI Quad CRTD (9/7/23) and AV Node ablation.  Like so many others here, I am having PVC issues.  Had them right after device implant and ablation.  Calmed down, had rate reset from 80 to 70 about a month ago.  Had 2 weeks of really annoying PVCs and brief NSVTs.  On advice from knowledgable people here I spoke with my cardio and raising the base back to 80 for now seemed like a good move.  First week or so of that was good. &n...

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Ranolazine for PVCs?

Does anyone here have experience taking the medication Ranolazine for PVCs or other ectopic beats? What is your experience with it? Or, does anyone know where things stand with regard to the study cited below?

  Ectopic heart beats: Finally some hope on the horizon? [Nov '18]
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX1JFZyyljQ
  
This YouTube channel is hosted by Dr Sanjay Gupta, York Cardiology. In this short vid...

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Mystery diagnosis

I'm ba-a-ack. Once again with something that feels like an arrythmia, but nobody can find it.

Since March of this year, I have two week-long monitors, in both cases, the official result was no abnormal rhythms detected. However, my EP theorized that I was still having RNRVAS. He widened the PVARP even more (making it so that I'm practically never paced in the ventricle.) Almost immediately I could feel a 60-75% improvement.

However, I still have the other symptoms showing...

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Mitral valve

Hi everyone,

Newbie here first post so please treat me gently. 

At a recent pacemaker check I was concerned that my ventricular pacing had increased and the consultant mentioned that there could be a link between this and mild mitral valve regurgitation which was found on my echo.  The technicians then made some changes to my settings that have reduced the ventricular pacing.  I asked what they did and they mentioned some algorithm to extend the AV delay?

I kn...

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Low oxygen levels

Hi

I have a question about low oxygen levels after exercise. I have sn ICD due to episodes of VT and I also have multifocal PVCs. I struggle with ongoing symptoms but try to exercise either walking or gym each day for 30 minutes. The recovery however is quite traumatic with increased symptoms which last about an hour. I noticed my oxygen  levels drop to around 89-91 during the recovery period. Do you think this is indicative of changes to my ejection fraction? I had an ec...

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Which condition would be easier to treat: Sick Sinus Syndrome or Heart Block?

I have often wondered which condition would be easier to manage/treat:   Sick Sinus Syndrome (SSS) or Heart Block (HB).  I have just seen opposing views from two valued members and I thought it would be interesting to do a post on this and to get some more views.

I know this is not a straightforward question because both SSS and HB can be changeable and sometimes improve or worsen, requiring more or less in the way of management/treatment.  Both conditions are not always...

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Beta blocker

I have had my dual BS pacemaker since June. Starting tomorrow on Beta Blocker Metroprolol . Anyone on that? 

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Follow up Echo

Hi all.  It's been 7 weeks since I got my new battery, Medtronic dual chamber.  The echo I had today showed my EF was unchanged, 45%.  
It said I have  mild concentric hyper trophy.  I am not on any heart meds, am not overweight and don't have high BP.  Don't smoke or drink.  
EF was 55-60% in 2016.  
Anyone been Dx'ed with this?  Thanks as always.

I will be following up with my cardiologist.

 

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Lightheaded

I've been on 160 mg of valsartan, 12.5mg of carvidellol, 5mg of amlodepine and 5mg of rosuvastatin since April.  I take them morning and evening.  Two times this  week, in the morning, I felt lightheaded, once when bending over to clean oven and the other time standing when cooking.  Both times were after taking morning medications.  I take blood pressure every morning and evening. They've been normal.  For My evening reading, I take it sitting and standi...

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Flecainide for Arrhythmogenic Mitral Valve Prolapse?

Hi all! I'm 37 and I have Arrhythmogenic Mitral Valve Prolapse (and an ICD). I saw my cardiologist for my annual visit today and he recommended to change my medication a bit...because he has seen other female patients (with the same condition) do well on the combo he's recommending. The idea is that I would change the medication and then do a Holter in 3-4 months to see if there's any improvement with my arrhythmias. He's mainly concerned because at my last device check (which...

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ERI

I'm officially in ERI as of October 8. This group is wonderful with sharing information. Looks like I'll be getting my first pacemaker replacement in the near future. Any words of wisdom on what to expect?

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Appointment with cardiologist tomorrow...

Hi guys, i had a 7 days Holter monitor and asked for results to be send in today, so that i come prepared with a list of questions. In No Way Am I asking to interpret conclusions, instead, if you are me and trying to get ready for the appointment, What Would You Ask cardiologist. Here are the conclusions:

"Patient was monitored for 7 Days. Patient was in Sinus Rhythm 86.88% of the time, with presense of 1st and 2nd Degree AV Block with 2:1 and 3:1 AV conduction. Inte...

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Pacemaker

Can I use CPAP machine as facemask has small magnets in it that might affect my pacemaker 

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Mexiletine

Has anyone taken mexiletine for ventricular tachycardia? It helps stop arrhythmias . Any side effects? Was it effective? 

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Antidepressants and QT prolongation

Hi everyone, 

Still a newbie. Got my PM on July 18 of this year.

Went for a check up yesterday and my cardiologist said that my pacemaker is pacing way more than he expected. I'm supposed to be at less than 10%. I have tachy brady syndrome. And he's very concerned because my QT prolongation is worse.

Taking any prescription meds is a huge deal to me. But earlier this year I realized that I was becoming quite depressed. And having trouble sleeping. I started...

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Medication

Hi, I am on a waiting list for a biventricular pacemaker and have opted to have the ICD as I was given that choice. Hopefully this will be done before Xmas.

My question is regarding the medication I am on, I am diagnosed with Dilated cardiomyopathy with a left bundle branch defect. I have been on Entresto, Dapagliflozin and Eplerenone for 18 months now. The Entresto dosage has just been upped to the next strength. What do these medications actually do for my heart? I was told that...

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Beta Blocker, Switch back

Hello All, 

I would like to thank everyone for their kind messages and advice over the last few days. 

My cardiologist finally replied this morning and advised that I directly go back onto nadolol which i was on before. It is very annoying as I could have just syayed on nadolol in the first lace, but never mind. I have taken todays dose of nadolol so hopefully that should be it for the symptoms. 

The beta blocker change was due to an increase in fatigue, which...

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Switching Beta Blockers

Hello everyone, thank you so much for your messages on my last post, i thought i'd give an update. 

It is now day 4 since i switched beta blockers, from 80mg nadolol to 2.5mg nebivolol. The first 3 days where absolutely awful, I had a racing heart, dizziness, sickness and horrible palpitations and funny rhythms. 

I have woken up this morning (day 4) and my heart seems to of relaxed, it is no longer racing and I am not feeling ill anymore. I wonder if these horrible s...

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