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Update!

Testing continues for my upcoming aortic valve replacement #2

Just had an angiogram and everything is clear!

Scheduled for a femoral artery & heart CT Scan in a few weeks. After that, I'll sit with the surgeon again about my options.

In the meantime, I've been "negotiating" with my EP. He wasn't wanting to push my MTR above the default 130 due to my severe insufficiency. I finally convinced him that I would be carefull and he put it at 150 whic...

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NHS appointments

I've been suffering from ectopics with a pacemaker fitted since January 2023 and am fairly regularly getting 37 bpm when resting.

My GP wrote to the cardiologists at the regional hospital and requested an appointment "at your earliest convenience" and "preferably in person"

The cardiology department response to that was an appointment in two and a half months time at the end of June 2023 and that will be a 15-minute telephone conversation.

So that'...

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First post implant appointment

 

I had my PM implanted in January and now I am coming up on my first in-person visit (Monday) with both my cardiologist and EP. I’ve talked with them since the implant and while I thought my PM was set to VVIR, in fact it is set to VVI. So, changing to VVIR is one of the things that will probably be changed.

The reason for the change is once I got the OK, I started on a treadmill and eventually water aerobics. At first, I was doing fine. Felt great all the time. Then a...

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Apple Watch Captured Tachycardia Events Like on an Oscilloscope

I am a bradycardia. Yesterday, I had my pacemaker adjusted so that it could stay at the base rate (50bpm) for a long period of time. When I checked my apple watch recorded heart rate, I found that it had captured a Tachycardia Event. A nearly  perfect square wave was displayed on the iphone.  It  had zero slopes, raised and dropped abruptly from 50 to 102 bpm with a flat top. The display was like on an oscilloscope. The apple watch udpates every 5 seconds and the tachycardia ep...

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Drop in Heart Rate afte riding on Bike Trainer for a period of time

The following is a description of an event that occurs with some regularity. I will be riding on my bike trainer for, say 30 minutes, with a heart rate of ~130-140 bpm. Suddenly, the rate will drop to 70-80 bpm, and stay there. Nothing I do will make the rate increase. Fortunately, it does not affect my ability to continue riding, with no apparent loss in power. Maybe 10-15 minutes laterm my rate will go back up to the original levels.

Does anybody have an idea why it does this, and how...

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How to phrase this.... for the ladies?

.... hmm. So. I'm 2 weeks (tomorrow) since surgery, and had my first checkup, staples removed (steristrips in place), and I think things have been tweaked as I'm not as light heated and having as many kerthump or palpitations moments as pre-appointment - HOWEVER - something is still vexing me - and I don't know if it's a girl with ample bosoms thing - or if men can relate - but.... I feel like I have to hold my left boob all the time when I'm walking. Which looks stupid, a...

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Pacemaker

I want to thank everyone for the comments, they were most reassuring....   

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Pacemaker wires…

After a recent episode of "911" my hubby is preoccupied with my leads coming "undone".  How often does this occur?  I received my pacemaker 6 months ago......

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1 year on and feeling no benefit

Hi all .

I've had my biventicle pacemaker just over a year now . Apparently I suffer complete heart block but knew nothing about it , no fainting etc - nothing ! 

Had it fitted , also found put I was suffering  hyperthyroidism , sleep apnea,  blood pressure and polycythemia ( thick blood ) not bad from one check up ! 

Meds I've been given - biprosolol,  doxazosin,  ramaprill , thyroxine and warfarin 

Apparently alls looking go...

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Endoscopy

My first PM was implanted in 1980, when I was 14 months old. I have a complete heart block, so PM dependent. Right now I am bi-v paced and have epicardial leads.  I have had too many complications to list due to mistakes that were made along the way, including multiple lead failures. I had open heart surgery in 2017 to repair SVC syndrome which is why I have  epicardial leads.

My extremely long and complicated medical history leaves me concerned . &nbs...

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?Solar Panels/invertors/power banks?

Hi. Had a motor home 3 years now.

Now had a solar panel fitted 215w

& hubby also considering purchasing either an inverter or a power bank. Wondering if having these can affect my pacemaker ? 

Also the use of Air fryers can they affect tge functioning of my pacemaker & heart??? 

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ANTIDEPRESSANT

Dr put me on Citilopram for anxiety but 5 days in had horrendous palpitations. As my device is set at 70bpm my heartbeat obviously didn't race but it was thumping out my chest and felt fluttery. Dr said to stop and try Sertraline next week but I'm afraid to try them. Any advice welcome about this type of medication. 

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post recovery shortness of breath

I am 5 days post surgery. I have a biventrical CRT-D pacemaker. I am still experiencing shorntess of breath at about the rate of 25% as before surgery. Not to the degree before surgery but still with little physical exertion. Called my docs office and the nurse read by bluetooth report and said my heart and pacemaker were functioning "normally." They are not. I have intermittent pain on the right side of my heart and the aforementioned shortness of breath.

Could the PM be...

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Lasting pain

Hi all,

I posted this message earlier today and got notification that someone responded. Unfortunately, when I wanted to check the comment I was locked out of my account and my message was gone. So trying again.

First I would like to tell you how a joy it is to read all the support en knowledge that is shared among you guys. It’s heart warming.

Here’s hoping you can settle some of my anxiety as well.

My story is a long an complex one. I’m 29 year old...

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Pacemakers and Museums

This post recounts an experience I had toward the end of March. In the afternoon, we went to the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland. After about an hour of walking slowly and quietly around, viewing the paintings, I began to feel a little faint and tired, so I sat down on one of their benches. Felt better after a few minutes, and continued viewing paintings. Felt tired after another few minutes, so sat down. This happened again, before I figured out what was happening.

Since I was so quiet a...

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A Leadless Dual Chamber Pacemakers Disadvantage: Shorter Battery Life Than Leaded PMs

This post is for technically oriented readers who are interested in the engineering aspect of the pacemaker. But if you are considering a leadless pacemaker, especially a leadless dual chamber pacemakers, you may be interested to read on.

Leadless pacemakers (Micra and Nanostim) have been available for more than 10 years. The design did not start from scratch and was based on the design of leaded pacemaker ( https://www.medicaldesignandoutsourcing.com/how-medtronic-fit-a-batte...

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Pacemaker replacement

Hi does anyone have an epicardal  pacemaker? If so what is the surgery, hospital stay and recovery time, mine is due to be replaced for the first time?

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FG Update

Hello all!

Well its been 10 days! My implant site is much less tender and swollen and there is no apparent infection. Hoorayyy!

And yes I feel better as I am more alert during the day, less exhausted in the evenings and don't have to sleep as much. No chest pain or shortness of breath. I can walk but they said I cannot drive for 2 whole weeks and no vigorous exercise for 6-8 weeks. 

Thanks, FG

 

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Shortness of breath just going up stairs or walking

I have had a pacemaker for 10 years because of complete heart block. I just received my second one last July. When I tell my doctor about shortness of breath and weakness in my legs going up stairs or just taking a walk he tells me my pacemaker is working. Does anyone else have these issues?

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Heart rate during exercise

Hello again

I've been dual chamber paced since January after aortic valve replacement surgery resulted in total heart block. I’ve noticed recently that my heart rate during exercise can be as low as my resting heart rate. An example from today, whilst doing a 3.5 mile walk I encountered a steep hill which was hard work to walk up. I checked my heart rate at the top of the hill and it was around 60bpm which is my normal resting heart rate. I was quite surprised by this as I fel...

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You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for being a couch potato.

Member Quotes

Pacemakers are very reliable devices.