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Feeling pretty good lately!

For the first time since this whole journey began, and definitely since I was shocked on Dec. 4th, I have been feeling pretty darn good. The PTSD from the shock was pretty interesting to navigate for awhile, every little thing set me off and I spiraled down the rabbit hole with new symptoms daily. But I think I've worked through most of those issues and once again am feeling encouraged and positive. 

Anxiety is underestimated, cruel, and not at all descrimitive. It can mimic mo...

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Cold weather and heart failure question

I'm curious about how everyone else handles the super cold weather. Since about the time I was diagnosed I have had a difficult time dealing with cold weather. I love snow, I love going outdoors in the winter, but it's hard to breath. The colder it is, the worse the pain is in my chest. It feels like lung pain to be honest, and pretty much covers my whole chest area. I can't stay outside very long if it's below freezing, or I get even worse pain. Does anyone else experience th...

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Hair clippers?

I'm new here.  I had my ICD implanted in 2021.  I had multiple "therapies" in the month of December.  With a little more research, I have been educated about the possibility of a false shock or not operating correctly due to the magnet field of other devices.

Has anyone heard of someone receiving a shock while getting a haircut from the clippers?

Thanks in advance.  

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The beta question

In 2007 I had a bypass - they gave me the heart patient cocktail : beta blocker , Crestor , aspirin , and fish oil 

i have taken that stuff like religion since . The Beta blocker slows down my heart rate ...

could this be the cause or a factor in my hearts AV node failing 3 years ago ???

Now that I am paced what do I need it ?  Tje device controls my heart rate ...right ?

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Pacemaker Physical Limitations

Hi, I recently had a biventricular pacemaker implant (3 weeks ago). 

I volunteer at a local food pantry driving a box truck to pick up food donations from the local Walmarts and Sams Club. This requires loading and unloading pallets of food with a manual pallet jack. Some of these pallets weigh over 500 pounds loaded.

I obviously haven't done this during my recovery from the surgery and am wondering if anyone else has had this experience of pushing and pulling heavy loads...

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Pain

If "no pain no gain " is a thing I am set for some HUGE gains with my new pacemaker !!!

the took my 3 year old one out and replaced it -

Removal which I was awake for hurt and now recovery hurts !

glad it's over and I'm excited for my expected gains !!

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Irregular heartbeat

Hello, my wife has a two-wire pacemaker. It was stuck due to AV block condition. AV block condition becomes more evident under medication. Recently, a sequence like this started to occur in your heartbeats. One, two, three strikes, some waiting and one hard strike. Our doctor said it was due to extra systoles; But my wife nearly always feel them. She is very uncomfortable with the situation. Started taking 2.5 mg concor and 150 mg rhytmonorm. Medications provide some relief; but it can't...

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Pacemaker

While checking my blood pressure .machine says irregular heartbeat it that normal as I've got pacemaker?

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Backpacking with S-ICD

Hi there,
First time posting, new member of the club. Got a S-ICD implanted a few months ago and have been struggling finding backpacks that are compatible, or hacks. I'm sure this question is somewhere on the forum but wondering what others have done. Specifically about long distance backpacking packs with some weofjtt. It seems the device is right on the money spot. 
 

I don't want to let this thing prevent me from doing safe physical activities. I know my...

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Round 2 ...

A little about my experience - 

2007 44 years old 5 way heart bypass 

2019 - AV node stopped working - installed a single wire PM 

2024 - new PM with additional wire pacing another chamber plus ICD wire .

 

i was told .... in some cases (20% of single wire wearers end up where I am )

 

what got it all going ?  I was having a regular stress test which was said to be "normal "

When I read it my EF was 30% wh...

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Only a number, not a sentence

I just got a call from my cardiologist... my other message for today was somewhat of a vent session on my apparent lack of "care" with my current doctors. I had left a discouraged message for him after my last appointment when it was clear that he really wasn't feeling well and told me he had Covid the week before. Well... I guess he felt bad about that because he called me just now and said he wanted to talk over my concerns with medications and my EF. What I wrote in my messag...

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Doctor frustration

I wonder just how many people on this incredible forum are as frustrated with their medical care as I am? In November I was doing well, and all of my doctors were fine with the idea of me coming in after a year if all went well and there were no complications. Then came the complication of getting a shock for a serious A-fib that could have taken me out if I didn't have a defibrillator. That caused a rash of new appointments and another echo of which didn't result in any new news. On...

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SPO2

Hi everyone,

I just bought a Wellue O2 ring to wear during the night. I'll probably return it due to accuracy issues, but thought I would ask here first.

I am paced at 60-130, and use CPAP.

According to the graphs generated by the ring, my pulse will dip down to 46. If I am paced at a minimum of 60, is it possible for my pulse rate to go down that far below? I trust the PM more than the ring.

Thanks.

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Medical Mariijuana

Does anyone use THC to relax ?

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Solar Flares and Pacemakers

Question of the year for me... since solar flares have become a common topic lately.. I am beginning to wonder if anyone has information or wondered if solar flares can affect pacemakers? 
 

If solar flares can affect pacemakers or disrupt it... isn't this a conversation we should all be having with our doctors just incase? 

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Fear

I live with a sense of fear ever since a bypass 17! Years ago .

There isn't much time o don't think about and when I get little twinges I notice and wonder 

 

can I think into being what I fear most ?

 

does anyone else live with such fear ? How do you manage it ? 

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Here I am again ..

Well here I am again .... In 2007 bad a 5x bypass .44 years old .
2019 my AV node stopped working so I had a pacemaker installed .
This year i learned my EF rate was 30 - heart failure in April .

Now its 2024 and I just had a new PM installed with new wires - one is a "shocker " then other pacing the LV 

scares me to think where or how this all ends !

 

what brought me in this time is chest pressure that never went away - not pain but...

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Question about Carvedilol

I've been taking a relatively small dose of carvedilol for over a year, 6.5mg twice daily. Two weeks ago my cardiologist wanted me to go to 12.5mg twice daily of which I'm tolerating well so far, but I gradually got there instead of just doubling the dose. Now he wants to double it again and I'm nervous because a lot of people don't tolerate the higher doses. What are some of your thoughts and experiences with this drug? Did any of you tolerate it well in the beginning but hav...

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Increased HR, any ideas please?

Hello there I hope you are all doing well,

 

I have been experiencing some strange symptoms for a couple of weeks now and i wondered if any of you have had similar experiences, or have any ideas as to what could be going on. 

 

My heart rate keeps randomly increasing from its usual 65 ish beats to around 95 beats. It stays like that until I eventually go too sleep, and this could be for hours. I'm not quite sure what is causing it? when it happens i...

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Is it the pacemaker?

While I was on, I figured I'd post my Bardy monitor results.. even though it leaves me with more questions than answers. In the summary it says "Although pacemaker indication states yes, there were no instances of pacemaker activity." The next line states "Symptom episodes of Ectopic Atrial Rhythm and AT may actually be atrial pacing." Maybe I'm not understanding correctly, but these seem like completely contradictory statements..  He did say in office th...

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You know you're wired when...

You make store alarms beep.

Member Quotes

Yesterday was my first day mountain biking after my implant. I wiped out several times and everything is fine. There are sports after pacemakers!