Most Recent Messages

Thumping Diaphragm

I had a pacemaker since 1997 . The Doctor just added a 3rd lead, since then I have had a feeling like my heart is beating in my stomach. They tried to adjust the settings and it helped some.But I am getting really agiatated. Can anyone help me.

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Can someone help?

I'm probably just being an overly paranoid mom, but it never hurts to ask questions....right?

My daughter, Olivia, is 7yrs old and had a pacemaker implanted 3 wks ago for High Grade AV block. Her & her sister got into a scuffle this afternoon and she was fine afterward, but a few hours later started complaining of pain in the pacemaker/incision area. When I lifted her shirt, there were dark veins visible surrounding the area - that have never been visible before. She had no other v...

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Med Alert Bracelet

I ordered a Med Alert bracelet, but don't like it as the info tag is almost as wide as the top of my wrist so it is uncomfortable. Wish I could go to store and actually try some on rather than order online. I did find several websites that had some really cute ones, think I will order 2-3 more. I don't wear charm bracelet so not too interested in getting that one.

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Pacemaker Moved To Side

I just went for my 3-month pacemaker check at the doctor's. He said everything was fine and the CareLink phone check was the same as my first one - using it less than 1% - should last me for 10 years before replacement.

I told him that it had felt like it had slid slightly under my arm. When I lift my left arm to wash, I can actually move it and it kinda stands up. I am totally grossed out by it. I know . . . I have to get used to it.

He did not seemed concerned that...

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first 'shock'.


Hello Everyone.

I suppose i have been offically inducted into the pm club for real.Just got 'paced' the first time a couple of months ago.The incident of totally unexpected.I spent a couple of days in the cardiac ward for the usual tests.Everything is okay.Reassuring too know when it happens the pm is there for a reason.


Hope everyone has a nice holliiday season.

Take care all. seeker581

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my time is up

Greetings, all. I've been powered by a Medtronic PM almost 11 years. I do believe it has finally "flipped". I have wondered how/if i would know and my question has been answered - I feel like *&^$. Get winded very quickly and have to sit down and pant like a dog. I thought I would get it replaced in 2009, deductible issues, but i know i cannot wait now that I feel this way. I went to CVS and did the blood pressure machine. Every time my pulse was 67, the other numbers varied, so I have di...

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Bothersome PM

Hi everyone,

Since the initial placement of the PM and months after I really had not been aware of it physically. Lately there are times when it is bothersome. It isn't only when I am in bed either. Can these things move around in it's pocket? Does anyone know why this might be happening. Just curious!
Jessame

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Depression & Physical Symptoms

Thought some of you might find this article interesting and/or informative. I found it on the WebMD site.

Depression: Recognizing the Physical Symptoms

Most of us know about the emotional symptoms of depression. But you may not know that depression can cause physical symptoms, too. In fact, many people with depression feel pain or other physical symptoms. These include:

Headaches. These are fairly common in people with depression. If you already had migraine he...

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loop system interferance

morning everyone ,my hubby is also hard of hearing as well as having pm and merchanical mitral valve ,have been told that some things may interfer with pm ,hubby uses loop system wired up to tv and wears a recever round his neck witch sends signals to his hearing aids does any one no if this will interfer with his pm he hasnt used it since pm was fitted a few weeks ago thanx x

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FLORIDA HERE I COME!!!!

OH MY GOODNESS!!! I WILL BE IN FLORIDA ON 20TH DECEMBER!!!! So excited!!!
Anyway, Hello fellow Pacers! Pacer Chicks and Cabg!

Now, any advice as I was to start swimming again! Haven't been in absolutely ages (3 years!!!) any advice regarding my right arm/chest (where Gerry the Pacemaker lives!). And also weight training... just want to lift very light weights!!!! All advice gratefully received as usual!!

Thanks so much and chat soon!
Love, Loopy Lou xxxxxxxx...

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Ejection Fraction

Hi everyone, found the following information from the Mayo Clinic Website.....and it's understandable!! yippee.

Ejection fraction is a measurement of the capacity at which your heart is pumping.

During each heartbeat cycle, the heart contracts and relaxes. When your heart contracts, it ejects blood from the two pumping chambers (ventricles). When your heart relaxes, the ventricles refill with blood. No matter how forceful the contraction, it doesn't empty all of the blood...

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Heart's Surplus - Power for Pacemakers?

Hi Everyone, I found this on the American Heart Association's website:

Heart’s surplus energy may help power pacemakers, defibrillators

Study highlights:
• In an experimental study researchers show a beating heart may produce enough energy to power a pacemaker or defibrillator.
• An experimental microgenerator captured enough surplus heart energy to provide 17 percent of the power needed to run an implantable pacemaker.
• Generator refinements could yield sm...

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Atrial fibrillation and ablation

Hi
I like to seek some comments and views of ablation.

I have brady/tachy syndrome and atrial fibrillation with underlying hypertrophy cardiomyopathy. I have a PM implanted 2+ years back, and is on Sotalol and aspirin. I have no major problems all year long. Recent check-up however show-up new statistics
1. Increase incidence of atrial fibrillation since last check-up 1 year ago.
2. Intensity of afib increased from prior year readings.
3. Total 6 afib events gre...

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Breathlessness

  • by Ajay
  • 2008-12-06 01:12:53
  • ICDs
  • 4780 views
  • 5 comments

Hi,

I got a ICD + PAcemaker (Combo) device 2 months back. Everything went well for the initial 2 weeks and slowly i developed loss of breath. I had discussions with my doctor and per his advise my medicine for pumping the heart and for BP ( Medicine Cardace) was increased to 2.5 mg BD. It helped me initially with no episodes of breathlessness but again I am developing the same problem. My doctor advises taking Lasix during these episodes however I need advise from all who have got thi...

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Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Hello everyone, I had my ICD implanted on November 11th of this year and this site has been incredible in helping me adjust to it and the changes it has brought to my life both good and bad. I'm writing now because of the underlying condition that precipitated the need for the ICD, my cardiomyopathy. In 2.5 years I have had no contact with other dilated cardiomyopathy patients and have never found a site anywhere near as comprehensive for DC as this site is for ICD/PM recipients. Never knowin...

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Terrified At 19!!!!

I am 20 years old now. I was 19 when I got my pacemaker. It all started with an earache. My mom and I went to my MD. My MD noticed that I had a low heart rate (40 BPM). In which I never paid any mind to before. So I go to work that night and working in telemetry I put myself on the monitor. That morning I was put in the hospital with a 3rd degree Heart Block. My cardiologist did not know what to do. So they sent me home until I passed out behind the wheel of my car receiving only 4 stitc...

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Exercise for arm?

Does anybody have any suggestions for specific exercises to rehab the affected arm?

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Pacemaker Rate

Hi,

I have a question that I don't know if anyone can answer. If your pacemaker rate is set at 60 and when you take your blood pressure your heart rate is almost always 60 (very seldom ever higher), does it mean that you are being paced all the time to be at the 60 rate or that your heart is beating on its own at 60?

Judy

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Pretty funny ...

So I have been having to explain whata pacemaker is to my friends and being 13 it is difficult to come up with something that everyone can understand so I tell them that it is basically a battery for your heart .
Well just recently I got a new PM and my boyfriend came to visit me in the hospital so he says just casually to me as he was sitting in the chair ... So how is your new duracell working ???
I just thought I would share !

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was told nothing

hi everyone well hubby had his pm about 8 weeks ago had a few little problems since ,well he had his first pm cheak yesterday ,and as this all new to us we asked a few questions and was told absolutly nothing ,and was just told you dont need to no that ,all you need to no is that its working fine ,i asked a few questions on how much work his pm is actuly doing ,she done a few adjustments we came out feeling like he had had somthing done but not told what .any one else hit a brick wall when askin...

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You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

Member Quotes

A pacemaker suddenly quitting is no more likely to happen than you are to be struck by lightening.