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:-(

I just got shocked for the first time last night. I've had my ICD for about a year and a half and was doing some cardio type stuff and felt winded. I just stopped to rest a bit, I didn't feel like I was going to pass out or anything and within 5 seconds BAM it hit me. It didn't feel anything like others have said on here though. I just remember hearing a loud POP! sound in my head and seeing a flash but I don't remember any sort of pain involved with the shock. I was pretty freaked out by it tho...

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Colonoscopy

I'm scheduled for my first colonoscopy next week. I was awake for my pacemaker surgery with no problems. For the colonoscopy I also don't want to be given any drugs which put me "out" or be told that I wasn't "out" yet can't remember what happened. Can anybody share experiences, advice, or suggestions?

Vonnie

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Waterski

Hi everyone! I am a new member, finding the Club site yesterday, I had an ICD installed on 10/09/08 - I'm doing well and was OK'ed to return to work on 11/21/08. I have a question - Does anyone in the PMC waterski (?) if you do, do you protect you PM / ICD with anything (?) if so what do you use?

Thanks! barefooter

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Energy

Hi! Does anyone know if having a pacemaker can affect energy levels? Also, my PM is set at 60 bpm, but I feel like it's too low for me at rest. I sometimes feel weird when I am at total rest..somehow my heart feels weighted for a second here and there (if that makes any sense) and it sort of makes me put effort into taking a breath when this occurs. Is this common? I know some people can feel the PM kick in, but I just don't know if this is it. I hadn't noticed this with my first PM of 10 years....

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Depression

I think this may be very helpful ..especially to the newbies!!

Sept. 29, 2008 -- Heart disease and depression are so common that all heart patients should be routinely screened for depression and referred for professional help if necessary, according to new recommendations issued by the American Heart Association.

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080929/check-all-heart-patients-for-depression

thanks
Pookie

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Disability Problems already

Well I guess its started. Off on disability per my cardioligist and three weeks after I have been off work, well actually they let me go because of absences since my fmla ran out. The insurance company that i paid weekly to have are questioning my disability could take up to a month or more. Called and they got crappy with me I thought so anyways the lady says well the excuse is a little vage, so I asked her what i was supposed to do, she goes oh well we will send your doctor a questionare to fi...

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Pacer is out!!

Well, finally got the pacer taken out this morning. I am doing ok but sore. It is so wired without this thing in me for the first time in 11 years and I hope I can sleep better now that I don't have to feel my heartbeat every night.
My heart rate is now in the 70's rather than stay at 60 when I had the pacemaker, wow, I have so much energy for the first time in 11 years although I am still hurting but I have energy!

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From 160 to 60

Hi there,
I had my PM implanted 3 month ago because a complete AV block do to a complications after a "normal" ablation. My PM is reading my normal pulse and I have a max. limitation at 160, My doc told me that in 5 month we can try to go a bit higher but I have to wait.

The problem is that I used to do lots of climbing and hiking. Now I'm starting with easy tracks and I'm getting use to all the "new-strange" feelings. One thing that's bordering me a lot is that my pulse is goi...

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PM on Friday, 11/21...

Ok, so I go for my PM on Friday. I am a bit nervous, as one might expect. One, I hate having to have it because I'm only 35; two) any kind of surgery is a little scary; three) I'm worried about recovery and not lifting my arm for 6 weeks with a 2 and 4 year old.

The more I read, the less I feel I know about it all. My heartrate sits at 40 most of the time so I know it'll be pacing me 100% of the time. I see comments about the top of the range. I'm wondering if I even need a top?...

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Magnetic Card Readers?

So we have card readers for security where I work. I didn't even realize they are magnetic until my boss was asking me if that was going to cause me problems. Anybody know?
AC

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calf pain?

Did any of you expierience calf pain after getting your pacemaker? This started for me 2 days ago. I did walk some that day but not that much. It doesnt seem to be going away. It is worse with walking. It is in both calfs.
Should I be concerned? Should I call the Cardiologist? I have my pacer now for 21 days.I am feeling better otherwise and actually had a pretty positive outlook today.Dont know how I'll feel when I go back to work though as its pretty physical.
Thank You all so much f...

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What do you call a...

recipient of an ICD.

There are pacergirls, pacerchicks, pacers and probably pacerboys. But what do you call someome with an ICD?

An ICDer?


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Living With A Pacemaker

Hi Everyone! I was asked to repost this....so here it is...I didn't compose this, I found it, but can't remember where!!

Managing Your Pacemaker

Do your part in managing your pacemaker. You may have to have someone help you, but there are certain things you'll need to do to manage your pacemaker successfully. These include:
Understand your acceptable heart rate. Before you leave the hospital, discuss with your doctor the specific maximum heart rate above your pacemak...

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PM removal

I had my PM installed about 2 years ago. I didn't think I needed it then, and I still don't. I was feeling weak. My pulse rate stayed in the 40's and 50's except one time when it drop to 38 breifly. My doctor said that he didn't think I needed it. I told him that my wife said that she observered it once being 38. He recheck his information and said it had breifly and that he would leave it up to me, but I had to decide before 1pm today( it was about 9am at that time). The nurses were telling me...

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PM popping

I have a strange question, has anyone felt their PM pop in their chest? Last year I was DX with breast cancer. Since then I have had 8 surgeries, including relocating my PM from the left to the right. About a month ago I had my final reconstruction surgery. Since when I move my right arm backwards or over my head, my PM actually pops. I am guessing the muscle moves and therefore causes my PM to bounce around.
MY PM surgeon was in the OR during my last surgery, and said everything was okay...

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New Person

Hi, Everyone!

I'm kind of new here. I'm not sure what to say or ask. This is the first time I have ever posted a message on a club sight, so I'm alittle intimidated. Sorry.
Charles.

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Single Lead Atrial or Ventricle Paced.

Hello to all,
I've got a question to ask? is there any one that is Atrial Paced for Bradycardia. Reason for this question is that I am Ventricle Paced for Bradycardia ,after three Holter monitor tests they all showed that my heart stops 2/3 times during my sleep for 7-10 sec therefore PM, during the day all is fine .I attended a meeting at my local hospital and manage to catch a few moments with a Professor in Electrophysiology and told him about my condition and showed him my Holter result...

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riding bike

ok so ive had my icd for about 4 months now and recently decided to start some exercise i just had a baby on July/08 and 1 day later got the implant it so hard at times because i just don't seem to have the same strength i had before icd is it common to have this emotional stress? my doctor recommended a phycologist due to that it can be still post partum depression or even deprssion itself i recently tried riding a bike 10 minutes later im dizzy..im feeling faint and even started to see blurry...

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is this normal

hi again i was just woundering if somone can help with a question is 100 bpm with skipped beats and a perminant pacemaker set at 60 is this a normal beat im all new to this thanx for any help

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Scared of doing anything

I've had my PM since late July. After a lot of small problems, my doctor has set my PM. My problem is I am afraid to allow my heart rate to increase. When it gets over 100, I can feel myself panic. The doctor wants me walking to lose weight but I can't bring myself to do it.I won't even go to a movie or anyplace where there are a lot of people or where I'll have to walk a lot for fear that I'll collapse. I never acted like this before! Has anyone else felt like this? I have this fear that I'll d...

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You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

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