Most Recent Messages

Pacemaker Lead

Hi. Tomorrow will be 3 months since I had a pacemaker implanted. I have only 1 lead. Sometimes I have a burning pain or just pain in the top of my chest where my lead is. I could just touch that area and it is really sore.

Do you think it is because I'm being more active now? I was just doing a chore that required arm lifting and I noticed how sore it was afterwards.

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Bradycardia and Sick Sinus Syndrome

Good evening!

I was wondering if anyone has been diagnosed with this condition. I went for my EP study and my doctor says that I do not need a pacemaker as he believes that it can be controlled through medication and I was wondering if anyone knows what type of medication that would be.(my follow up visit isn't for another week)

Thanks!

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FYI to All

Good morning !

I have posted this link before, but, I feel it bares repeating:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/index.html

It is the most informative & complete site I have found: loaded with condition explanations & visuals..( both stable & animated ).

Traveling through all the links is a long journey, so pack a lunch and have plenty of water on hand...you can bookmark..( or add to favorites )...the link in order to take excursions as your time all...

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firefighting career over?

I have recently been blessed with a shiny new pacemaker and recovering at home and feeling fine. I've spent the past 20 years enjoying my career as a paid firefighter in a small coastal community in New England. My preliminary investigations report that having a pacemaker is a fatal wound regarding my career as a "full duty" firefighter. Unfortunately, small fire departments usually don't have permanent "desk jobs", which would mean early retirement for anyone not fit for structural firefighting...

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Medical Bracelets, tears and chocolates

Well, here I sit in my kitchen sporting a so called beautiful medical ID bracelet on my left arm. I am not happy about this, nor am I pleased. I feel as if I have given in, that I have lost a battle. To the folks who love me it is a blessing. They can relax as they like to say... about me. They have been wishing that I would wear one since I was "blessed" with the PM in 2005!

I am reminded each time I move my arm that to a certain degree that I am not 100% dependent on myself. I ha...

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Ultrasound with Pacemaker

I got the word today that there was something irregular in a mammogram I had on Tuesday. I'm scheduled for an ultrasound next Thursday and from a search on here, found that some medical personnel don't want to do ultrasound on those of us with devices (I have a PM/ICD). I was sort of dumbstruck when the doc called me & forgot to ask which side it was on. The Medtronic site sounds like it's a doable test. Has anyone here had any experience with ultrasounds & devices? I was looking forward to the...

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what is that saying......

".......something........stick a needle in my eye"

Well, I've just returned from the eye doctor, and I can proudly say that I've lived that saying. Whatever that saying is. I wish I could remember it. I know it would mean much more to me if I could remember. I hate my alzheimer moments. Really embarrasing. Do ya'll ever avoid people, or better yet, avoid introducing your spouse to people you know because you can't remember the names of the people you want to introduce them to. I'm tel...

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MESSAGE TO BLAKE OUR LOVELY FOUNDER!!

Hello Blake!!

Regarding Chat Room!!!!

Is there any chance we could have a little box to the right of this page, listed, 'currently in chat', so without having to go into the chat room (which takes ages on my computer - then only to find out that someone just left!!) then we can see at a glance who is there already?! Similar to your box which says... 'Who's Online?

Now, I'm rubbish with computers so not sure if this can happen!!! lol!

Anyway, thanks s...

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CHAT TONIGHT? GMT 9PM?!!!

Hello my Pacer Chick Pals and fellow Clubbies!!!!

I am going to try and get into chat tonight! My computer keeps freezing - but will do my best to meet you in there, with a tube of Pringles, and nice bottle of wine, Vicks, Mr Clooney..... ha ha ha! Oh, and a pillow to chuck at Ang!!!!!

Take care everyone and stay well.......

Love & Hugs, Loopy Lou xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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How long must I wait?

Hello I have a question.How long were you told to wait before lifting your arm ? I'd like to know from several people.Were you told to exersise the arm?I had my PM installed 10/27/08 and am returning to work Dec. 1st. I have a very physical job. I am a CNA at an assisted living facility and I will need to lift and transfer patients-some are very heavy. I am finding that the affected arm is getting weak. I dont think at this point I could lift that arm over my head.I am wondering when I can begi...

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All the right questions

HI Guys, " Seems like deja voo all over again" (thank you Yogi Berra!) Met with Medtronic rep and asked important questions on the settings. He did not have any previous reports and could not pull them up on his laptop. So much information was n/a. He did "tweak the r/r sensitivity up, and this has left me sob on just the slightest movement. He is in only for a short time in the am on Tues. So I will have to wait till next week to put this setting back to the "normal" setting. He indicated I...

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Atrophy!

I had my PM place in July, I had it placed underneath the muscle to give myself some extra cushioning, because I am still young and really hard on my body. But I have started to get some really noticeable atrophy on my left side. No one seems to know what to say or do about it, and my cardiologist pretends its not even there when I bring it up. Has anyone else had anything like this

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I want options!

I have served in the US Army for over seven years now, but my implant device is inevitably going to have me medically retired from the service. Not that I mind. Here is my dilemma, I want to go back to school. Actually I should say I want to go to school, I have dabbled and hand a decent amount of credits but nothing to dedicated. This is where my question comes in, when I go back to school I want to walk on to a football program. Its a passion of mine, I played through high school, any chance I...

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Needing Advice

I was diagnosed with POTS three years ago and have struggled with a plummeting heart rate. My cardiologist recommended a pacemaker today. I am 34 years old and a little nervous about the prospects of getting a pacemaker. I am nervous about how long the leads last etc, etc. I would love some advice, especially if there is anyone out there with POTS. Thanks.

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Hello

Hi Everyone

Well i have not posted in along time so just thought i would just say hello,i recieved my pacemaker in 12/05 and other than a infection in 2005 it has been great ticking right along but i must say that this club was wonderful during my 1st year ,after that i did not post much but always read the posts until my wife became very ill in 2006 she rcently passed away due to her illness and i miss her so much ,i got a email a couple of days ago from the pacerclub about the 2008...

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Sleeping on Side

I had my PM implanted in April of this year and have started experiencing what I call "body hiccups" at night when sleeping on my side...
I wake up and feel like my entire chest is convulsing in rhythm with my heart beats...not painful, but difficult to catch my breath. The best way to describe it is an internal hiccup over and over again. The longest "spell" lasted about 2 minutes and I always wake up in a panic feeling like I'm the victim of unneeded CPR! This occurs when sleeping on e...

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New member-new pacemaker

hello to all, I just found this site.I just recieved my pacemaker on10/27/08 and I am still short of breath and having some dizziness still.My BP is running a little low at times.Down to 95/58 at lowest today.The pacer is keeping my heart-rate above 60 though. Before the pacer my HR was downin the 20s-30s.Is anyone else still feeling crippled?I am supposed to return to work on December 1st and I am very concerned I wont be able to cut it? I am a CNA in assisted living facility.
Anyone have...

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Theres NO support

Yeah.....I decided to post m REAL feelings on the "support site".
Well after living 3 years and updating to an ICD/BiVent. pacemaker I still feel as awful as ever.
My kidneys have no shut down thanks to all this heart crap and I have been on Dialysis for nearly a year.
This support crap is for the birds and I will cancel my membership after this posting.
Life sucks with a heart condition.
Oh yes everything will be fine and you quality of life will be...

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New PM and Sleep Pattern

My PM was implanted on 11/6. Since then, my sleep pattern is different. Before the PM, I required 8 to 9 hrs of sleep to feel refreshed. Since the surgery, I sleep only 7 hrs (without fail). Anyone else out there experience sleep changes? I feel like the energizer bunny now - lots of energy.

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bp

i find myself here agian ?? how low is to low 77/43 today i have a pm/icd 68 was HR normal for me is 95/60 hr 75. how low before i look for help.what can i do to rase the bp.

thanks pm friends

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Member Quotes

Try to concentrate on how you’re able to be active again and feel normal, rather than on having a machine stuck in your body.