Most Recent Messages

Smooth top stoves??

I was reading in the book they gave me about my ICD and it says to stay at least 2 feet from a smooth top stove.....I was wondering if anyone has ever had any problems with their ICD while cooking on one? Thanks.

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PM has moved....After over a year

I have noticed in the past week that my PM has moved or turned. It was put in June 11,2007. I called my doctors nurse and she said that it isn't unusual for this to happen but to keep an eye on it, just don't touch it. She said she would stop in and see me when I come to have my next stress test.

What could have caused this to hapen now? I haven't done anything unusual. Ths morning before I got up I was lying on my side and felt a bit of uncomfortable pain coming from the PM pocket.

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PM has moved....After over a year

I have noticed in the past week that my PM has moved or turned. It was put in June 11,2007. I called my doctors nurse and she said that it isn't unusual for this to happen but to keep an eye on it, just don't touch it. She said she would stop in and see me when I come to have my next stress test.

What could have caused this to hapen now? I haven't done anything unusual. Ths morning before I got up I was lying on my side and felt a bit of uncomfortable pain coming from the PM pocket.

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Thanks!

Thanks to all you lovely people who have sent private messages and replied to my last postings - without your on-going support I really don't know who I would cope with being a new pacemaker girl!

Hope to be in chat later tonight gmt!

AND ANOTHER THING ..... the british weather continues to do what it does best.................... rain, rain and did I say... RAIN!!

Hope you are all well and chat soon!

Loopy Lou xx

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What are we debating?

This seems as good a forum as any to state one more twist to this very important subject. To cut to the chase, we are talking about human lives and the right to live in health. If we are healthy, we can be productive participants in society. What happens to those of us who struggle to put food on the table let alone find the hundreds of dollars for insurance premiums?

Are certain people more entitled to health care than others? Although I can hear a resounding "no!", [I hope], then ta...

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Infection and ex-plant and new implant

Hello,

Over the past month I've been on 2 external pacemakers and have had 2 permanent ones implanted. I have a level 3 heart block as a result from a septal myomectomy and valve transplant. I then developed a staph infection on my first pacer and am being treated for endocarditis.

So, I am familiar with what the pacemakers should feel like. On the first 3 (1 permanent, one venous and one external through the chest), I was demand paced and kept a comfortable rhythm between...

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Thank You

I have been reading your postings for over a year now and I can not begin to tell you how many times you have come to my rescue. I have had a very long year and a half.

In early December 2006 I had severe back pain in the late evening, but, it went away. I thought it was from laughing to hard! Then the next morning I could not lift my left arm. I went to the Dr. the next day, took an EKG. From there I went for a stress test and was air lifted to a larger hospital. After being "sta...

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MaryAnne - HMO & Health Care

Hi MaryAnne,

In your reply to Verger on surgery and anesthesia you say "Now in Canada your surgery would be done high risk or not if it is determined you need the surgery. You see, we don't have HMO's that dictate whether you can have the surgery or not."

I wish to respond to that statement of as to me that may imply that in the USA the HMO helps the doctor make the decision on the level of care for a patient. We do not have HMO's that dictate the level of treatment for...

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I had my 6 month PM check today

Hi All,
I had my checkup today. I'm so fortunate. Mine paces about 50% in the upper chamber and so far none in my lower one.
I have had no EPISODES since I got the PM 3 years ago.
Just wanted to share with you and to say how thankful I am.

I, too, am so thankful for the wonderful people on this forum.
I've learned so much from you all during the past few months. I was able to ask intelligent questions today and got understandable answers.

The Medtron...

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Questions for the Cardiologist........

Hello everyone!

Hope you are all feeling good today! Well, another cold, windy day in Poole, Dorset UK!! Need to emigrate I think!!

Anyway to business......... I have an appointment on Thursday to see my Cardiologist and the Pacing Technician. Last time I saw the tech guy I forgot things to ask! Put me in a room with the doc and I always seem to go blank!!!

Anyway, I know I will go in with a list....(!) but need some hints as to what to ask.... This will be...

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Shoulder pain and live in Pittsburgh,PA

Hi I'm Stacey28
I had my ICD device put in last year on June 18th and I had no problems with the device or the settings. This year starting memorial day weekend I starting having shoulder pain and pain in where the device is and heat. I was wondering if there is anybody in the Pittsburgh Area that is on the site that may have had similar problems to mine. I need some help and I was wondering if there is anybody from Pittsburgh.

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Sleep Apnea

Has anyone with a PM ever been diagnoses with sleep apnea. I was diagnoses about 6yrs ago. When diagnoses the doctors said heart problems were associated with it. Since I didn't have any problems or symptoms of heart disease, I'm wondering if their connected now. The heart doc said studies are not completed to determine. A case of the chicken or the egg.

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Mammograms

Hi, does anyone know if you can have a mammogram done with a pm. I got my pm on July 3rd and I've been putting off having my mammogram for sometime now and was wondering once this pocket heals when I can get the mammogram done. Any thoughts? Thanks, Jean

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Printout

Does anyone know how to interpret the printout we get. I had one given me but no explanation. I fainted one wk after having pacemaker in and thought it would stop. Not sure what to look for on it. They said pacemaker is fine.???

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Handicap Permit

Well hello everyone its been awhile. How is everyone doing? Well Im having a problem at my College. I was told by campus safety that in order for them to continue to pick me up at my classes and drive me to my car that I would have to show proof of a disability, in the form of a Handicap Permit. I was wondering if anyone in here has gotten a Permit for them selfs and what the process would be to get one. I am not sure if my doctor will approve of it because I am not really disabled. I just have...

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Smarthealth Contact Heart Rate Monitor

I purchased one of these on line from Assist Creative Resources, Wrexham. At any time, by just placing two fingers on the watch it gives an accurate heart rate, ideal if you worry about it, or you are exercising, and wish to know your BPM.
I had excellent service and follow up from this Company, they can be trusted to supply and service anything in this line.

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Late Entry to Scubadiving

I didn't start diving until I was 50 years old (54 now). I found I really enjoy it. Has anyone gone back to diving after implant? I have an ICD/pacemaker (3 wires). My doc says I should be able to resume diving but I'd like to hear from those that have done it. I'm not too keen on an incident 80 feet under! Anybody?

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anesthesia

i'd like to ask all those out there, especially with stents and congestive heart failure, what is the big risk with anesthesia?

i've been rejected twice in the last month for needed procedures outside of the heart realm. one case , i didn't stop my blood thinners soon enough (plavix, aspirin), the other is i stopped them too soon. each doctor seems to have their own opinion on the matter.
i finally got in touch with the director of anesthesia at the hospital and he informed me...

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Lou

Sent you a PM :-)

Theresa (TKS)

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Afib-and Pumonary vein abalation??

I have a pacemaker for sinus bradacardia

and parxosmyl afib

and I am on medication liquid bete blocker 40 mg a day at

night to stop or try to limit my attacks while asleep
Apparantly pulmonary vein abalation is 85 % effective at ridding you of afib more effective if you have paroxsmyl afib opposed to chronica fib.
Has anyone gone through this operation?
How long does it last I am told 3 - 5 hours seems a long time .
What are side effets?

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You know you're wired when...

You can feel your fingers and toes again.

Member Quotes

Your anxiety is normal. It takes some of us a little time to adjust to the new friend. As much as they love you, family and friends without a device just cannot understand the adjustment we go through. That is why this site is so valuable.