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I'm 27 with a new ICD

Hi, I am 27 and just had my pacer/diffib put in a week ago. I have been having terrible anxiety and depression and I'm just not coping well at all. I really don't know if it is from the meds (Coreg/ Lisinaprilll) I'm on or just the pacer itself...I also just had a baby 9 weeks ago but it seems like this has all hit me at once. I never even knew I had a heart problem until 3 months before my baby was due. How long does it take to wrap your head around all this?? I just want to feel normal again...

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update

Hi Everyone!!! Im back. God bless all of you and all the new people out there. Just wanted to give an update on my condition. I am doing better...thank God. I havent had any fainting spells and i can sleep so much better now. I occasionally get the pvcs and sometimes feel the crazy flutter..but i am really learning to live with this pacemaker thing. It really has become part of me now.
On a different note...i am recently going through a lot of stress in my life and feel like my chest hurts...

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pain

I am 6 wks post op for my PM. I am experiencing chest discomfort. The doctors can't find anything wrong. Is this part of the healing process? How long does it take to heal? My lower lead is placed wrong. Could this cause the pain? the doctors are leaving it up to me to have it removed or not, since I don't use it. They say its more serious to take it out than just leave it. Has this ever happpened to anyone? I use the PM top lead about 28% of the time. Also, I get very tired after min...

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new patient

Hi I received my pacemaker about 6wks ago. My heart rate was at 20. This caused concern to the doctors. I had no symptoms and felt fine. I'm really having a hard time getting my head around this. I've experienced some problems and would like to talk to some of you about it. I've had to be adjusted 4 times already. I'm using the battery life very rapidly with really no explanation. What should I be expecting? I like to work with power tools and the doctors say I can't do that anymore....

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Fainted

PM checked and its ok. One wk post op. Fainted after dinner while laying down. They do not seem to know why. I did this due to fainting. Did I put this pm in me for nothing? Now I worry I will continue to faint and be stuck with this in chest. Maybe wrong diagnosis. Heart rate was 19 bpm on monitor before surgery.

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Can anyone else feel the pacing?

I had my pacemaker implanted in 1996 after flat-lining in the ER. I apparently not only have bradycardia, but also have an abnormal reacgtion to sevre stress/anxiety - my blood pressure and pulse drop even further. However, they set the floor at 40 bpm, and it apparently hardly ever had to pace me.

Up until a week or so ago, I pretty much ignored the pacemaker, as it never went off - or only in a deep sleep. It then went off ca. 255 times in one day (max the memory will register)...

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suturing down a PM

I have a question. I'm over 3 weeks post-op and the PM site still hurts all the time; feels like something hanging from the chest by a thread sewed into the skin.
I read that sometimes they suture the PM into place.
I'm just wondering if this may be the problem?

where do they suture the PM to? the skin, or internal, and won't it hurt or does the stitch dissolve after some time?

Ken

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Not pacemaker dependent

Thanks for your comments. The reason I was concerned is that I contacted a Medtronic rep and she stated that I should contact my EP as to whether or not I could have the ultrasound. Also the Physical Therapist wanted the okay prior to treatment. I have a PM due to third degree heart block with bradycardia. I was told so very little information at the time of my implant and I am learning little by little.

Sharon B.

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my baby back in hospital yet again

thank you all so much for your kind words it really helps me so so much. After coming home from his scar infection i knew he still wasn't quite right. He was grumpy crying and not feeding good. He had his appointment to see how his scar was. It was healing ok. they did a scan on his heart and found he had fluid around it. They wasn't happy and kept him in. My heart sank, not again this is not happining. The day after the fluid had increased around the heart. They have started intravenous an...

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Anyone want to mee up??

Just wondering............. if anyone is interested in getting together for a day of fun, conversation, etc etc compare scars!! etc! I am not sure how many people live in the UK - particularly the south....? Although that said - for ally you people who may be holidaying to the UK let me know! You never know we could meet up too!

I have received some lovely messages from people and despite being some distance away from each other was thinking about meeting up somewhere ....

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MUSICAL PACEMAKER

Japan is investigating a defect in an Apple iPod after it shot out sparks whilst recharging. Not one to miss an opportunity Steve Jobs has re-marketed the product as the iHeart Pacemaker.

Cheers pete

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PACEMAKER BOOK

If you would like to learn a bit about the developement of pacemakers, then "THE MAKING OF THE PACEMAKER" by WILSON GREATBATCH is worth reading. It can be found at a discount at ABEBOOKS . Type in ABEBOOKS in google.
I have sourced many difficult to find books through ABEBOOKS from many countries and the site has never let me down. Cheers pete

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MESSAGE FOR LOOPY LOU

Loopy Lou check you private messages. Cheers peter

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Road vibration causes increase in heart rate

I have ARVC and was fitted with an ICD approx 7 years ago. I suffered many VT's and subsequent shocks untill last October when I was treated with ablation. Since then my heart rythm has been fairly stable except when travelling along a bumpy road in a car with fairly hard suspension. This has got worse since my pacing technician adjusted the Rate Response, Activity Threshold from Medium Low to Low. She adjusted the setting because I complained that I need a bit more "go" when exerting myself or...

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Understanding the Pacemaker

Just wondering if anyone new of a site or book that would explain the pacemaker and how it works. I guess if i'm going to have this thing forever I would like to understand it, they alway make adjustments and talk about it and i have no idea what they are saying.. Thanks Stacy

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pookie

chat? jess

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Member name

I was wondering if anybody knew how to go about changing your member name here on the site.

Sincerely,
Stacey28

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##### A SPECIAL BELATED WISH #####

TO DENISE ( denise61 )

Denise's Birthday was August 6, and I missed it. SO SORRY!!!!!!!!!
So, this is for you Denise.

It's a little late to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY....... So, I'll just wish you all the happy things in life.
Hope Your Day Was Wonderful!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! ( Better late than never, he he) :)

~ Dominique ~

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pacemaker life

im suprised too unless its different here in the UK. My pacemaker is a medtronic. but they did tell me 10 - 15 yrs and ive looked it up too and it says the same. I have cpied a pasted below information i found on site this site :http://www.aku.edu/AKUH/health_awarness/perm_pace.shtml

How Long Should a Pacemaker Last?
Advances in technology have made pacemakers safe, reliable and long-lasting. Modem batteries lose power slowly, not all at once, accordingly, there is no danger of...

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Not pacemaker dependant

I contacted my EP this week to inquire as to whether I could have ultrasound treatment on my left knee that I have been having some problems with. The EP told me after consulting with a cardiologist that there was no problem having the treatment as I am not pacemaker dependent. I did not at the time she was on the phone question her about this. Has anyone been told this? Does this mean I really do not need a pacemaker?

Sharon B.

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You know you're wired when...

You’re a battery-operated lover.

Member Quotes

I love this new part of me, and very, very thankful that this technology exists and I know that it's all only going to get better over time.