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To drive or not to drive

I would like to hear of experiences about driving after a shock. Were you restricted,did you continue to drive,were you driving when you received a shock? I have been doing a lot of reading about this and there are many different opinions.

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Pacemakers and Musicians

Hello Everyone,

I just received my pacemaker on Friday July 3rd. I had dizzy spells and general spaciness. I had a tilt table done, and my heart stopped for sixteen seconds during the test. I was immediately given the pacemaker at that point.

I am an amateur musician, and I am wondering if there are any limitations on what equipment I can use. I play acoustic and electric guitar and bass. . Right now I don't own an amplifier, but was in the market when this occurred. Any li...

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Dehydration, infection?

Hi 1st time posting,,, just had my on-demand pacer replaced for the 1st time after 10 years of use.... and my MD told me that he tried to place the unit deeper into my pectoral muscle,. to make it look nicer,, its been almost 3 weeks and the bump over the unit is very puffy.. and swelling hasnt gone down at all... Anyone here had a pacer infection? What should I look for if I think I may have one growing..? Also Im curious if anyone on this list under the age of 35 has had asystole..(no heart b...

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High elevations?

I'm going on a trip, and will be in elevations up to 7,000 feet (l live at sea level). Will I have any pacemaker problems or heart problems? I'm doing pretty well, but sometimes get what I call a hard heart-beating at night, and it's always associated with high blood pressure. During day, blood pressure is always quite low (100/60 up to 118/78). Just didn't want to worry about going into high elevations . . . any thoughts?

~Jean

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? on insurance

I noticed on this forum that many of you talk about getting travel insurance because of your pacemaker...is this recommended and what does it cover? We go to Nassau every year and need to get the insurance if needed. Would just like some advice on the issue. Many thanks. I have only had my PM for two weeks. We don't go til first of year so surely can travel by then!

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Humpback whales help pioneer new heart treatment

Medicine has much to learn from nature. There are literally millions of medical compounds out there that could cure diseases, help improve treatment and even protect us from some types of bacteria.

Scientists have been tapping into nature's resources for inspiration on how to treat humans.

Humpback whales, sea cucumbers and Australian red algae are just a few of the species leading the way in modern medicine.

The humpback whale has unwittingly concealed a design...

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A Lucky 4th

Hey to all;

I am a newbie! so new that this time last week I was just beginning to have mild chest pains...that got progressively worse until 5:00am last Tuesday morning when I finally got smart and went to my doc as a walk-in. That didn't go real well...he gave me two nitros and called an ambulance and put me in the hospital. The next day I was transferred to another hosp where they did a heart cath (I had had an angioplasty w/2 stents in 2002) All of that was fine...good stents;...

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Update Re: "thumps" in my chest

Hello-
I've been meaning to post about my checkup but boy have things been crazy!!
The Dr and tech think that the thumps I have been feeling are PVC's due to the ICD/lead. They can't see them on my readout because I only have one lead. I guess 2 leads are required to get a reading on a PVC. Everything else checked out ok and there were no abnormal rhythms on record. The general opinion was that once more scar tissue built up that the PVC's would go away. He wasn't too happy that...

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cardioversion or defibrillation

  • by lb151
  • 2008-07-06 10:07:22
  • ICDs
  • 2263 views
  • 4 comments

I had my first "kick" this week. I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow. How can I tell if it was a cardioversion or a true defib? I'm pretty darn sure it was the defib but am now questioning myself. I went down in a faint fast,which I have never done,had a kick which was dreamlike,,then another kick. Afterwards,weak and wobbly with a prickly feeling across the top of my chest. Anyone have anything like this before?

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Hi Everyone!!

Hi Everyone,
Sorry I have not had time to log on to the site much lately but I have been checking in now and then to see how you all are.
Thanks so much for the Birthday wishes......I thought you would have all forgotten me.
Had a lovely morning with Billie and Brian yesterday.They came over on the ferry from Tasmania and are starting their holiday just across the bay from where we live... We will be catching up a bit and doing a round of our favourite shops.
I dont think our...

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Pacemaker Removed/ICD Implanted

Hi,

In 12/07 I got a pacemaker after passing out two times due to really low heart rates. After a very long recovery with a lot of problems, I finally was able to return to work on 5/29/08. Everything seemed fine for three weeks then I started to feel like I was going to pass out again all the time. Pacemaker interrogation showed that I had several episodes of v-tach five days in a row.

Electrophysiologist did an EP study on Thursday. She said she didn't expect to find an...

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Film

Hi! I am a brand new member and have just had my pacemaker for two weeks...had a heart attack and two stents one month earlier, then the pacemaker four weeks later. When I looked at this site last week there was a posting that talked about a film online of a pacemaker surgery and it gave the link. I thought I had saved it, but obviously did not. Does anyone have the link?

I am getting along fine, just sore and incision still very tender. I just ordered the seatbelt softtouch pa...

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1 week UPDATE!

Well my fellow Pacers, I'm officially 1week and 2 days post implant. I had the Chest Pains, and the Skin Break Down, PVC's and Runs of PAC's, and I can actually say things are setteling down, for the next two weeks that is.lol.. The chest pain was inflammation, and Motrin and more rest helped that alot. Then I started having the Pvc's and PAC's that my lovely pacemaker recorded. I have an appt on monday to go over all that. Well I'm paing at 10% right now lol... I don't have the ablation till...

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Shocks from light switch

my mother has a pacemaker, she received a bad jolt from her lightswitch, causing her to pass out, fall, and lay on the floor part of the night. We changed that switch, but tonight she told me she got another shock. Her housekeeper and our family have never been shocked by this switch. Could it be her pacemaker causing this.

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(((((((((( A DAY TO CELEBRATE! ))))))))))

KAY'S BIRTHDAY ( rewiredaussiegirl ) JULY 5, 1939

May life's simple pleasures, large and small, make this Birthday
one of your finest,
one of your best, and
one of your very happiest.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAY!
Have a great one.

~ Dominique ~

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Using a WII

I have a Guidant 1290 pacemaker... With my grandchildren having the new wii electronic game I had heard that it may interfear with my pacemaker.. Has anyone else heard of this??? My Senior Center is thinking of getting a wii...

Thanks in advance.... Patti

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######## ANOTHER CELEBRATION! ########

MARTY'S BIRTHDAY ( plumberman ) JULY 5, 1956.

Today is your day to shine, to dream, and to make some plans for things you'd like to try.
To do what you want, to have your cake and eat it too, and to celebrate yourself, because this day belongs to you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARTY!
Have a super day!

~ Dominique ~

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Taser

From time to time we see people ask for an opinion on what would happen if a person with a pacemaker were to get tasered. While the following may not answer that question directly, it does say to me that I never want to find out what may happen.

Before someone asks, I have no idea if this is true or not. It was given to me as actually happening.

Pocket Taser Stun Gun

A guy who purchased his lovely wife a pocket Taser for their anniversary sent this:

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After a long hiatus, I am finally back..with an update!

Hello everyone,

Many of you seem new and may not know of my situation; I hope everyone else who knows of my situation is still out there...I've certainly missed coming to the site here.

To recall, I am now a 37 year old woman and I wear a pacemaker in my left shoulder and last year started to notice that my left arm was swelling and I has having a lot of pain. Some of you had suggested a possible blockage, or that it's called SVC syndrome. In addition, I also have a history...

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Re: Update

I recently posted a message regarding pacing and blood pressure. I was very pleased with all of your responses! Thank you so much!

My rate response is turned on. Everytime I get my pacer checked whether it has been 24 hours, or 3 months, I have always used the max amount of recordable space on my pacemaker which is 254 rate drop responses.
I currently pace at about 70%. The parameters are set to pace me at 90 bpm for 5 minutes when my hr drops more than 25 beats per minute in a s...

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You know you're wired when...

Your electric tooth brush interferes with your device.

Member Quotes

I have had my pacer since 2005. At first it ruled my life. It took some time to calm down and make the mental adjustment. I had trouble sleeping and I worried a lot about pulling wires. Now I just live my life as I wish.