Most Recent Messages

Medical I.D. bracelets

Hi All,
I am so grateful for the support I have received already and I am looking forward to the time that I can give support too as well as needing it.
I think that I saw this info on another posting but I can't find it again.
I am thinking of getting a Medic alert bracelet and was wondering if other PM recipients have them. I usually have my ID card with me in my pocket or purse but I think a bracelet with pertinent info would be more obvious and therefore useful. If one has a...

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Potassium Levels & PVC's

Hello everyone!

First of all, just a great big thanks to everyone on this site. It is so very helpful! Kudos to you all!

For the past couple of days I have been feeling pretty "funky", generally tired and spacey, blood pressure goes up/down more than usual, I have had a slight (very slight) pressure at the bottom of my throat and upper chest at times, and a bit dizzy or lightheaded and slightly nauseous. Last night my blood pressure kept rising, and the symptoms were wor...

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blood pressure increase due to pacemaker settings?

Help! Just received a dual chamber pacemaker set DDDR. Have partial AV block. Before, worked out regularly but had slightly elevated blood pressure well controlled with small dose of Diovan. Now have very elevated blood pressurs not controlled by twice the dose. Now told to take a beta blocker. Installers of pacemaker (arrythmia assoc in nothern va) claim the device does not increase blood pressure, but the only change made was the addition of the pacemaker. Since have left bundle branch...

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Help with symptoms

I am new to this group. I got a pacemaker/defribillator last year. I recently began to have chest pain in the middle of my chest, pressure in my back and then the pain moved to where the pacemaker is and I also have constant shoulder pain and I've also had heat in where the pacemaker is. I'm concerned about the symptoms also because I have one of the Medtronic Sprint Fedilus leads. My doctor doesn't seem to know what to do for it since he hasn't had anybody with these symptoms. Has anybody els...

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Thanks 4 the advice

Hey, just wanted to say thanks to everyone who commented on my post about dizziness. Symptoms have gotten better, but I still feel blah. I have a doc. appt. coming up this summer anyway, so I'll find out then. Thanks again!!!

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Price of a pacemaker

Prior to my having my pacemaker (Medtronic-dual lead) installed I had a difficult time finding anyone who could tell me what they cost. Even the hospital said they didn't know and I shouldn't worry about since my insurance would cover it.

Well I just saw my insurance claim for it. The pacemaker and leads, nothing else, was $15,422. Wow....can you believe it? The rest of the bill was about $45,000 but I also had a lot of tests beforehand.

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i'm always scared

hi i still have a really hard time accepting that i have a pacemaker/defib in me and it's been 3 years now. in 2005 when i got it, i was shocked 8 times while staying in the hospital. turned out in was "unnecessary" but i'm still scared all the time. no matter what i do, it's always in the back of my mind about getting shocked again. i don't think i'm depressed or anything but i still cry about it, i still feel like it sucks to have this in me & i'm 30 years old. i read about how people say they...

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a few questions

hello everyone,

my questions are---how does it feel to be "shocked"?

how can you tell if your pm isnt working right? or if a lead isnot in place?

i was told i would be as good as new after this, but i am better than i was, but not as good as new. i had 2nd degree heart block, brady, &was at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. my heart was in the 40s, and getting slower.

is anyone here also diabetic ? i was wondering if maybe this was the reason i am not...

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out of cardiovascular shape

Hi all,

I had my third pacer about 6 weeks ago and have recently tried to start exercising again; however, I am concerned about what type of program I should do. Prior to this surgery, I mostly weight lifted. Now, I get a little more out of breath just walking, so I am afraid to even think about lifting weights.What type of exercise program do you do and have you been able to exercise the same since your pacer? Is it best to exercise or not with cardiac issues? I see elderly people at...

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Low blood pressure?

Ok, recently I have been very dizzy, and it used to only happen after I made sudden movements. My mom thought it was low blood pressure, but now I feel lightheaded, tired, and can't think straight. Anyone know what's up? I am scared to death of stairs, because I am always afraid I will fall. I don't think Mom is taking this very seriously, but if things get worse, she is going to have to belive me.

Hope all is well with everyone else, Sydney

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Sample Pacemaker?

Does anyone know where I can find a sample pacemaker like this one: http://www.sockmachines.com/pm002.jpg

I'd like to be able to show people what I just had installed in me. Thanks.

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Failing pacemaker wire

My pacemaker is a St Judes dual chamber that was put in 5 and 1/2 years ago. About 18 months ago during a routine check I was told that there is a breach in the insulation in the pacerwire in my right ventricle causing it to be impaired. Since that time I have continued to have increasing impairment in the wire and it is being watched closely. The hope, since I pace minimally in my ventricle and most of the time I am approx 90% paced in my atrium, is that they can wait and change my wire when m...

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lifting my arm

Hi all! I hope that you're all well, I haven't posted for a while. Have been doing fine, I am now at my 6 weeks since my pm was fitted(was actually wednesday) I have returned to work too, not full time yet but I will soon have to as our finances will not cope.
I am not due to see my cardio doctor til the 23rd June which will be the 1st time since my op. I was wondering do I have to wait until I have seen him to start raising my arm or can I start doing it gradually myself? Obviously I dont...

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adjusting

I'm not normally a joiner, but I am a little desperate (okay, maybe more than a little) - I got my pacemaker on April 15th and was told the battery life is 10 - 12 years - I went to my first check on May 8th and the readout says - 4.50-6.25 years - I find this disconcerting at best - how can I conserve on the battery? I am 47 years old and freaked out by the quick drain of the battery - I am worried what it's going to say in a couple of weeks when I return to the doctor - any advice will be appr...

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PFO

I was wondering if anyone here has a PFO? (patent foramen ovale). I recently found out that I have one and my doctor wants to do surgery to seal it. He said it increases my risk of stroke/heart attack. This is scary! Does anyone else have this or have had it corrected?

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well good news I hope!!!!!!

Well this has been a day!!!!! Mom calls me this afternoon to let me know they are GOING TO PUT IN DADS NEW PACEMAKER, well folks let me tell you, its about TIME! Earlier today mom calls me from hospital and said that dad had lung infection, well I thought great 1 step forward 2 steps back it seems . All I could think about is daddy getting really tired , losing weight more and more and I was reallly scared that he was just going to give up. It seem when things began to look-up something els...

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Does anybody else....

have any other heart problems since their pacemaker?
I had my first pacer at 10 and since then I seem to have a new problem evertime I go to my doctor. I was intially diagnosed with complete heart block, now I have atrial tach and possibly fibrillations. I just recently found out I have a PFO also.
It makes me anxious everytime I go to see my doc because I worry what he will find next.
Has anyone been "cured" since they got their pacemaker or do you still have ongoing issues?

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Can't Make Technology Work!

Attention of gentlben4u

Have tried to send a Private Message in connection with the c***-up in the chat room, but can't even manage that! Hope you're well. Wannabe

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Stress test

I would like to say first that I have had a pacemaker for 3 years and that I am going in for a stress test June 6. what I would like to know is.If I do this first stress test since they installed my pacemaker, and if something should go wrong, can they revive me being that I have a pacemaker?, please give your in put on this situaion..
Thanks.
Harry"O"

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Thank You!!!

I was overwhelmed and overjoyed at the wealth of responses to my first posted message! Everyone made me feel so welcomed and it made me feel 10 times better. So I just wanted to give a huge thanks to everyone who eased my fears and sadness..I truly was blessed to find this site and all you wonderful people=)

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You know you're wired when...

Microwave ovens make you spark.

Member Quotes

I, too, am feeling tons better since my implant.