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Thank you for everyone's comments

Referring to the post I made yesterday titled "Individual Rights and Free Will", I must admit I was concerned people would view my post as inappropriate; tell me I had some head problem or that I was trying to stir up trouble. Thank you for being open minded. What had set me off and inspired me to write, was reading a post by a person named Roger and all the comments that shut out his obvious pain and distress. Having been in his place and still struggling with my feelings (2+ years later) I had...

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i am a newbie

hello
its been amonth since i got mine. still in alot of pain. my doctor took me off for 2 months, and then 3 months of light duty. i work as a nursing assistant in a cancer ward. i know that i couldnt do my job right now. im unsure if i will ever be able to do it.
also i drive 45 mins to work before. the driving, the bumps in the road, the seatbelts,it all causes more pain.
i dont know if this is normal or not.
my cardiologist said i could return to work in one week. but th...

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Natural Death with a Pacemaker

My family and I are very concerned about our mother being able to pass away with dignigt and without distress when the time comes. She is 85 years old and is in advanced stage of
altzhimers. Can anyone tell us exactly how death occurs when a pacemaker is stimulating the heart? Thank you very much to anyone who can answer our question honestly.

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pacemakers and antibiotics

When I had both knees replaced, I was told to always take antibiotics before any dental or surgical work is done...even the simple cleaning of teeth. When I called recently to ask if the antibiotics are still necessary for dental cleaning and mentioned that I had a pacemaker, I was told "very definitely especially with a pacemaker for EVERY proceedure". A short while ago I read that one of our members had an infection a year or so after implant. I do know that if there is any infection the bacte...

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Ayone set below 50

Pacers,
I have to start by saying I'm very lucky to have basically no ongoing issues or symptoms, and for this i'm very grateful.

I went for my 15 month check yesterday.I got a clean bill of health. The report said 8.5-11.5 years of battery lety...Bewdy!!.
I basicailly only get paced in the atrium when my heart rate is between 50 and 60 .my resting HR before PM used to be 44 and ECG showed RBBB.it was only when I had the holter test and had a dizzy spell that showed up as an...

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protector

iam 36 and still play rec-basketball, and iam looking for a chest protector for df/pm. Iam new to this i just had my surg-3 months ago and iam ready to play ball again.. help

chest protector-for basketball use
thanks
bfree

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Individual rights and Free Will

I want to say how much I appriciate this site and t theo many of people I have interacted with. Having said that, I hope everyone who reads this knows that EP doctors receive their certification as a specialist by how many devices they are able to put in every year.

There are so many sanctimonious people both here and else where who think that everyone who has an ICD should be as greatful as the next person. When a person states they don't want their ICD, asking them "why they don't...

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Under the Pectoral Muscle Placement

I am 74 years old and had to have a pacemaker put in in October 2007. I noticed that one edge of the pacemaker was protruding near my armpit around Decmber of 2007. When I finally saw my cardiologist in February of 2008 he advised that I see the surgeon who implanted the PM. On March 14,2008 the same surgeon said that it had shifted and he operated and placed it more towards the center of my body. It moved again and is still protruding. I am 5'2" and weigh 123 lbs and do not have much fat ti...

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Thank you

Hi All

Thank you for all your lovely welcome. I am still trying to find my around this message board, I find it a bit complicated, I am sure I am missing out some important messages.

I also have some other problems that have been highlighted since having my pacemaker, the pacemaker has recorded several episodes of AF and two of VT, has this happened to anyone else. I now am being monitored closely and I take beta blockers.

would like to hear from anyone who has...

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Health Update

The last time I posted, I was trying to go caffeine-free with pretty good success I must say. Well, I must admit that I’m back to drinking colas and coffee. Yes, I’m officially off the caffeine-free wagon, but before you say “get back on that wagon, Blake”, let me explain.

Last June I had an ablation and was told to stop taking my arrhythmic heart drug. Well, one of the side effects of that drug was it caused my thyroid to go hyper. I continued to take thyroid medicine. After abou...

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pm settings

I have been having trouble with the setting on my duel chamber medtronic. I have had a cough that started 13 months ago when the pm was implanted. The PM clinic says it has nothing to do with the divice. Last week they turned off all the bells and whistles and set my pm to 40 bpm. Now I fell lightheaded when getting up to just walking, the cough is still there and now I have to go back to have another adjustment. Does anyone have any suggustions on settings.
Thanks,
Gary

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After the operation

Hi, I am a new member. I am 34 and five days ago I got my first pacemaker. It took two operations in one day to get it right. During the last few days I got gastritis, sore gums and a migraine and feel not very energetic at all which probably indicates that my immune system is low. My heart rate though feels fine and constant. Now and then I do feel that I cannot breath terribly easy. Everybody told me that I would feel great (apart from the wound) immediately after the operation. Not feeling ve...

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Im at home recovering.

Hello everyone. Just wanted to let you know the PM surgery went smoothly. I wasnt completely out under anesthetics but was enough out of it that I only remember random conversations that happened in the OR. I spent the night in the hospital and was able to come home the next day. I am feeling more soreness in my shoulder then I expected but I am optimistic this will pass quickly. I will keep everyone posted on my recovery. I was wondering, at random times I feel like my heart flutters, almost li...

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any young adults with a pacer?

Hi everyone,

My name is Lexi. I'm 22 and just recently had my 3rd pacemaker put in. I had my first one at 10.

I am interested in hearing from some of the young adults who also have pacemakers/ cardiac issues. I feel very alone as far as having heart issues at my age. I don't know anyone else who does.

Every time I go to my cardiologist, I am the youngest person in the office. It is sometimes discouraging.
Please tell me about your experiences!! I would lo...

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young adults with pacers?

Hi everyone,

My name is Lexi. I'm 22 and just recently had my 3rd pacemaker put in. I had my first one at 10.

I am interested in hearing from some of the young adults who also have pacemakers/ cardiac issues. I feel very alone as far as having heart issues at my age. I don't know anyone else who does.

Every time I go to my cardiologist, I am the youngest person in the office. It is sometimes discouraging.
Please tell me about your experiences!! I would love...

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Downsides??

Hi, I've had PAF for many years, then last September my conduction system crashed.

After months of trying this drug and trying that drug, I finally had a PM implanted 3 months ago and had an AV node ablation, a month ago.

I feel wonderful, a bit breathless at times, just want to do more, faster, etc. than I am able with it set at max. of 110 bpm.

Does anyone know of any downsides to what I've had done?

I was just so symptomatic and had no qol, so didn...

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2 year birthday

Hello Friends,

Today, May 18, is the 2 year birthday for my PM and my new lease on life. Very difficult to put into words exactly what this pacer means to me. Fortunately, I had no problems post-op and was back to "normal" within 2 days. I was only limited by "don' t raise your arm above your shoulder" mantra! LOL This little technological gem has kept me humming right along and I feel great most of the time. Honestly, most days I do not even think about having it! It cannot be...

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Gym

Hi. I am a 68 male with a Boston Scientific/Guident PM. Itake no supporting drugs and consider that I am reasonably fit but need excercise. I want to join a local fully equiped gym. Can anyone advise a program or what I can or can not do.

Many thanks

Regards

Tony

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back to check in with my PM friends

Great to be checking in on Pacemaker club. i have been post implant for over six months receiving the PM for atrial fibrillation and no response to six ablations. since my surgery six months ago which was an av node ablation(no. 7 ablation) then implant of PM, i have had no evidence of arrhythmia. wierd, huh? maybe this is because the last one or two ablations burnt the bad circuit..
..anyway,i feel great just a little problem going up steps fast. my rhythm gets a little irregular but...

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Help.. Batteries need to drain

Hello everyone,
We have just joined this forum.. My sister, mother, and I have been trying so hard to learn about pacemakers/defib. since a year ago when our dad/husband had to have one put in.. Since then we changed drs... and have recently found out that the one put in was to small.. now we have to have it replaced.. However, we can't have this done until the batteries are drained down... this is what we were told.. When the dr turned the batteries up to 86%(which was the highest it would...

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You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

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I wouldn't be here if it were not for this amazing technology inside of me.