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I had a pacemaker implanted just 2 wks ago so I'm being careful about my activities untill my Dr gives the ok. I've been a passionate scuba diver for over 40 yrs now , and at first it looked like I'd have to give it up. Now, it seems like all will be ok .I'm sure my first dives with a pm will be accompanied by some anxiety, but I'm also sure that the anxiety will pass with time and experience. I've already decided that I'm going to limit my dives to about 50 ft, and that's ok. Except for t...

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LQTS-- Stephanie,

  • by bunnykin
  • 2008-04-15 05:04:12
  • 885 views
  • 0 comments

and Peter N. thanks for your input. Stephanie I am so surprised and in a way glad to hear that we're in the same boat! I have VVS (vasovagal syncope) too and had frightened the daylight out of my EP recently after a treadmill test,cos I blacked out immediately as I stepped off the machine. The clinic must have experienced a mini "earthquake". Subsequently after that episode I was asked by my dr to drink fluids whenever I can and never be dehydrated. I'm grateful that you brought this up cos up...

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Change of Batteries

I was told at my last reading that batteries are getting low. Is the changing of batteries a big deal? What kind of recovery? I have a Lawn Care Svc....will I be limited in working?

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The Shock that Saved Me

First let me begin by saying that I have had a Biventricular ICD implanted in Oct 05. For re-syncronization therapy, and since my ejection fraction was reduced I'd be at a greater risk for sudden life threating arrhythmias. Well last week at work, I became dizzy, just about lost consciousness, received 1 shock from my ICD and felt fine other than the fact I was still having palpitations, so I went to the ER. There I became very anxious in fear of my device firing again and was given some meds...

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PM Check

I recently had my 4th PM check. The St. Jude rep did the check this time instead of the Guidant(which is what I have) rep.

If I can keep on seeing this one rep, I won't worry about my checks making me feel horrible. He really was very gentle in the tests and I hardly felt anything. Whew!

Ok. He told me that my check wasn't as accurate as it could have been because the rep that checked my PM in December didn't erase the data that was downloaded from my PM.

Usually...

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Hi from Downunder!!!

Hi pacemaker pals,
Yay!!! ...Had my pacemaker check last week and I have got 2 more years before it is to be replaced....the technician last year had said it would be this year.
Im still celebrating!!...Hope Brian is getting better Billie and we can both have some shopping therapy!!
Love to all
Kay

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Lightheadedness

I am 6 weeks post PM instillation. Back to work and mostly getting by, but still find that I do not have stamina. I tire easily and, in fact, I am expereincing lightheadedness(slight dizziness). I am walking 45-60 min. (sometimes more) everyday and find that if I walk briskly I feel lightheaded. Is anyone else dealing with this? I am thinking that this lightheadedness might have something to do with my lower chamber pace rate? I am wanting to tell my pacemaker team that maybe I do not need my v...

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Surgery to Remove leads/tomorrow


I have had my pacemaker since 2000 - my pacemaker dislodged in December - it is now infected and I am in so much discomfort. I am having sugery TOMORROW - my doctor (NYC) is removing the pacemaker and leads, I also have excessive scar tissue and he will use the laser to "clean it up" - He is putting in a new pacemaker on the right side. Does anyone know how long the surgery will take ? I found a site and read that to remove a lead takes 2-4 hours!!!!! the discomfort after the surgery cann...

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Laser Surgery to Remove leads/time

I have had my pacemaker since 2000 - my pacemaker dislodged in December - it is now infected and I am in so much discomfort. I am having sugery TOMORROW - my doctor (NYC) is removing the pacemaker and leads, I also have excessive scar tissue and he will use the laser to "clean it up" - He is putting in a new pacemaker on the right side. Does anyone know how long the surgery will take ? I found a site and read that to remove a lead takes 2-4 hours!!!!! the discomfort after the surgery cann...

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ICD and prolonged QT (LQT)

  • by bunnykin
  • 2008-04-14 07:04:31
  • 1303 views
  • 3 comments

Hi,
I've posted once before regarding prolonged QT syndrome;I've been to see my EP lately due to rapid palpitations and fainting feeling right after some "heart stopped" episodes. Scared me to bits. So glad I got to see my dr to clarify; However, other than VT which I usually get, he said I also have this problem of prolonged QT seen on my ECGs most of the time. I also had a sibling who died suddenly and my EP said that I'm in a way fortunate that I've an ICD now cos people with this featur...

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skipped beats

its been 0ne week since my PM was placed and i'm experiencing skipped beats, i'll have a run of about 30 beats then a run of about 3 or 4 of beats/skipped beats(b,s,b,s,b,s) before PM i was experiencing a missed beat every 4th beat and once too often sustained VT. I had an ablation to correct VT and ended up with 3rd degree heart block. So was wondering will this go away as the heart heals or should i be concerned? I'm also on atenolol and verapamil (pre and post PM)

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We are blessed!

I am always inspired by the postings people write that reflect how they have come to terms with their pacemakers, and have made a sort of peace with them! Cathryn's post about realizing she didn't think about her pacemaker for an entire day, seemed to have struck a cord in many of us! While many of us do have trouble with different issues, and I have had my share, we do realize that they save our lives, probably without us knowing it. I became a grandmother for the first time last week, and as I...

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Felt like my heart stopped and started

Last nite when I went to bed, I got a huge jolt in my chest, it felt like my heart just stopped and that maybe my pacer kicked in and started it again, has this ever happened to anyone else. The jolt was so big that my chest actually jumped........any comments on that one.

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maybe not mad!

Hi Karen, Thanks for that. It's due for replacement later this week. Am having an dual chamber 'symphony' my ela.

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Am I going mad?

I've had my ela pacemaker for about six years. A few weeks ago I was told the battery was running down and that I need a replacement within 8 weeks. At that time i had absolutely no symptoms. About two weeks later I started getting lots of palpitations, felt absolutely exhausted all the time and began to get short of breath on minimal exertion. The pacing technician that these symptoms wouldn't be to do with the pm because the need to change is always spotted months in advance of becoming sy...

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Playsation and Rock Band

Not really a sport but only category it fit. I love my rock band on my playstation 3 but it does use radio freqency. The booklet does not mention pacers and I figure its low but I don't want to take a chance. Anyone into this game with a pacer? It is my de-stressor at the end of my day I hate to give up.

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??????????

does having a pacemaker mean i will be more likey to develop further heart complications or even heart failure???? just wondering as i have my pacer to stop my heart rate dropping below 60bpm and want to know if this is possible due to the pacer?? thanks chelle xxxxxxxx

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Battery drain questions...

Hello everyone,

As a relative "newbie"... I have a question about the batteries and how the charge in them gets used... I am pretty much clueless about the science so technical answers are likely to go way over my head!

I am under the impression if we walk through a security system, etc. and it affects our pacemaker ~ our pacemakers are designed to re-set themselves and return to "normal". We also have periodic checkups and sometimes the settings are changed. So my quest...

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heart disease and quinolones part2

I try to make this as short as possible.
I received my PM August 2007. For several years prior to this I felt real tired and breathless, but did not go to the doctor until June 2006 , as I did not have insurance.I had fainted about 4 times over those years, always in the summer, and I thought it was heat related. -I was told physical exam, EKG and bloodtests were all normal.-Over the following months I felt worse and in the summer of 2007 I developed dizziness and vertigo. Since I had previ...

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Some good news

Pacemakers Change Biology of the Heart
March 21 (HealthDay News) -- In dogs with damaged hearts, implanted pacemakers triggered fast improvements in tissue levels and the activity of a number of proteins crucial to heart health, says a Johns Hopkins study.

The researchers said their findings are believed to be the first detailed chemical analysis of the biological effects a pacemaker has on the heart. This new information could lead to improvements in the use of combined pacemake...

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