Most Recent Messages

Lead trouble!

I just got home from having an echo and the tech said that one of my leads had pireced through the tricuspid valve and was causing it to bleed. Has anyone had this happen to them? Does anyone know what they might do about it? I have been have chest pressure and shortness of breath walking sometimes from one room to the other.I have had my PM for 9 months. Would appreciate any help!

Thanks,
Amy

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Has PM ever made anyone feel bad all over?

Hello again. I have a Medtronic installed 12/06. It was last adjusted 10/07.

I feel really bad much of the time....chest pressure, mild nausea, weak and generally just feel bad. Worst in the morning and gets better as the day goes on. The cardio says my heart is fine and there is nothing wrong. (PM is for atrial fibs, which it mostly has stopped, however the feelings are much the same as when I had A-fibs)

I have been to internist and gastro and taken dozens of tests,...

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Ringing in Ears

Just been for an ultrasound for the ringing in the ears. Doc thought it might be a blocked artery but I am glad to report there is nothing wrong. Is this yet another sign of getting older!

By the way I am now nine weeks after op and all the people that told me to hang on in, you were right, it is getting better and I am due my test of effort as the french call it next week to verify that I am doing well without the beta blockers.

I am cycling and walk but cannot wait unti...

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Thanks ela-girl, shocked!

I just wanted to tell you both for the nice chat tonight. I didn't mean to "wig" out on either one of you... my computer crashed and by the time I got it back up, you were both out of chat.

I appreciate the great help here on this site!

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Pacemaker Complications

Hello everyone. I do't have a pacemaker, but my mother had one implanted about 4 weeks ago. For some reason the incision did not heal 100%. She went back to here surgeon and he had here immediately admitted to the hospital thinking that her body may be rejecting the pacemaker.
Is this common?

Since this is all happening now, I have no follow-up information.

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Shocked

Go to chat if you want...I'll be up for a little longer!
ela-girl

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I can't sleep

Ok here it goes, On January 18th 2008 the Doctor placed a Defibrillator in my chest and I had my first shock a week ago. I was young, active and happy with a itte fatigue. Now I am SAD, ANGRY, AFRAID and SORE. If there is anybody out there that help me make through this next hour. I need help.... My family members are helpless and tonight I keep crying and I can,t sleep....

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defibrillator

Hi. I have had my Medtronic pacemaker for a few years and it has been a God-send. But, lately, I have gone into afib and my pacer can't break me out of it. To make a hugely long story short, I have extreme problems with most meds, have had over 250 sites ablated, an atrial appendectomy, and was the first Texan to have the Maze surgery (unsuccessful). My heart is a real problem child! My doctor is beginning to consider changing my pacer to a combo, adding in the defib function. I have heard horro...

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av node ablation

I had an AV node ablation performed for supra-ventricular tachycardia. It was done at Columbia Pres. in N,Y, back in 1990. The ablation was done several times over several days because it simply would not "hold'. My back was totally burned from these repeated ablations and of couse I then needed a pacemaker because I was in heart block. Although I am a nurse this was all Greek to me since I worked in the Public Heath field. I don't know what damage those ablations had on my heart or more specifi...

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Just curious...

I'm pretty new to this site, but, I'm just curious, where is everybody from? I just think it would be interesting to do a roll call type list, for instance, just repond w/your username, state, or country if outside U.S.A., age, & number of devices. I tried looking at the Member List, but, it was very time consuming to look at each one, I guess I'm lazy...

For example, maybe just respond like this...w/myself as an example:

Username: morgysmom (my daughter has an ICD)

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ICD to PM "Downgrade"?

Howdy,

Wow two posts in one day I need to get a life! ;-) Anyway I keep meaning to ask has anyone ever had an ICD removed an replaced with a PM because over time it was determined that the ICD was never doing anything but pacing the heart? A follow up question is has anyone ever had a PM removed because there heart somehow started pacing normally again?

I'm going to guess no to both as Doctors may never want to put themselves is a position where they might become liable if...

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Burns from ep testing and ablation

I know it may sound crazy but the burns I spoke of were really there. I was never sure why and when I asked I was never given a straight answer. Now remember this was in 1990-almost exactly 18 years ago. Somehow I think it was done differently. They had to treat the burns with sulfadine cream and other antibiotc ointment and I was in the hospital for 2 weeks. Today you're in and out in a day or two. I think had my ablation been more recent I would not have had such problems. They are a lot more...

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Frequency of Checkups?

Howdy,

Since I won the lottery in having the recalled Medtronic leads my EP doc has put me on a 2 month checkup schedule from the previous 3 month appt. schedule. They also had me setup a wireless monitor in my bedroom that phones in the ICD readings once a month. I had the ICD implanted in April of '07 and was assuming that the checkup frequency would get longer over time to say once every 6 months or so. I'm wondering how frequently others are going to see their EP docs and I'm also...

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BP & heart rate meds

Hello

Just wondering what others out there may be taking. I take Toporol XL for high blood pressure and fast heart rate. It works well for me and has kept my BP right where my doctor wants it. But, toporol is known to promote heart block, and both my EP and GP thinks it contributed to mine.

I asked my GP (general practionier) if I should change meds to something that won't make my heart block worse. He just thinks we can readjust the pacemaker to make up for it. In my...

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country

hi to all
im 26 years old girl from iran.i wonder why iran is not in list of countries.im so eager to know other people in iran who has pacemakers.unfortunately we dont have a site in iran.i thought i could find them hear.but when i searched,i release that iran is not in the list.would u please add iran.
best wishes for everyone

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Switching from Amiodarone to Tikosyn

After my atrial flutter broke through 4 ablations and many meds such as sotalol, the doctors put me on amiodarone about 17 months ago. I haven't had any problems since then. Since I'm in my mid-30s my new doctor doesn't want to keep me on amiodarone as it has so many bad side effects, some of which I'm already experiencing (like an extreme reaction to the sun). The plan is to switch me to tikosyn in a few weeks. I have to be off the amiodarone for 4-6 weeks first, which is a bit scary. I fee...

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Radar Gun

My son-in-law is a police officer and the other day he was showing me how fast they can lock in the speed with the radar gun (speed gun). I was standing next to the gun and started to feel weird. He turned the gun off and moved away and the feeling went away. We did it again (maybe not too smart, but I wanted to know if the radar gun did it or it was just me) - the same thing happend. Are there any police officers out there with pm's who have experienced the same or heard about it. I know it mig...

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can i play wii?

hi everyone. It is me again! I hope u are all doing well. I was wondering if we are able to play the wii if we have a pacemaker. I have never played it before and some friends invited me to play next week. Please let me know what your experiences are. Thank u in advance and God bless.

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heart rate vs respirations

greetings all:
i have sick sinus syndrome and had my medtronic implanted 12/07 with the rate response on which is great for me. my question is: my respiration rate does not seem to match my heart rate when the rate response activates. that is, with my longstanding bardycardia my respiration rate was low to match the low heart rate. but now that my heart rate is up to normal or a bit above normal, my respiration rate seems to still be low as though it is not recognizing the increased need fo...

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EP Study Tomorrow

Hello everyone!

I am going to the hospital tomorrow for another EP Study. Please keep me in your thoughts, and keep your fingers crossed that my doctor is able to induce the arrhythmia and "fix" it!

Thanks,

Amanda

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You know you're wired when...

Your device makes you win at the slot machines.

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