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strange feelings

I got my dual chamber pacemaker at the end of December. Every week or two I start feeling differently--I just passed my two month mark and started feeling relaxed like I could go to sleep all day. I feel really spaced out--light headed. I check my pulse and blood pressure and everything is OK. I just don't remember ever feeling quite like this. I am also having migraine headaches that started for the first time last November. I have a migraine with that aura around the inside edges of my e...

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At a loss

I've written a few times on here about my problems with passing out its now become a real serious problem. I got my PM put in on New Year's Eve because of 2 problems passing out and a complete AV block. They have change my PM settings numerous times because they said my heart rate was dropping to fast, they said my potassium was too low. I have seen so many cardiologists in my group I've lost count.I've seen a neuologist an internist and finally they called in a shrink. I just loved the last car...

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I love the people on this site

To all the people who posted to me and sent me private emails thank you so much! I went to the family dx this morning and before she even did any vitals she took one look at my face and sent me for xrays. I fractured my cheekbone and the socket above my eye from my pass out session yesterday. She then said we have a lot of work to do she got me an appt with a new cardio dx tomorrow morning at 7:45 and already he was curious as to why a lot of test werent run. She then got me an appt with the nue...

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Laptop Computers

I was reading an old message last night about Toshiba laptop wireless computers. The lady said her regular computer didnt bother her but her husbands wireless laptop bothered her pacemaker. She also said it was in the Toshiba manual that warned about this. Especially the Bluetooth wireless.I called Toshiba today and asked about interference with my pacemaker although I have had no problems. He said that he could find nothing that would indicate there might be a problem with pacemakers. The...

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Photo Gallery

How long does it take for pics to be added to the gallery? I uploaded a few from my trip to Petra last night, but they haven't shown up yet.

Thanks.

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Arm pains

Hi,

I have had my second pacemaker for 3 1/2 years and everything has been fine til my pacemaker check 2 weeks ago. The technicians said there was some atrial fibrillation and have referred me to a Consultant to do some tests and they also switched on a mode function on the PM which stops the ventricles being paced to keep up with the AF. Since then I have had chest pain (which I thought was indigestion to start with), aches and heaviness in my arms (both arms but not at the same time...

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Future technology

Current pacemakers can't do much about Afib, VTach, or the like because they can't slow down or eliminate errant heart beats. The only exception is the ICD which can shock the ventricles back into a normal rhythm.

I read an article in one of my engineering publications about work being done on sophisticated next generation pacemakers that can detect very small signals in the heart wall that signal the lead up to an arrhythmia . The idea is to then insert accurately timed pacing puls...

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what Can I do

I am a 50 year old fire fighter that will be having a PM next week, The doctor said I am missing a beat' My heart rate drops to 35 beats a minute and to over 90. I all so have atrilfibilation. Have have been active my whole life. I love my job, I sail,Snow ski, Backpack, Rv camping,.
I need to know If I will ever be on a fire engine again, or do any of the things that I love doing? Will workers comp take this case? what is my recovery time?

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Any MA patients?

New to this forum and wondering if any members are in Massachusetts and willing to discuss experiences at various hospitals in Boston area. Thanks

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Mild Shortness of Breath

Hi Everyone!

Just before I had my PM implanted last June 2007 due to complete heart block I was beginning to walk. I had got up to the point where i could walk about 1 mile each day.

Since 1999 I have had to deal with Chronic Fatigue, anxiety, and the loss of vision in my right eye. So, I was very pleased about this new ability to walk that far.

My shortness of breath is much better than it was a few months ago. It doesn't happen all of the time. For instance, I...

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thank you to all the other forget-me nots

Boy what a relief I'm not alone out there - now that I know this I can forget it - and get on with life - it has become very precious
Thank so much to all who answered this question. You are a great lifeline

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Adjustment put to the test

Hi,

I posted a while back about getting a PM adjustment while in Israel on business. I thought about waiting until I got back to the states, but am glad I took the advice offered and made a tweek.

The new settings were out to the test this past weekend as I took a trip to Jordan and went hiking in Petra, the 2000 year old city carved out of stone and featured in Indiana Jones and the last Crusade. We only had a day there and wanted to see as much as possible and I was abl...

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Hi Pals

Hi everyone. Especially all those who are new and a little confused and uptight. I often wonder what we would do without this wonderful site and all the good answers we get to our questions. I wish to thank you all, especially Smitty and Electric Frank whom I find a great comfort.

It has been so hot here. Not as hot as where Kay is. We have been gardening. I am putting all my pot plants into the garden for nature to look after them during the winter rains. My family are not gr...

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Two and a half weeks post PM placed

My incision wound reaction appeared to originate from a severe allergy to the steri- strips(which were used in place of sutures)over my incision. The blistering around the incision was like a first degree burn. I do not think the cardiologist had seen this before. He put me on prophalactic antibiotics for 2 weeks. I was to clean the area with normal saline and to keep it dry. This appears to be working. The blisters are drying up, the reddness is disappearing, there is no discharge from the site...

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Why do some Doc's keep you awake?

I'm just wondering why some doctors seem to keep their patients concious.

When I went in for my initial EP study and ICD implantation, I Was out cold, which is what I prefer. I'm going in for an ablation in a week and a half and I need to let my new Doc know that expect to be out cold.

I know that general anesthesia is more dangerous than milder drugs, but I'm not interested in being aware of someone tugging, slicing, or exciting a 300+ bpm vtach in me.......

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Peter Nash

Just noticed that we havent heard from Peter Nash for some time.I do hope he is OK...If you read this Peter just let us know you are still with us.
Kay

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Chat

Anyone wanna chat?

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ICD&Advanced Medical Directive

Here is an interesting one:
What are the implications of having an Advance Medical Directive that specifies Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) and having an ICD that does exactly that. I realize that the the defibrillator used my EMT's is more powerful and therefore different than the ICD. I'm thinking more about intent. Could medical facility conclude that since the person consented to the ICD that there is a question about their intent and decide it was better to resuscitate and ask questions late...

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Just a suggestion

I love this site and have found much help and information here. What is missing are just a few little things. These things would help us all to enjoy the site much more in my humble opinion.

1. New messages -- I am always checking and no one ever sends me a personal message. You don't have to be a close personal friend to send a message. I don't need a boyfriend, a husband, anything from you except being a PM buddy. That is all.

2. Chat -- I go in there all the t...

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pacing

Will someone please explain the feeling when you say you know your pm is "pacing"... Does it mean aware of heart beat or the feeling of afib? I would really like to know. Thank you aldeer

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You know you're wired when...

You know the difference between hardware and software.

Member Quotes

I have an ICD which is both a pacer/defib. I have no problems with mine and it has saved my life.