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St Jude pacemaker

I have had a St Jude pacemaker since 2002 and have always been able to get on their www,sjm.com until about 2 weeks ago and each day I check it tells me the page cannot be displayed. Has anyone else tried and failed?

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My Story (Kinda long)

I had a pacemaker/defib inserted back in 2003. This past December, after receiving the famous Medtronic Recall notice, I visited with my doctor concerning the recall. The office read my pacemaker and there is a particular code that it reads (not sure what it was) and they are looking for a reading greater than 1,200 to indicate that there is a fracture in the lead. Mine was sitting at a little over 400 so I was ok.

On New Years day, just walking across the living room, my defibrill...

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PeteManning

I would love some help on exercise and diet. Before the pacemaker I was attending three classes a week and also riding my cycle and running once a week. Since the start of all this in November I have not done much. I am now cycling nearly every day about 8 km per day.

Would love your help and guidance.

Thanks Jules

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Happy Pacing Susan!

Feb 26, 2005 what a day for Susan(pacergirl). Susan I hope you enjoy your day. We are blessed that you are here with us. Happy Pacing!
I look forward to hearing what special thing you do to celebrate your second birthday.

Blessings,
Tammy

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Pacemaker and CHD

Hello everyone:

This is my first time posting a message. I was implanted March 20, 2006 for 2nd degree AV block. There appears to be no underlying coronary artery disease, so I have no idea what caused it. I'm 50. My questions is: Recently i have read that ventricular pacing can lead to HF due to the dysinchrony of right ventricle beat relative to the left ventricle beat. My ventricle lead is placed in my septum, which, i believe helps prevent this issue as opposed to an apical...

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Well done Gellia2

Well done Gellia2 you have been going 33 years on your pacemaker. That should give us all something to aim for. I would be very happy with another 33 years of pacing.

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WHY DO I HURT

Dec. 13 2007 I had a Guidant ICD implanted. Within a week I had to have the a hematoma on the site evacuated. Since that time I have had pain (level 8-10) at the site each morning and pain (level 3-6) during each day. I actually do feel better after the installtion of the defib' except for the site pain.
The installation physician can give me no help and has dismissed me back to my Cardiologist. His only solution was to remove the difib'. Relocating he said wa...

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A V NODE ABLATION

AM INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM ANYONE WHO HAS HAD A PACEMAKER IMPLANT AND A V NODE ABLATION TO CONTROL ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

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Increasing PVC's

Hi, I just joined and started out with a question about ICD’s. It sounds like many of you are great resources so now as I read further, I also have questions about condition/meds too. I have a single lead pacemaker for sick sinus syndrome that does nothing for the A-Fib and PVC's and struggle with this at 41 years old. For whatever reason, my PVC’s are increasing but due to my age and sensitivity/reactions to many meds, my cardiologist is saying there is nothing that would be safe to treat me wi...

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Fatigue

OK now six weeks since the Pacemaker fitted. It has been altered and lowered to 50 for the resting heart rate. Rapid response off and stimulator lowered. I do not have to take the Beta Blockers only if I find that the ectopic beats are troublesome. Question is why oh why am I still tired. I feel like I have done a hard day's digging in the garden.

Any suggestions to bring my energy up.

Thanks

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FOODS THAT HELP YOU SNOOZE.

This is for duggie.

Some Tasty Ways To Bring On Z's.
Go Bananas, sometimes called a sleeping pill in a peel, this fruit is rich in tryptophan, an amino acid linked to healthy slumber.
Tryptophan increases serotonin in your brain and blood, which can improve relaxation.
Other good sources include dairy products, turkey, peanut butter and tofu.
Relax With Rice. Eating jasmine rice four hours before bedtime helped people doze off more quickly, according to a small 200...

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Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia

Hello All!

I have posted a few messages recently regarding rapid heart rates while resting or with very minimal activity. My doctor has me wearing a 30 day event monitor in hopes of capturing these episodes. She has pretty much narrowed down the cause to either Sick Sinus Syndrome or Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia. I had another episode last night, but she is still waiting on the results to be sent to her office, so no definate answer yet.
I was just wondering if any of you suf...

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calcium channel blockers

Any of you have experience with using calcium channel blockers instead of beta blockers? I recently switched and so far prefer the calcium channel blocker. The beta blockers always made me feel like I was operating at idle - I'm feeling more like the engine is running and responding to changes in demand. I have chronic atrial fib and hypertension. I'm taking both an ACE inhibitor as well as the calcium channel blocker. Pulse and BP both seem well controlled. My PM is set for a low pulse of...

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Checkup Tomorrow

I am having a quick checkup tomorrow and just wondered if you all can tell me what questions I need to be asking. I'm not even sure what my low setting is! I am going to ask that one for sure. I am not having any issues, just have a PM (Guidant) that is under recall so it gets checked frequently.

Any suggestions/thoughts/ideas will be appreciated!

Thanks,

Theresa

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Good news!

Hey everybody,
I just got off the phone with a medtronic rep/tech that I know. He does our teaching at our hospital were I work. I explained to him about myself and all of you and our frustrations about not getting answers to questions that we need. Too many people are suffering and something needs to be done. We discussed getting together and developing a educational program for people like you and me. Something that we can sink our teeth into regarding our devices, complications, concerns...

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SURGERY ON UTUBE

Dont forget to go into Utube on the internet and type in Changing The Beat in the seach box to watch the 1 hour video on surgery and complications with pacemakers etc. Dont watch it if you cant stand the sight of blood. Cheers Peter

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Posting a Photo.

To Duggie and Blake.

Thank you both for your help. Duggie, your instructions were easy and clear. Because of that, I was finally able to view my file name in its entirety.
Blake, I never knew how long it was. So, now I completely understand what you meant, and I changed everything.
It's now short, clear, and it works. I feel so much better, I'm no longer a " photo posting failure. "
Thanks a bunch.

Have a fantastic day.

~ Dominique ~

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Does anyone else feel their right ventricle being paced?

I'm 28 year old male with a medtronic AICD, which I've had for almost two years. With the exception of a few body positions that eliminate the problem, I can almost always feel a sort of tick or twitch on what seems to be the left side of my heart anytime my right ventricle is paced by the device. When I exhale completely, the twitch turns into a more uncomfortable pain more like a shock.

I was wondering if anyone else has this same problem? There are times when I'm paced frequen...

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sleep....

Anyone have any good ideas for getting some sleep? I had my pm put in Friday and am wearing the sling to bed. I slept pretty good Friday night but I must have woke up 10 times last night.
Thanks, duggie

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breast lift surgery w/ PM?

does anyone know if it is possible to have a breast reduction/lift w/ a pacemaker? i can't find any info online, so i thought i'd ask here...thanks! i have a Medtronic Enpulse DR PM for 3rd degree heart block... haven't used the PM since i got it basically 4 years ago when i was pregnant w/ my son...Drs. don't want to remove it even though i'm 100% sensed (on my own, not using PM) since 5/2004 (got PM in 2/2004). go figure, huh? also, it is preventing me from getting health insurance. any t...

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You know you're wired when...

You always run anti-virus software.

Member Quotes

Try to concentrate on how you’re able to be active again and feel normal, rather than on having a machine stuck in your body.