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Frustrated

Well I haven't posted on here in awhile. I am not doing very good. About a month ago, I passed out at the pulmonologists office. I refused to go to the ER because like always I knew nothing would be done. Last Sunday morning I was at work and started having severe chest pain. I went to the ER, but not before I got so confused I didn't know where I was or anything.

They said my BP was dropping really low. I had a positive tilt table test (and couldn't get a BP reading) and they placed...

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Confused? So am I...

Hey everybody. I am just wondering if anybody else is as overwhelmed by the amount of Medtronic recalls and lawsuits these days. With as many people depening on them everyday! I have never had a problem with Medtronic, but I am feeling a bit concerned...

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Made to feel like its all in my head

Hi

Since Christmas 2007 I have had some episode of light headedness, both arms feel heavy and numb (like when you have pins and needles, but without pins and needles sensation), awareness of my heart beating (although not too quick approx 105-115, sometimes it is low approx 60).

On Saturday 16th feb, I was sat having a drink at work when the above happened it was witnessed by my work colleges who said I went a grey colour and sweaty. From this episode I was admitted to ho...

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after beat?

I sometimes feel a "beat" in my lower ribcage-maybe in the area of my intestines. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, do you know what causes it? I am thinking that it is a referred sensation from my pacemaker, but I also wonder if it is related to physical exercise. My M.D. didn't have an answer.

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A NEW LEASE ON LIFE.

I found this article in Reader's Digest, and I was so fascinated that I had to share it with you.
In the near future, there will be a new protein, like a seed that causes new vessels to sprout, creating a network of capillaries and small arteries.
Could that be the end of open heart bypass surgery, or a cure for CHF?
Please read on.

~ Dominique ~

New Treatment for Heart Transplant Hopefuls
An experimental treatment is giving desperately ill heart patient...

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RISKS OF PROCEEDURE

I am always amused when asked to sign a consent form in hospital. I one had one once that had hand written in big letters accross it "Risk of Death". It took me one second to sign it.
To me all consent forms should also list the risks of not having the treatment as those risks are much greater. I know it is frustrating if something does not turn out as well as it could or should have done. For a very few the outcome can make the patient worse off than before. But when you go into hospital y...

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Meeting in Portsmouth England

Does anyone live in Portsmouth, Hampshire in the United Kingdom. I am at the moment living in France near Bergerec and am going home for a week on the 29th Feb. Be good to hear from any pacers in that area.

Julie

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First appointment tomorrow

Hi

Just thought I would say that I have loads of questions for the Cardiologist tomorrow. Thanks everyone and hopefully I will come away without tablets, and the rate response turned off and the bpm lowered. Does that sound positive or what!

Without all these suggestions I would not know what to do.

Let you all know how I get on tomorrow.

Julie

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A Tattoo For My PM

Hi everyone. I am pretty new to this site. I am 20 years old and had my PM for 10 years due to AV heartblock and bradycardia since birth. (I am very interested in sharing stories with anyone and hopefully with some people close in age).

I was just wondering if anyone had some ideas on what kind of tattoo would represent my PM. Does anyone have one which symbolizes their PM or condition, or possibly have seen some? I was hoping to incorporate a heart and/or butterfly (or even a shamroc...

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Smitty's Leads

From time to time we see questions about how pacemaker leads are held in place. I have seen answers that range from logical to "you have got to be kidding." In the Members Gallery have tried to post a picture of my leads that was made during the implant of a couple of stents. On what I think may be the ventricle lead you can plainly see a corkscrew like tip that I understand was literally screwed into the wall of my heart to keep the lead in place. If the picture is no posted, I'll try again...

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I'm Back

Hello Folks,

I’m back. I got home late Tuesday. I had 2 more stents implanted in the RCA (right coronary artery). That makes three in that one vessel so the doctor told me. That gives me a total of six stents. When I look at a X-ray of my chest and see all the metal I have in my body, (6 stents, 7 pieces of wire where they tied me back together after the bypass surgery and a pacemaker with 2 leads) I think I may have a problem making it through a metal detector.

An...

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Check-up --- Thumbs up!!!

I spent most of the day at the hospital for my annual check-up (series of tests). I'm followed quite closely because of my congenial heart problems and atrial flutter.

The docs say my ablation last summer was a success. From my pacemaker check-up, they found I had short (a few beats) episodes of atrial flutter, but nothing to worry about. My stress test was also a success. They told me I did better that the vast majority of "normal" people. The remaining battery life of my pace...

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New pacemaker

Hi everyone!

Just joined this site as I had a pacemaker fitted last week - a BIG shock seeing as though I'm 27!

I have a history of black outs & had a loop recorder implanted a year ago. I blacked out on a packed train (I pick my moments!) last week & recorded my heart rate. When I went to the hospital on the monday for a reading they found that my heart stopped for around 20-26 seconds & i had an emergency pacemaker fitted on the Wednesday. I just wondered if anyone had...

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Meeting Up!

So I have read a lot of posts in the past month about how we would all really enjoy to have a pacemaker club reunion type thing. I have said to some that I am willing to start putting something together but haven't because I have not heard any responses back. So my curiousity is ruling over me. How many are interested in meeting up and having a get together?
I know that we are all so spread out and it could be a little hard. I think meeting in the middle would not be a bad thing. I k...

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Hi Everyone home free!!

Hello to all my pacer family,
just like to say a big thank you for all your so very kind get well wishes at times like these we find out who our friends really are, and I am honered that I seem to have so many .

I am feeling so much better and hope to be back on line soon
than you all again.
And it was brilliant to see Cathryn and Dominique get together... I just new they would be great friends... "I love it when a plan comes together" it is better than all the meds rea...

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Med Alert bracelets

Hi again. I have noticed some banners advertising medic alert bracelets/pendants. I have never been told I needed to wear one.
How do you know you should wear one? Is it a personal choice or medical advisement?

thanks
~Meg

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Clothing question

This one is probably going to be one of the stranger questions posted here.
I volunteer at a historic site (18th century) near my home and ususally wear a set of period clothing when I do. Part of that clothing consists of a corset, not quite the Scarlet O'Hara tight thing of the movies, but it does constrict a little and act like a "pushup" bra. I'm 3 1/2 post op and have not yet tried it on but am concerned that the constriction or "pushing up" might be a problem. I don't see my cardio...

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My new pacemaker/defibrillator

Hello everyone. I am a 55 year old woman with a history of Atrial Fib and Mitral Valve prolapse.
I had a mitral valve replacement (mechanical due to my age) June 1 2005. At the time I thought that this was gonna fix me up......well....I waited and waited and never received my strength back after the surgery. I returned to work...but it was extremely hard. My heart was measured at 45 at that time, and by October 2007 it had dropped to 25.
Durring my heart surgery, my surgeon perfor...

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medtronic lead class action

Hi Everyone,

I haven't posted in a very long time - since my husband passed away in June (he had a medtronic ICD). My son had been urging me to look into the defective lead lawsuit and for whatever reason I didn't - until last night when I did a search and discovered that the lead in my husband's ICD is one of the #'s that came up as defective. His ICD caused him all kinds of problems and discomfort and he kept saying he felt like there was something wrong with it. Does anyone know...

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ginaban13

Hello All! I'm new to the site. I just found out I need a pacemaker and it's starting to sink in. I'm 37 and never thought I would need this done so soon. There are so many things going through my head. Right now my biggest concern is the recovery time. They say 4-6 weeks of not lifting my left arm above my shoulder and noy lifting anything over 5 pounds. I have two small children. I'm wondering if this is accurate or will I be healed sooner than 6 weeks? Any info anyone can give me wou...

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