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Pain

Well it has been 9 weeks since my surgery and my swelling has finally gone down. I am very happy with how things turned out with my surgery but there are a few things that are a little wrong. My scar is a little lumpy and itches like crazy at times. And there are times where I have shooting pains in my arm pit area. You cant see pacemaker except for when I lift my arm you can kinda notice a little difference in the area. Has anyone experienced anything like this?


Thank...

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Getting used to PM

I got my pacemaker in September 06 and it was difficult to get used to for while but it has helped my a good deal and I am very greatful to have it most of the time. A while after getting mine I got a blod clot on my pacemaker and peices were breaking off and being circulated through my PFO and I have been told numerous times how lucky I am for not having a stroke of PE. They closed my PFO to stop this from happening and a while ago they let me go off the blood thinners and three weeks later my...

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Ouch

I got my Pm in almost 2 years ago and it has now been one year with out having to have the leads fixed(I had to have them fixed 3 times). Just in the last two months I have been having a hard time sleeping...when I lay on my left arm it kinda hurts and when I sleep on my right my right arm goes numb and I have kind of chest pain. My Doctor wants to do a cath test but ..I am only 30 and I am not having it because I am too scared!!
Has anyone had this problem with a pm after a year of no pain...

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Pacemakers and ICD's Q and A.

Pacemakers and ICD's.

The following are questions from medical students, and answers from an ICU doctor.
It explains the in's and out's of the function of a pacemaker or ICD, in all kinds of situations, as well as gives detailed information from various questions one may have, as a PM or ICD recipient.
I know it's very long, but well worth taking the time to read it.
It may be something one might want to bookmark.

Happy pacing!

~ Dominique ~
<...

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Females

Hello I have a question about wearing a bra. I am 3wks post-op and am now wearing a strapless bra. I have heard that some people can never wear a regular bra again because it rubs against the scar. Does anyone have any experience in this?

Thanks,

Holly

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pacemaker with thyroxine levels wrong?

I had radio active Iodine treatment about 4 years ago which burnt out my Thyroid gland leaving me dependant every day on thyroxine 125mg this was about the maximum level i could take everyday without sending my heart racing. I then received a pacemaker in October of 07 for sick sinus bycardia and atrial fib- I started taking beta blockers 25mg (atenol) everyday to keep afib at bay I have been feeling ok until recently when i have been feeling spaced out and hyper -I had my thyroid levels checke...

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Difference between DDI and VVI modes?

Hi everyone. I haven't posted in a long time. I am now 1.5 years post unplanned PM for failed SVT ablation. Two months after getting my pacemaker, my EP changed my setting from DDD to DDI. I was uncomfortable and changed back after 5 days. At my November check-up, he told me that my battery was going quickly because my ventricle was being paced at 99%. After wearing a halter moniter for a week now, my EP changed my setting yesterday again to determine what my heart can do on its own. (We think I...

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New EP doctor

I asked my cardiologist to refer me to an EP doctor because I did not think my cardiologist knew what to do with me. He understood and I love my new EP. I had appt there last week. They interogated my PM and when he came in he was astounded at how many ventricular tachys I have had over the last 6 months. I told him I have been blacking out, having dizziness and lightheadedness, chest pain, etc.
He was so informative, looked me right in the eye the entire time he talked to me, not like some...

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30 day event monitor

Good morning! I am currently wearing a 30 day event monitor, as the drs are trying to catch some of my v-tach episodes, rather than just on PM interogation. I have worn one of these before and it was normal, about a year ago I guess. Not once did they ask me after I called in a recording to do a test. This time around every time I call, they want me to do a test while on the phone. I tell them I have a PM, and they still continue to be confused or something.
Anyone else have to wear one of...

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Guidant

How do you know if the Guidant Pacemaker you have just had installed is one that is being recalled. Apart from looking at the serial numbers that attach to the leads.

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End of the line?

I am addicted to exercise and adventure. I just can't get enough of either, and prior to my PM and a subsequent thrombosis issue, the only thing that kept me from the life of a thru-hiker or RAM (race across America) participant was money and family.

A few days ago I got a call from my cardiologist that I must see him ASAP. He got my latest phone interrrogation and was not pleased with the findings. For the first six weeks after I was stented for a LAD blockage, I obligingly partic...

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What a diagnosis

I just got a piece of junk mail offering me a chance in a drawing for a fee cremation! Does someone know something I don't know?

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Heckboy

Hi

Saw that you were on and you are to me the 'fountain of knowledge' I feel quite at ease after reading a message.

I am still not coping. What is wrong with me. The medication now propanolol only quarter of a tablet once a day is still making me feel totally sh.....

I keep thinking that there is something wrong with my heart through the op to put the pacemaker in. Why can I not be more positive.

Have an appointment in two weeks time for a check but...

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Advice Needed

Greetings everyone,

My father was told today that he may need to have a pacemaker implanted within the next few days. He has yet to have the official diagnosis from his cardiologist - has an appointment in the morning - but the docs at the ER in the hospital are advising that he get the pacemaker.

My father has had a long history with high blood pressure and palpitations/irregular rhythms. He is on meds for the high blood pressure and doing regular stress tests which have...

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trying to acquire any and all info re: my recalled pacemaker

I would really like to chat with other people out there who are in the same situation that I am in. Whatever info I can gather so that when I go into meet with the Guidant Rep. he won't be able to tell me any BS! Please help me!

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Should have done this years ago

First Post - new member. I'm a 57 year old male and have had atrial fib for 35 years. It gave me very few problems until recently when I began experiencing long pauses. Finally one of the pauses caused short term memory loss and confusion late last year. After a series of checks to confirm the diagnosis I had a PM inserted in early December 2007. The surgery was a snap but the rebalancing of the blood thinners before and after surgery meant the hospital stay was a week. The wound site heal...

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NCS & IST

Just over a year ago I had a pacemaker implanted because of NCS, now I have been diagnosed with IST Inappropriate sinus tachycardia. Until two years ago I was the picture of health ate right and exercised daily and my resting pulse rate for the last twenty years was approx 45 bpm. When i first started to feel faint & almost blacked out 21/2 years ago my Dr. sent me for a stress test. I ran on the tread mill for almost one hour before I reached the target rate to do the echo, I think some where a...

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heart failure / ICD healing

I am almost 3 weeks post op from a bi-ventricular pacemaker/defibrillator. I was checked at the pacemaker clinic last week and they said everything is fine. However, I feel somewhat out of breath and my heart is racing a bit (up to low 100s) when I'm just walking around normally. I'm in heart failure, but this feels worse than it did before the ICD. Is this just a part of the healing process or do I need to call the dr again? I appreciate your thoughts.

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atrial lead not working

'Just returned from my pacemaker clinic. I mentioned to the technition that I was feeling terribly fatigued, and perhaps she'd find the answer to my problem. She soon replied that the atrial lead to my bi- lead pacemaker, (the lead that did the work of pacing my heart when it needed it), is not functioning at all. It will need to be replaced. My question is: I live in a small town. The general surgeon can perform this type of surgery. However, I have no idea how serious this surgery is. Anothe...

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ep or cardiologist

I am thinking about changing doctors, have a 2 lead medtronic pacemaker since 9/06. I am 100% paced they tell me from the monitoring every 2 months. Have left bundle block and blocked av node.I realize they are both cardiologist but I don't want to make the wrong choice. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Paul

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