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What to expect

Hello All,
I am a 43 year old female and was dx w/ Cardiomyopathy
3 years ago. My latest EF was 33-36% and had been feeling great until about 2 weeks ago (SOB and tired). Cardiologist said it was time for the ICD and I am scheduled to have surgery on 2/15.

I am very nervous about what things I can and can not be around and if I get too close to something what is going to happen. I have heard that when it "goes off" it can feel like someone kicked you in the chest. Any...

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Tachycardia

I found out during my last PM interrogation that I was having episodes of tachycardia. These episodes were not present before the PM and are causing very uncomfortable sensations and symptoms. Is this normal? I am unable to take meds for the tachy because of my low blood pressure. Am I in store for an ablation or other invasive procedure?
I am scheduled to see my doc again on Friday to see if the episodes are posing any sort of threat. Any questions that you can suggest I ask her would be...

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End of battery

How can you tell when the battery changes modes? Dr. said something about staying at 65 beats/minute?

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observation

I kind of feel that no matter how great your pm is working .The fly in the ointment to your pm is being anxious for any reason at any time .That would make your heart feel wacked out .AM i right or wrong?

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Check up Monday

I have not written for a while, but I check out the site a few times a week. It feels good to know that others are here.
I have a check-up with the doctor himself this coming Mon. I only see the actual doctor 2x a year. The other times it's nurses and technicians.

I have some questions and I wanted to run them by you - I always get this reaction like " you are so strange/ annoying/ hypochondriac to ask this stuff."

1. I (still) get this "fast/flutter" kind of heart be...

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Dumb Question

HI Everyone,

I have a pretty stupid question here. I already have a med alert bracelet...just a cheap one from wal mart..I didn't get it engraved. I was wondering...what I should have engraved on it? I have a PM ..not taking any meds but...just not to sure how much info I should put on it.

Any help with this is very much appreciated

Gloria

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PACEMAKER CLUB

I'm 47 and recently found myself in the pm club, I too had pain under my arm shortly after having my pm put in, but it was due to a blood clot.........so make sure if you are having difficulty under your arm, don't just think it's from a shift in the pm, but it could be due to something else. Check too see if your arm looks swollen, or red..........don't put it off...........I'm glad I checked mine out.........good luck

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AMANDA

CAN YOU PLEASE CHECK YOUR PRIVATE MESSAGES, ITS REAL IMPORTANT

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kindred feelings?

hi all:
this is a great site by the way!
does anyone else have these feelings? i am 6 weeks post implant with a medtronics adapta and the PM is working very well ( at least i think it is). i have sick sinus syndrome with LOW blood pressure and am taking florinef to increase it. i am also a retail pharmacist and have been for 21 years so am on my feet 8-10 hours a day and have been back to work for 2 weeks. my energy level comes and goes in a nonpredictable way. sometimes i feel great a...

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Great

Hi

Took on board all the comments about rapid response. I went back to the cardiologist saying about the fast heart rate and how I was feeling. I have been fined tuned - he turned down the response and as soon as I got off the table I felt that awful feeling in my stomach gone. Also went for a walk this afternoon and not one funny session.

I have been put on a tablet for a month as well - sort of beta blocker - and am due to see him again on the 22nd Feb.

H...

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18 Months Post Implant


Hi again everyone.

Well its 18 months since i had my Medtronics Adapta pacer implanted.
So far so good, things seem pretty normal.
My doctor has moved me on to annual check-ups, so i guess things must be ok.

Back working normally, driving daily, basically being like anyone else.

I do have one question though,
When time comes to replace my pacemakers battery, which i know means a complete new pacemaker.
Will i be able to keep my old one,...

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What???

Ok this girl that goes to church with me told EVERYONE at my school that she felt sorry for me because I had a 80 yr old woman's heart!Oh and I showed a bunch of girls that are my friends my old pacer and of course the one girl I don't like said eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwww look guys and called the boys over I didn't tell the guys because I am at a point in my life where I really want a boyfriend (I am soo lonely and trying to fit in with the "Popular" girls!Even though I am not sure they are really...

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Boyfriend???

Hey I am 13 yrs old and I think it would be so cool to have a boyfriend with a pacer ! Probobly not the best site for this I know but I am soooo alone in this !I mean I have my parents and pacer friends but I still find myself dreaming about a boyfriend who gets it and doesn't care what I look like and what I can or can't do he likes me for me !

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Product Advisory

I just saw this link from Guident from May 2006 with an update for Jan 4 2008. Im not sure if this has been posted or not or if even means anything. Here is the link with the added devices. If this has been posted before sorry for the confussion.
Billy

http://www.bostonscientific.com/templatedata/
imports/HTML/PPR/ppr/adv/advisory_06051214.shtml

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TSA and PM at Airports

I have flown six plane trips since my PM iwas nstalled and I always show my card and ask for a hand search. Every time I have been treated with dignity and respect at several different airports in the US. I also have a total knee replacement so that would set off the alarms, too.

I had just read the News Article about this and thought I'd share my experiences with you.

I found this site last week and it is so informative.

Thanks for taking me in.

Ha...

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pacemaker and hearing aids

I would like some information on which hearing aids interfere and which ones are ok to use with a St.Jude Medical Identity ADx 5380, or where I could find this information. Tanks fo any help, Roberto 123

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Helpful quote

Hello again! I feel that there are too many people offending others, and I know there are many sensitive people (I am one) :). I feel that we need to try to understand each other a little more. Here is a quote that may help:

"Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes." -Freida Norris

Keep smiling and try to be kinder to one another! I know I really need to li...

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Stitch Protruding??

I had a pacemaker change out and pocket revision Dec. 20th, 36 days ago. All has gone well, but one end of the scar still has a red "dot". Yesterday I took a closer look at it with a magnifying mirror and there appears to be what could be a "stitch" in the middle of the red dot. I only had steri strips after the procedure on the outside, but I suppose they may have used stitches inside. The area is not an angry red and there is no discharge or swelling. The rest of the scar seems very unobtrusiv...

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Kid's protective gear

Hi! My son had open heart surgery last X-mas 2006 for a congential heart disease (hole in the septal tissue between the atriums). He had just turned 2yrs. During surgery a stitch disrupted his natural heart beat. Three weeks later he had a permanent pacemaker put in. He thinks his pacemaker is special and he asks everyone "Wanna see my 'maker?" He is a very active, healthy 3yr old now and I'm looking for some sort of gaurd for his pacemaker (in his tummy). What I have found are way too bi...

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A Stitch in Time....

Thanks all for responding about the potential protruding stitch. I did see a doc and it was indeed a stitch which had broken through the skin. He removed it and all is well. He also explained that when this happens it really needs to be removed to prevent further irritation/inflamation. So all is well that ends well....TwoCents

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You know you're wired when...

You have a T-shirt that reads “Wired4Sound”.

Member Quotes

To tell you the truth I never even give it a second thought. While growing up it never stopped me from doing anything and to this day my girlfriend or my kids need to remind me that I have one!