Most Recent Messages

Thank you and Something Else

Hello,

It’s me again. I have a leaning experience I want to pass on but first I have to say thank you so very much to all of you. I expected there would be a few people that would comment because you are familiar with my tales of woe, but the response has been truly overwhelming. I have to say you people surly know how to make an old man feel important. I’ll be glad when we can post pictures so that I can see a picture of all you very nice people.

Now th something else....

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Pacemakers and disability

I work in a paper mill. Lots of huge electric motors, control panels, welding, electronics, etc. I have been told that there are some in the paper industry that have been put on disability because of pacemakers and the proximity of the electical equipment, static electricity, etc. Does anyone know where I could get information on this. I have had a pacemaker since 2005, and am extremely fatiqued all the time. Up until then, and after the pacemaker, I was active. Now, I am simply so tired t...

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shoulder jumping

i've had my PM since 3/8/07........last interogation was
in June i think, everything fine. i got the PM because my heart was
stopping 3-4 seconds, i guess this is sss? anyway last week my PM started jumping in my shoulder like it was beating, but it was
way slower than my pulse at the time. My sister, a LPN walked in the door and it quit, so i never got to show her what was happening.
It happenned again yesterday, and lasted for about a half hour, seems to be related to my...

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Message to unlisted icd incidents

I've experienced multiple incidents where I had the fast heartbeats and the ICD did not register the incident. Finally, I was at work as a teacher, went to the clinic when I felt problems. The nurse called 911 because I had a heart rate of 320 which was documented with a 12 lead EKG by the paramedics. My ICD didn't register the incident, but I finally had a strip to prove my point that these incidents were happening. In addition, being in the hospital while they tried to get it back under contro...

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Could use some Encouragement

Hi everyone! Remember me, the Nervous New Pacee?? Well, just as I thought I might be getting a little more accustomed to the idea of having a pacemaker, it seems I may have developed a complication, and from what I gather by looking on various websites, this might be a doozy!
It seems I have developed a new heart murmur...boy does this sound terrifying and dangerous as well. Anyway, tomorrow I go back to the EP doctor to have an Echocardiogram done.
Any words of encouragement would...

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Up Date On My SOB

Hello Folks,

Many of you have heard me pitching and moaning about being short of breath since back in the spring. Well after countless visits to doctors, I have finally gotten a diagnosis with pictures and confirmation from a second doctor. I have a sagging (or weak) diaphragm on the right side. Seems that (this is my understanding of what they told me and not their exact words) this condition keeps me from being able to inhale as much oxygen as I need for almost any type physical ac...

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pacemaker adjustment problems anyone?

Hey everyone. I have a question - sort of - I just had my pacemaker adjusted today & I need to know if anyone else has experienced this problem.

Today, they increased my minimum BPM from 50 to 70. Shortly after the tech. did this - I started having pain in my arm and I can barely lift it yet this evening. Now, usually after they mess w/pm it takes a few hours for the change to feel normal, but I have never had pain before. I also have a pain in the middle of my shoulder blades....

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Happy Anniversary, Ralph

Ralph is my pacemaker - today is our 1-year anniversary together.

One year and six days ago, I fainted on a commuter train to work and went into what the other passengers thought was a seizure. Once we got downtown, a kind stranger steered me into a cab and took me to the emergency room. She even waited with me until I was fully admitted before going to work.

One year and four days ago I learned that I am a medical anomaly. I have both vasovagal syncope and long QT syndr...

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Please help.

Thank you all for your support and comments. It helps knowing I'm not alone going through this crazy ordeal. Anyway, my question is this: I have had a PM for AV blockage for over 12 years. Last surgery was in Aug 07. I have had chest pains for the past 17 years. I am on no meds, I have low and fast heartrate, but the doctor says there is no reason for me to be having chest pains.

I have what I call "spells" where I can be having a normal day and BAM I have sharp pains in my che...

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medtronics icd shocking experience

Sorry this is so long, but need to vent. Posting this for my husband since he's in the hospital. Husband had a ICD implanted approx 1 year ago. Friday night he was working out of town and his ICD went off 39 times within 3 hours. He was taken by ambulance to a small local hospital and then transported to a larger hospital where a Medtronics rep came and turned it off. There was no indication that there was any cause for it firing. Husband overheard the cardiologist & rep talking that there...

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SHOULDER TO CRY ON

Hi everyone --- thank God for this site and for all of you knowledgable people. I had my PM 09/10/07 almost a month and I went back to my Cardo today. I had a few questions and concerns which I wanted to address with him, so I did just that. I am a nervous/scared type of gal anyway, so of course everything he said to me was really taken to heart. He interogated my PM while I asked if everything looked ok - he then replied I see a little problem there. Of course that response scared me - th...

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Periodic Flushing and Accelerated Heart

Hi There:

I have a dual chanber ICD had an ablation back in May and every month or so I expereince flushing and my herat will go from a reasting bpm of 60 to 85 and then within 2-3 minutes the flushing goes away first anf the heart slows don in 2 stages: Stage 1 around 75, Stage 3 around 65 and then a retrun to 60. ANYONE ELSE HAVE A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE?

Dave

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update--pacemaker syndrome

hi everyone,

i just wanted to update those of you who remember me. i was complaining of a full feeling in my neck and face. SVC syndrome was ruled out. my old EP wouldn't do anything else. so for 1 1/2 years i suffered with this. i couldn't even exercise i was so miserable.

i switched EP's. he said i have pacemaker syndrome. he changed my settings and the full feeling is gone. he turned my rate smoothing off, lengthened my AV delay and now i am only going to pace in...

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short question

So many of you refer to your E P. Now I ask you what is and E P? 'Cause I don't have one. They never even answer my calls so I can't ask the cards.

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telephonic checks

I waited all day for the tech to call me "within 30 minutes of 0945am" never did. So I called for nearly 2 hours and got a busy. i called the docs office -same building- same response keep trying. They'll try to see what happened.

OK has anyone insisted upon either changing docs in a group, or changing groups or even finding someone to take this thing out, That is my preference, It flips when I sleep, gives me an otherworldly profile "is that a deck of cards in your pocket?"

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Effect of Arc welder

I am engaged in design &development of Arc welder. I would like to know the effect of arc welder on pacemaker. What is the safe distance from a welding pont or arc welder.

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question for the Ladies

My aunt has recently got a pacemaker. I have some questions. Is the pacemaker always on the left side and placed in the same place on everyone? Also is there anywhere to get a special bra as the regular one hurts her? Sorry fellas, just needed some info. Also are there websites I can go to that have pictures and info on the type pacemaker she has? Any help will be appreciated. Thanks, Ginger

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Bleeding from the incision - but ok now

I was just a little over two weeks out from my PM implant and being careful with what I did with my left arm and side. However, I got down on the floor to hook up a cable under my desk and when I got up, I noticed I was bleeding profusely from one corner of the incision. I got a clean rag and held pressure for quite some time to no avail. The blood was dark and brownish. I was home alone, so I drove myself to the ER since the hospital is just a couple of blocks away. Of course, to add insu...

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monitoring

I have a Guidant PM made by Boston Scientific. I have been told that I can't have my PM monitored over the telephone.
Anybody know anything about this? I have been told that some people do use the telephone..
Steve

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Low Blood Pressure

Hello:

I wanted ask the people who have pacemakers if they have low blood pressure?

I wasn't feeling too well tonight and laid down for about 30 minutes. I checked my blood pressure when I awoke and it was 95/56. I had my PM put in back in June and this is the first time that I've really paid any attention to my numbers.

It came back up when I got out of bed to between 107/67 to 120/77. I had been sick with a Chronic Fatigue diagnosis for several years before I n...

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You know you're wired when...

You can feel your fingers and toes again.

Member Quotes

Do feel free to contact the manufacturer of your device. I have found them to be quite helpful when I have had questions and concerns.