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DO'S AND DON'TS

Where do I go to find out what I can and cannot do since I now have a pacemaker. Is it safe to ride on a lawnmower/garden tractor. How safe is a cell phone or a mircowave. Where do I find a list that tells me these things.

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fishing

I posted a message regarding fishing on charter boats with radar units. I see that there have been two comments and 75 reads. How do I find out what the comments are. I'm new on board so I need your help. Thanks

I've checked the message board almost daily and see nothing relating to my question. Is there another area I go to to see the comments?

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MY NEW PACE MAKER ---

MY KNEW PACE MAKER --- THANKS TO ALL!
Comment posted by rancho60 on 2007-09-21 10:17.
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions - you all have really eased my mind so much. I had my first visit with my Cardio guy who said everything looks wonderful. My pacemaker is working at 20 percent, and I am healing wonderfully. I only have a few concerns and that is my blood pressure. At his office it was 149/90 he thinks it was because I was a little anxious - and he is more than likely corre...

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Pericarditis...For the third time

Hello everyone!
I would like to ask all of you if you have ever gotten pericarditis? I've had my pacer for a year and a half and in the last 9 months I have gotten pericarditis three times. Even the doctors say this is very uncommon but I can't find anyone to answer me why I keep getting it. I go to a good team of doctors (Cleve Clinic) but I feel sometimes my cardiologist doesn't answer my questions and when he does I can't understand his forgien language, but I do think he is a very go...

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Rate response and trucking

This past week I finally went back to work as an over the road truck driver after having my pm implanted June 11. A few weeks ago the pm clinic turned on my rate response. At the time I never gave it any thought but this week I learned something about it. There were a few times this week when I would feel a bit odd for no reason and notice that my pulse was faster than it should be. After about the third time I started to notice that it seemed to be happening as the result of riding on a rough s...

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Husband doesn't understand

Hi, I think this site is great, I often come on here to read your stories when I need a boost or to know I'm not alone.
I had my pacemaker fitted when I was 22 in 2004, I am now 26. I sometimes feel a bit alone as my husband has never been able to fully understand how it effects me. He didn't come to the hospital when I went into have the operation (we weren't married or living together then, but had been dating for 6 years) and he's never really been able to talk about it with me. He says...

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FYI On Medtronic Lawsuit.

Medtronic's Medical Device Legal Troubles Far From Over
Evelyn Pringle

Minneapolis based Medtronic, Inc is one of the nation's largest medical device makers. In mid-July 2006, the company agreed to pay a $40 million fine to settle charges that its Sofamor Danek division paid kickbacks to doctors to get them to use the company's spinal products, which accounted for 20% of the company's $11.3 billion in sales in 2005.

On July 19, 2006 the US Department of Justice issued...

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Update on Valerie.

Hi Everybody.

I just received an e-mail from Valerie. She had her surgery, it lasted 3 hours, and everything went very well.
She had a 1½" cyst, and scar tissue forming around it, and all of it was removed, leaving her ovary intact, which the surgeon placed in its proper position.
She has a 6" incision, which was closed with 12 staples. She is in some pain, but managing all right.
She'll be back on line soon enough, to tell us all about it, and add her usual humor we a...

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doing 5k's once more

I am 72 and always jogged and lifted weights. In 2004 I was told I was in a-fib and had bradycardia. I have had a pacemaker since that time. I have very slowly been able to regain some of my running form and have done a few races this year. Right now I am at a 10 minute mile which usually places me in about the middle of the pack in the over 70 age group. I would like to hear from anyone out there doing this and how is it going for you. My recovery time after a race seems to take much longer...

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Symptom help/advice please

Hi Everyone,

I'm new here, just found this site and would be grateful for any help or advice you could offer.

I'm 36, from the UK and was diagnosed with complete heart block in June. It's a bit of a long story so apologies and please bear with me. I had a routine high blood pressure check with my practice nurse in April and she did an ECG too. She showed results to doctor who sent me to hospital where I spent the night hooked up to a heart monitor. My HR was low 40s, droppi...

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Fishing???

I have a St. Jude Medical pacemaker Model 5342 in my chest since 2000. I love to fish but have been reluctant to go out on charter boats because I have found no one to give me a definitive answer regarding the radar on board ship. Will these shipboard radar units affect my pacemaker?

Would appreciate whatever data you can provide me on this matter.

The fisherman

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~~~~~Photo Album~~~~~~

Hi Guys,
Just thought we all need a bit of a reminder about the Photo Album we are trying to raise $500.00 for.. it has now been running for about six weeks and although we have managed $300.00 in donations.... it is not a lot when you consider how many members we have...I honestly thought we would reach the target in a week and still have some to go to Blakes charity.

It would be great to get this off the ground and for those who want to show their faces this will be your chance...

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Best pacemakers.....?

Hi to all:)
I will have my pacemaker replaced soon. Since I had an AV-node ablation I have a dual pacemaker..and I am totally dependent. I do not know almost anything about pacemakers.
Which once are good or not so good. I need to get to get something very dependable...since my life depends on it:(.
Any suggestions would be very appreciated.

Anyone else here with an AV-node ablated?...I did meet one person from UK.

Thanks
Krys
PS: I did post my fi...

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Medtronic class action

Does anyone have information regarding the current status of the class action law suit against Medtronic?
What I heard was that a settlement was reached just a short while ago.
Anyone here involved?

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Single Chamber


I was operated and have a single chamber pacemaker year 1999. Now, this year got a gallstone and gallbladder operation. My doctor told me that I have a single chamber which is not clear to me if I really need then to hae the dual chamber. My question is what is single chamber and dual chamber all about? And if dual chamber battery is advisable why then they did not inform us as to have dual before. I just married year 2006 and still no child for I am not sure how safe for me to be pregnant...

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Strings of Shocks

  • by fibby
  • 2007-09-18 09:09:42
  • ICDs
  • 2058 views
  • 2 comments

Ive been petrified for years and on anti anxiety and amiodarone most recently to ward of anxiety attacks that seem to increase my heart rate enough that it registers as VT. I have also read that if you have unnecessary shocks it can knock your heart into a lethal rhythm.
I have ARVC and have had ablation and am on my second device after two years. I have had over 200 shocks and many times almost 27 in a row, am I alone in this? It doesn't seem worth it. I thought you would only need a shoc...

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Long QT anyone?

Last September, I had a cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation caused by "long QT syndrome". I know my condition is pretty rare, so was just wondering...how many of you who are reading this have the same diagnosis?

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Does PM help lung problems (i.e. COPD)?

Hello, I am 38. I had TGA open heart surgery (Trans of Great Arteries) in 1968 and Mustard Proc. in 1970. My heart rate has always been in the 40's & 50's at rest and does respond to exercise well. My sleeping HR is 28 to 35's. (This may have been the case for years.) I have been advised that it is now time for a PM. I also have a left lung issue most likely COPD (Chronis Obstructive Pulmonary Des). I have had pneumonia twice this year. And also I have had sleeping problems ever since....

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Motor racing feeling

I have had my pacer for a year and a half and a few weeks ago I have begun to feel something in my body have an intermittent humming that actually wakes me up at night. It will run and stop off and on that is getting more profound. My phone check was ok so I'm not sure whether to persue it or just try to ignore it. It is more noticaable at night but if I am real still I can still fell it but not as bad. I work at least 45 hours a week and always busy but I am sure I would of felt this before...

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Any updates on Valerie?

Has anybody heard how Valerie is doing? I tried calling her the other day but got her voice mail. Hopefully one of you have heard how she is doing and can give us all a update.

On another note. Sorry I haven't been able to keep up more often. Still am not up to par. Met with my surgeon this week who told me he has no idea what the next step is and he was glad that I made that Mayo apt. Oct is coming and i'm ready for it to be here. So thanks for all the continued prayers..

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You know you're wired when...

Friends call you the bionic man.

Member Quotes

I have an ICD which is both a pacer/defib. I have no problems with mine and it has saved my life.