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Battery Life....

Hello there, I have searched high and low to see if i could find information regarding what happens when the battery life has been reached on a pacemaker and surgery has been declined. My father is 100% dependent and the decision has been made to not replace the unit. We have started to see symptoms of this, hypotension, diaphragmatic stimulation, etc. It is my understanding that the pacemaker adjusts itself and then evens out? Can anyone help me with more information? I would like a bette...

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Fasssst Pulse

Hi guys, its me back again! I wasn't feeling well for the past couple of weeks. This is my question, Has anyone had a high pulse rate and the BP is fine? Sometimes my pulse goes to 110!

stay well, Colleen

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What to expect.

Hi,

As I posted earlier, I received my PM Apr 30, 2007. This all happened too fast! I don't know what is next. Did I get the right PM? What do I expect for the "interogation?" What questions should I ask? I want to be informed, but not overwhelmed.

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Discomfort in pacemaker area.....

Hi everyone.....

I got my pacemaker about 9 months ago and have felt pain and a pinching sensation in my left collar bone and around the pacemaker, since the time it was implanted. It only gets worse when I do any physical activity, like yard work. I asked my EP aboiut it and he said that it was caused by irritation from the pacemaker on my collar bone....he kiddingly suggested that I gain weight, but then, how do you gain weight in your collar bone area? Since I am 57, I don't nee...

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St. Jude touts pacemaker's longevity

Company says just-approved Zephyr can last up to 14 years
BY CHRISTOPHER SNOWBECK
Pioneer Press

Which company's pacemaker is the one that keeps going and going and going for the longest period of time?

Little Canada-based St. Jude Medical announced regulatory approval Thursday in the U.S. and Europe for its new Zephyr line of pacemakers. Among other innovations, the Zephyr has an expected 14-year lifespan thanks to a new feature that conserves the amount of ener...

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*~~!HaPpY bIrThDaY sHaRoN!~~*

Sharon (auntiesamm): May 7, 1940

I remember it clearly: October 31, 2006, around dinner time.
I came on this site, so very nervous; I’d thought I just drop a line.
My implant date was set, yet my knowledge on the subject was so barren,
But here came a wonderful person, and her name is Sharon.

Sharon mentioned that she lived near by in Rancho Santa Margarita,
And I had a sudden thirst for a Strawberry Virgin Margarita :)
After this initial craving, I...

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Pacing more often now

I just had an interrogation on Thursday and found out that I am paced 32% of the time now. In July, right after I got my PM, I was only paced 5% of the time. Each interrogation shows the numbers creeping up. The tech tells me that this is normal, but it is a little concerning for me. Does this mean eventually I'll be at 100%? I don't know why I am worried about it, but at 42 years of age I don't look forward to that. I guess I just want a little reassurance from those who have been where I...

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St. Jude Medical Pacemaker

I was implanted with a St. Jude Pacemaker model 940923 on December 1, 2004. Six months ago I was told my battery had 5 years of life. Last week I was told my battery will last only one and half years. Is this normal? Shouldn't my battery be lasting longer? I am 100% dependent on my pacemaker. Thank you for any information you can give me.

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Thank your for this site

Hi everyone,
I got my first PM inserted in November last year and since then this website has been a precious help. Thank you for setting it up and thanks to all of you to share your experience. As I have just read it in a recent post, we may have our family and friends, it is always different to talk to people who really share it for real. I have felt really good for the past 3 months, even if I did felt a bit sore and uncomfortable for the first 2 months. I had my operation done in Scotla...

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Sleeping mistake.

I just had my PM placed April 30.

Last night I was sleeping and woke up with my left arm were almost raised above my shoulder. I am hypersensitive about not wanting to pull my leads out of place. What should I feel if I do pull one out of place? I have a 2 lead devise. Will it feel just like it felt just before I have the PM if only one lead is dislodged? Do you know what the corrective measure is? Is it just a resetting of the lead(s)? Does this create more/new problems with my...

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Is Donating Blood Possible, Now?

I have been donating blood for a long time at the local blood bank. But, I haven't for a while, awaiting for my PM. Their screening is pretty tough when it comes to heart related problems, and such (lots of questions). I haven't checked if I can still donate. Does anyone do it post PM implant? Thanks.

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is this very unusual?

I had my Pm Last August all seems fine, the reason I had it was because of a result from a holter monitor which showed I had 55 nocturnal pauses for over 2seconds and one pause of 4.5 second due to a second degree AV block, but I had other tests such ultra sound etc... and showed my heart was actually in very good shape!
but I have noticed something and wonder is this very unusual? I noticed sometimes that my heart seems to pace a bit fast not over the top! but say 100 bpm just by doing not...

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Good morning,

After battling CHF for over 9 months that became progressively worse, I was implanted with a Medtronics Adapta on the 18th of April. Never before had I experienced anything like this. Up till the implantation, my biggest complaint was the inability to breath due to all the congestion that kept building up. Everytime I simply moved, it felt like I just ran the 440. I managed to end up with 3rd degree heart block and a pulse rate in the upper 20`s.
The day I was taken to have this thing impl...

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New Heart Now Never Missing a Beat

Hello,

I am 37 and just received a PM. I am not sure how I should handle this. It is all too wierd. I had to get the PM because I was felling chest pains with shortness of breath and lightheadness. I had an angiogram which showed I had fgreat arteries. The doc concluded that I needed the PM. Once I got done with the op, It was so emotional I was crying because I could breath deeply. I immediately had tons of energy. I have so much energy that I have been having trouble sleepin...

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irregular heart

maybe someone with irregualar heartbeat can help me out. i am very active. play tennis, jog etc. my heartbeat is around 80. when i get on a threadmil maceovhine and say i get a heartbeat reading of around 85. every few minutes, at same speed, it will spike up 20 to 25 points and immediately come down to 85. then go from say 85 to 78 than to say 90 back to 85. my heart feels good, no pain or short of breath. if i increase speed and my beat goes to say 110 after a few minutes it might...

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St. Jude Medical Gets Pacemaker OK

Thursday May 3, 10:29 am ET
St. Jude Medical Receives U.S., European Marketing Approval for Zephyr Line of Pacemakers

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Heart device maker St. Jude Medical Inc. said Thursday it received Food and Drug Administration and European marketing approval for a new type of pacemaker.
The approvals cover the Zephyr family of pacemakers, which are designed to save time by automatically performing follow-up testing before a patient sees a doctor.

In...

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Trekking...

Dear All,
My father has got a pacemaker implanted almost a year ago. I just wanted to ask whether anyone knows whether going to a high altitude will do any harm to the pacemaker. actually he is planning for a trip to a high spot. Please reply me as soon as possible.

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one year

Well one year ago I got my pacemaker. It's hard to believe that time has already gone by. I can tell that my energy has improved with it and as more active. (though I felt fine beforehand) Even though I don't always post or answer questions I'm glad I found this site. I enjoy reading other answers. My husband/family are always there for me but they don't understand everything. Thanks for being here.

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ZEPHYR

Good Morning Fellow Pacers,
I am scheduled to have lead extraction and a whole new unit installed in Burbank on May 16th. The surgeon noted that I would be getting a Zephyr model from St. Jude. I realize the press release just came out on this yesterday but I wondered if anyone oversees has already gotten this model and if so how do you feel it is working? I currently have an older St. Jude model and have had so many problems (this is my 4th surgical procedure in 2 years). The problems...

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I'm still around........

Hello to all my friends and family pacers. I'm writing to inform you of my conditions. I'm feeling better each day. I'm no longer feeling the back of my head tightening up, nor do I feel the unbalanced feeling. I'm excited to report good news to you. I'd like you all to tell us of what your going through, good or bad. I feel it's needed to encourage each other that there is hope for us. I really think a lot of all of you. I'm hoping to someday get to meet you in person and in good heal...

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