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New to the group

I just had an ICD implanted on 5/30, and so far, so good. The pain was much less than I expected and the incision looks good, but I do have a lot of black and blue down my arm to my elbow. Normal?? I have been put on Amiodarone and that scares the hell out of me after reading the recent posts here and the possible side effects listed for the drug, it reminds me of the warnings on Draino.How dies one deal with seat belts riding over the device?

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breathing

hi while i was at my cardiologist on friday i told him about my condition breathing wise and the number of antibiotics i have been on. he took pity and ordered a pulmonary function test for monday and he put me on a new inhalor which has done wonders in one dose. i can't hear the wheezing. he thinks i may have asthma. we will see . i am just so relieved i am getting some help in the right direction. we are also dealing with imminent death from cancer in the next few days for my sister-in-law. sh...

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edema

Hi Folks - I need help yet again. I did a search here on edema and came up with a little info. As mentioned my husband has had his bi-ventricular ICD a little less than 2 weeks. His feet are swelling and he is experiencing quite a bit of SOB (not like the flash pulmonary edema he was experiencing before which was the reason for the 3 lead). I am definitely calling someone on Monday, but in the meantime trying to get through the weekend. From my search it seems that some people have experien...

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How are you going Blake)

Hi Blake,
I was wondering how you are now Blake.?
We are all quite concerned. If you are able to just give us a quick update on your recovery from your ablation.
This website has helped us through our problems and we are all hoping you are making a good recovery-Take care-Kay


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Info on Amiodarone

Is anyone taking amiodarone for v-tach, and if so has anyone suffered it's side effects (such as lung problems)? I know the drug has some other nasty side effects, but it appears to be working to control my wife's tachycardia....

Update......my wife is doing much better and had her two week incision check yesterday.....all is well so far.....

Blnmakerr

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Blue Moon

Hello Everyone - Have you all enjoyed seeing the "Blue Moon" which occurred last night? Here in Orange County is was absolutely brilliant and I expect it will be again tonight. Don't know what a "Blue Moon" is, you say. That is when there are 2 full moons within one calendar month. Doesn't happen too often, hence the saying "once in blue moon". Just a little trivia for the day. Blessings to each and every one of you!
Sharon

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Please Support My Walk for HIV/AIDS!

Good Morning Everyone!



I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to tell you about a challenge I have taken on and to ask for your help. On Sunday June 3, 2007, I will be walking with over 10,000 other people in AIDS Walk Boston.

In addition to pledging my time to this event, I have committed to raising money for AIDS Walk Boston that will go to AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Inc. to help provide needed services to people living with HIV/AIDS. AID...

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Consultation on June 5th

Hi everyone, thanks for your support lately. Yes I have an appointment on Tuesday morning June 5th to consult about and schedule my pacemaker implant surgery. I wish it were here already, I am so more than ready to feel better and hopefully wean off of these medications. They make me feel terrible (Midodrine 10mg 3 times per day and Toprol XL 50mg once per day at night). If they want to do it to me that day I say do it. I'm ready. Thanks y'all again and I'll keep you posted. Just trying t...

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pulse rates adjustment

Hi Everyone,

I had my PM put in last month. It stopped the dizzinesss and tiredness but I was getting intermittant sharpe chest pains 4 times a day for around 10 minutes.Went for my check up. The Doc lowered my pulse rate bottom from 60 to 50.
Since then, slowly but consistently I have been getting dizzy-now just from walking fast and going up stairs. However chest pain only a few times in a week for less than a minute.
Today it seems even worse now I'm wondering if I pulle...

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Reflux or Gas

Hello all, I am a raw recruit to a Medtronic PM to stop pauses in my pulse and resulting fainting. It was getting steadily worse with severe pins and needles in the limbs. The PM seems to be doing its job as it is set at about 70 bpm whereas my normal was 56 bpm.
However since the implant three weeks ago I get these unbearable pains in midsection just below rib cage. It hurts if I laugh and to lie down but eventually I get comfortable.
First time it happened I thought I was having a he...

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What does it do to your heart?

I have read several postings about security devices at doorways, and the wand they also use. If you get a zap when undergoing the search -- what does the zap do to your heart? Could it cause damage? Is the possible damage cumulative over time after years of this zap? Just curious. Bionic Barb

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hot tub/steam room

Can you use a steam room or hot tub with a pacemaker? j

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Praying for relief

Hi everyone, my head and heart and body have been really awful to me these past few days, and I am just praying that I will wake up and it be June 5th so I can schedule the pacemaker implant. I am about to be driven crazy by the medications. Midodrine and Toprol XL. I over-did it with trying to be a good mom this past Memorial Day weekend and doing stuff with my 2 kiddos. I collapsed on Sunday at the park. Monday I woke up and cooked a big breakfast but I felt so bad all I could do was slee...

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PM Replacement question

hey guys i'm finally going through with the PM replacement this week... my question though is, can I go through this w/o any sedation? mine is epicardial.. can it be done?

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colds

hi i hope this is not a stupid question to ask. i have been since christmas congested and wheezy. it has been in my chest and a head cold too. it never really seems to leave. i am wheezy as well and have some inhalors but the antibiotics seem to help for a few days and then bamm back again. lately i have been a bit panicky about this. i go to my cardiologist friday.i hope it can be helped. anyone else had anything similar? my pulse is fine regular and i seem okay otherwise. so thanks ahead of ti...

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Electrophysiology Testing

When some of you had an Electrophysiology Test were you completely knocked out or did they just use a local anesthetic? I just read this from my own Dr.'s webiste;
"The site where the catheters will be inserted is cleaned, shaved, and numbed with a local anesthetic. Other than a sedative, patients having an EP study do not receive any anesthetics because they can alter how the heart functions."
I was completely put under and am now wondering if that had any outcome on my results.

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pacemaker thumps every 3 hours

Hi my family is trying to figure out why our 9 year old daughter's pacemaker thumps three times every three hours around the clock. She's had an EKG at the time when it happened but no medical staff were present they say the jump on the EKG is from her moving but she never moved an inch we watch her tummy as it jumped three times. She's now doing a 24 hour holter. I feel like we're not being listened to because she doesn't actually ever loose a pulse and the doctors have never heard of a pm t...

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Doctors!

I'm scheduled to see my cardiologist tomorrow at 3 and right after have my pacer check. I got a call a little while ago and the receptionist said they had to move it up. I asked what time. i was told 1:30. I told them I can't make it at then. I can't leave work any earlier than 2 so I wouldn't make it there until 2:30. I love how they think you can drop everything for their convience. If I knew yesterday maybe I could have worked something out. I don't have a job where I can just leave. (it was...

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Guidant Problem!

I had a Guidant Insignia 1290 implanted in January of 2006. (This is NOT a recalled model at this time.) I have previously wrtten here about subsequent problems that began the moment I woke up from surgery and was experiencing constant shocking from the pacemaker, and how my EP who implanted it refused to even acknowledge that this condition existed.

This misery continued for several months until I found a new Electrophysiologist who took seriously my complaints of constant "shockin...

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Body Fat Testing Follow up

So I called Medtronic (the maker of my ICD) to see what they had to say about me using the body fat tester at the gym. They told me they don't recommend using it because it can cause the device to give an unnecessary shock. Yikes, I don't think I'm up for risking it!

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