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message for new members

During house keeping, I often come across questions in the Bio of new members, questions that will clearly not be seen by the majority of us unless we hit upon these by chance.  This leaves a new member without any support and answers from Pacemaker Club members when they most need it.

While we all appreciate a Bio being completed to give us some useful information about a new member, information like their reason for their pacemaker or ICD and anything else the...

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Swimming with a pacemaker

I am a keen swimmer, in open water, cold and distance. 

Only 3 weeks after implant. 

When can I start getting back to real swimming again? 

Are any swimmers here? 

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Fluttering sensations

Pacemaker fitted one month ago. In the first week I was getting similar symptoms to pre pm, fluttering, feeling faint etc. I went back and the pm was adjust up from a base level HR of 55bpm to 70bpm. Things are vastly improved since but I still get fluttering, it almost feels like the pm is "kicking in" like a clunky gear change on a car! I'm due to go back to pm clinic in two months. Any advice?

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New Member

I decided to retire Dec 2020 at age 75 but my life of leisure was abruptly interrupted by a stroke 2 weeks later. Hospital discovered that unknown to me I had been experiencing a series of mini strokes. A loop recorder was inserted in my chest to monitor the permanent A-Fib that I had been dealing with for some years previous. After a short stay in hospital with therapy I went home to pick up on where I had left off preparing for a caravanning holiday with wife but again was interrupted by my...

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TAVR Implant Completed

So I had my TAVR implanted yesterday without issue. I already feel better and can breath deeper and have more energy. I'm sure that will continue in the weeks to come.

Pretty much right after my implant, my BP increased which they said is normal. While getting ready for discharge, I had a very short bout of VT that I barely felt, but they saw it on their monitors and wanted to make sure it wasn't valve related. They said it wasn't. Possibly just the heart being pissed about...

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A life of pacemakers since 3 years old. Now I am 44 !!

Hiya, I just randomly found this site and thought I would get in touch with similar people in the same boat.

I am Nik, I have a rare heart condition which is inherited. Both parents are fine but brother died aged 2 and sister has the same. It's a gene on my mums side coupled with a gene on my dad's side. Parents fine, but combine these genes makes me !!! The chances of my parents getting together with the rare gene are a million to 1.

But here I am. I have had pacemakers s...

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Sub optimal window quality with Transthoracic Echocardiograms

Hello my friends, I will ask my EP this question in a letter, since it does concern me, but thought I would ask you first for your opinion.  

Often when I get a Transthoracic Echocardiogram, I see low parasternal window or sub optimal window quality printed on my results, although generally my Echocardiograms have always been reported as normal with regards to my Ejection Fraction and Chamber sizes.  

I noticed on my last Echocardiogram th...

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Dr. Ho’s

Hello, 

 

I have been having a knee pain recently and I want to use Dr Ho's pain therapy device on it. 
 

I asked at the hospital today and they told ne that as long as it is far from the incision should be ok but they still told me "to be on the safe side dont risk it". So I dont know what to do. 
 

Anyone tried dr Ho with a pacemaker? 

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Alcohol?

What are folks views on drinking alcohol after having pacemaker  inserted? Just something  such as a pre dinner drink.

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New to forum- Medtronic Cobalt patient

Hi folks,

I hope everyone is doing well today! I have one of the new Medtronic Cobalt ICD's since Oct 2022. I have CHF and Afib. I also had the AV Node Ablation done at the same time. I felt better immediately after the procedures!!

 

I had an EF of 20 and it has gone back up to 32 since Oct. Just had a recent echo. Afib is gone. My low setting is 70bpm. I am young for a device. Just turned 60. I do have the bedside monitor device which reports every 90 days I guess...

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Pacemaker Feedback Requested

Hi,

I have refused to get a pacemaker for years, though it continues to be strongly recommended by my cardiologists. I think at this point I may need to accept that I have to have one. 

Can anyone give share how it feels with one implanted? Does is show? I'm fairly thin and I'm afraid it will stick out and be apparent with the blouses I wear for work. How difficult is it getting into security for airports and concerts? Any advice for me would be appreciated....

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Hot Springs

Hi all, I've just joined this group recommended by a family friend who's also got a pm, I've had mine for coming up 4 years.

I have a question about going in a Hot Spring as have read conflicting reports that you can or cannot go in them - has anyone been to a Hot Springs or heard if it's OK or not OK?

TIA,

Dave(aka Pacey McPacemaker) rebuilt 2019 

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Any other mountain bikers?

Hi all-

I'm now 2 weeks post-op from my placement of my Boston-Scientific ICD (Resonate EL w/ dual chamber pacing capacity).  I'm a 43 year old w/ no known health issues.  I mountain bike competitively, and had just finished a big training block and mtb stage race the month before this happened, and felt stronger than I had in my 20's. 

On the day things happened, I felt great. I had done a 4 hr trail ride the day before, but am pretty diligent abou...

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His Bundle pacing

Hi,

Does anyone have any data showing which hospitals in the UK are most successful at HIS bundle lead placement?

Thanks

John

 

 

 

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MRI -

Has anyone experienced trouble when having the pacemaker put into safe mode before an MRI?  
Yesterday I experienced a type of electric shock, or similar. Halfway through the technician doing what he does. It lasted about one or two seconds and was horrid. The technician said All done now, I felt as though I'd been tasered. And I really didn't recover for about 12 hours. 
I hope I never need another one. 

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body temperature

Recently, during a late-in-life realization, I recalled that the temperature of one's body is directly related to one's heart rate. Just last Friday I experienced hey fever, but took my temperature a few times over a few days to be sure (took a Covid-19 test too, negative). My body temperature was in the normal range.

So, this begs the question, can pacemaker patients still have an increased body temperature from a flu/cold/covid? And, if so, how does the pacemaker adjust or not...

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Cardiologist just recommended I get a pacemaker

Hi!

I went to the emergency room back in April for heart palitations and slow heartbeat. I have worn a heart monitor for 30 days.

The cardiologist telephoned me today and said that he recommends that I get a pacemaker.

My question is how slow is too slow? My heart has always been slow but I do think it has slowed down the last 5-10 years. I am 58.

I have never fainted and my blood oxygen is always fine. I struggle with fatigue though. I actually had massive t...

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Biotronik CLS advice

Hi am new to this group.  Diagnosed with Chronotropic Incompetence being driven by my cancer treatment meds.  In bradycardia - 38 bpm at rest.  Recent treadmil test confirmed the CI with max of 90 bpm.  No AV block.  Getting the Biotronik CLS pacemaker (not sure of the model) since I have been told it will help me be less tired and respond the best during walking, gardening and cycling which are my main activities.  I have read a lot of great posts and have deter...

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Immune system...

QQ : Was seeing my nurse last night for that feminine test we all love - and she spotted on my notes re: pacemaker and she said "Oh, you'll need a pneumonia vaccine now" ... and I'm here "but I'm not old :D " ... and she said "Your immune system is compromised now, so you'll need this. It won't stop you getting pneumonia, but will lessen the chances of you being hospitalized"  .... 

.... really? 

I did...

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heated electrical vest

Hi all....heated vests have finally arrived in NZ...yes its taken a while...just checking in if they interfere with my 3 lead pacemaker at all..? There's a bit of different information out there..mine is a St Jude Pacemaker..thnks for any info..cheers Dave

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You know you're wired when...

Friends call you the bionic woman.

Member Quotes

I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.