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Conventional dual chamber pacemaker V closed loop stimulation

Hello everybody,  I have had a conventional dual chamber Boston pacemaker for 14 years and am due a change, I have been listed for a Biotronik closed loop stimulation pacemaker, if anybody would like to share their experiences of CLS it would be appreciated, I have read some things online but there is no doubt lots I still don't know, I'm just used to a low setting (of 50) for bradycardia but it sounds like there is an upper limit too? I exercise regularly, weights...

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Rate setting changes

Hi everyone🙃

I am new here, but I am happy to find you because I need your help to understand something. 
 

My dual chamber pacemaker was implanted almost ten years ago and it has impacted my life in a wonderful way. Actually six months after it was installed, I was hospitalized with severe sepsis of unknown origin, and my pacemaker helped me survive as it took over 100 percent when my blood pressure dropped to 50/25. So I appreciate and value this device. 

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Taking Ibuprofen Ok?

Hello!

I am very new (1 week post op) of having my pacemaker. I was wondering if

Ibuprofen is a good thing to take? It's the only thing that works for my arthritis.

I do not want to mess up the little thing that saved my life, however.

Thank you for any help you can provide for a newbie.

Deborah

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Sicd surgery

I had a cardiac arrest in June woke up 3 weeks later in hospital.  Stayed another 5 weeks in icu and therapy, came home aug 23. Scheduled bypass for mid oct to fix 2 100% blockages but heart not coming back to full power so sicd placement scheduled.  I am very fearful of the surgery - I know it’s not a huge deal compared to Cabg but see,s like I am waiting for something to go wrong.  How is the icd surgery-should I be worried?

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Recent Rapid Heart Rate

Hello everyone!

Well my diagnosed pericarditis has passed. I no longer feel how I did. 600mg ibuprofen did the trick. Anyhow I was at the EP office on Thursday and they changed some settings. One I recall was called CLS. Well ever since yesterday I've been having tachycardia episodes with minimal exercise and at rest. My heart rate spikes to about 140 and then it comes back down pretty quick. I have SSS caused by nocturnal bradycardia and nocturnal sinus arrest, never tach...

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EP follow up

Is it true that you never see you’re EP again? That’s what they told me at my first pacemaker clinic appointment I literarily cried. They said he’s just the surgeon and I just go to the cardiologist (who I hadn’t seen in 3 years when he referred me to the EP - the cardiologist  never said the words SSS or pacemaker but now I’m thinking that a pacemaker was specifically what he referred me for.-I thought it was because the electrophysiologist had mo...

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Interrogation

Hi is it true that the interrogation only checks the last 24 hours? I was speaking to Boston Scientific yesterday asking questions and that is what they told me! I’ve been waiting 3 months for this interrogation (I constantly worry if I really needed a pacemaker although my exercise rates are much higher than they ever were and my last 3 interrogations usage (post op day one post op day 3 (ER shortness of breath and post op 2 weeks were 65% 82% and 76% respectively- they just had t...

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Neck and shoulder pain

I have had my PM for 4 days now  The pain was unbearable the first 2 days but it has calmed down some except for the pain in my neck and my collarbone. It's hard to turn my neck and it's so painful. The incision sites still hurt but not as bad as my neck. Do I need to call my doctor or am I being hyper sensitive?

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Getting a PM next week

Hello.

I found out yesterday that I will be getting a pace maker next week. Although I knew it was an option "down the road" it was still quite unexpected as my cardiologist kept saying I'm too young (50 this year). I know so little about what to expect. The information online just talks about after care and recovery time. My husband seems to think I can keep the bookings I have for 3 days later (I do make-up).

WHAT are the questions you wish you had asked BEFOR...

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Second Pacemaker

I just received my second pacemaker, I had my first one for almost 8 years. This one is an ICD and I received it on 1/3/20. A couple of days after surgery I'm having these twitches in my lower left abdomen. Its not all the time, mostly when I'm sitting or scrunched over. There is no pain, but it is really annoying. I have my post-op appointment on 1/15/20. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this occurance. Hopefully I'll gets some answers next week. Thanks

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weak pulse with symptoms

I'm 48 yrs,  received my pacemaker in April 2019, I had bradycardia, tachycardia and a complete heart block. Before I could feel my heart beating all the time, I knew exactly what it was doing,  even when it was in an ectopic rhythm. Lately, I can not feel my heart at all, as if I don't have one, which is slightly odd for me. The problem is I get symptomatic low blood pressure 77/44, low oxygen 92%, this brings on fatigue and coughs. One time while attending the GP he though...

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Good news --well, sorta. At least there is movement.

At my insistence I was seen at Duke today. Happily I saw an NP who listened, and was willing to explain things. According to her,  I emphatically do not have PMT. They seem to believe PMT is "impossible" as my pacemaker is programmed now. 

What I do have, maybe, is Pacemaker Syndrome. It seems my heart just doesn't like to be paced in the ventricle. The NP deliberately paced the ventricle to see if I would react. My involuntary AIIIIIIE! conviced h...

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New

hi I’m 49 I got my PM at the end of Sept. Boston Scientific I think I’m starting to get used to it. It is sticking out a lot which someone just wrote was normal. Before I got it I was obsessed with my heart rate and I still am a bit but it’s boring because it’s normal. I have so many questions that it’s frustrating one thing I found out is that I can call Boston scientific at anytime and they will answer any question I have. The problem is I’m a physician a...

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Planks

Hi There, 

 

Wondering regarding the safety of planks.  My upper body strength and core is really suffering.  I used to love to row - but that is out.  I have been doing the treadmill and exercise bike.  Wondering what others do for upper body strength.  It has only been 7 months and still feeling a little timid.

 

Thanks!

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leads and devices

My first Pacemaker fitted April 2014 was a St Jude (Abbotts) Endurity DR PM2160.  Two leads were fitted.  Pacesetter St. Jude 1888TC -52  CWM0479 and Pacesetter 1888TC- 58-CWL0527.  (last 2 nunbers of each lead have been left out)  Soon after i had a Node Ablation.

Is anyone able to identify the lead and device manufacture dates from the above numbers please?  Or should there be a seperate ID number?  The St Jude (abbott) pacem...

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Monitoring heart rate and recognizing atrial fibrillation

Hi, I have a SSS and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Have had pm since 2008. Everything goes quite well so far. Except every now and then have  atrial fibrillations during nights. That makes me very tired in mornings. AF feelings dissapear during daytimes.

Wonder if it would be usefull to have a monitor which constantly monitors AF and alarms if any. So have any of members experiences of those home monitors.

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Crazy Head Pressure

New to the group.  Pacemaker installed 3 weeks ago for type 2 av block.  Recovery seems to be going normal except for one issue/concern:

I have this discomfort in my head where it feels like it is full of fluid.  No headache or pain.  Just a heavy, cloudy feeling that won't subside.  Seems to get worse when I am sitting still.

Any help would sure be appreciated

BTW: I have to say this group is remarkable.  My doctors really didn't explai...

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3week post op.. still not 100%?

Hi all, I'm 3 week post PM implant and still feeling like I'm having fuzzy/slow moments. Majority of the time I'm feeling normal which I now realise is fantastic!

There are no patterns to these moments but today for example, I felt a bit light-headed/off balance/slow, when both surrounded by colleagues chatting (I'm doing fazed return to work) and also when walking through a supermarket.

I'm wondering if I should try tinkering with my settings? Currently on abo...

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lawn mowers

I have read in other places that lawn mowers will interfere.  Any experiences with this?

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PVC-Premature Ventricular Contractions-

I have a 3 wire pacemaker for 2 years,No problems. I recently had a 30 minute period of slow heartbeats on my Pulse Oximeter. Went to ER, blood tests showed low magnesium level. Received magnesium to raise levels. They checked my pacemaker and everything came out good. I was told I had expierienced PVC and my pulse was weak but the pacemaker still picked it up and did not add pulses.

Hospital Cardio said it was plausable but I need to go to my Cardio Clinic for more determination.

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You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.