Most Recent Messages

Ejection fraction

Hi has anyone had an issue with their ejection fraction??? 

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Subcutaneous Tethering

About 50% of my pacemaker is under the skin as opposed to under the muscle. An area of about 1" x1" has become permanently tethered to the skin. Hospital says the risks involved in reseating the device make it preferabl to leave it as it is. Occasionally the area gets bruised if I'm un lucky enough to knock it on something. Any bruising disappears after a few days.

I'd welcome any comments from others with this condition with regard to the longer term safety.

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Panic Attack Like Symptoms

Good afternoon-

I became a proud owner of a pacemkaer in June of 2023.  No prior history other than a span over four days of " fainting episodes" which ended with a period of "flat lining". (20 seconds). Overall I am in fairly good health weigh 140 lbs, drink very little, did drink caffeine.  Lead an active life, but don't do a lot of cardio exercise.  My initail recovery went well.  I am now back to work and doing what I do.  I had my ch...

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Check-in

It's been 11 weeks arm and shoulder are improving , taking daily walks and recently started getting out for errands. Still feeling a bit of wobbly leg feeling but overall trying to rebuild my leg strength.check up is in 2 weeks.

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Risks of long-term RV pacing - episode 2

In my earlier post "Risks of Long-term RV Pacing", I was enquiring about the risks of long-term RV pacing for someone like myself who has total heart block, but a functioning sinus.

As the discussion developed, several contributors with SSS joined the discussion to add their own, very welcome, Qs & As. This leads me to ask whether there is any difference in the risk level for heart failure between the two groups. I.e., does it change anything that the signal to pace my RV...

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Any stories for parents to be

Hey guys my name is Lucas I'm 36 years old my wife and I are 5 months pregnant.  We recently just found out that our baby girl's heart is somewhat low and we often receive a check ups weekly with a pediatric cardiologist and receive echograms.  They are often trying to prescribe my wife a drug called dexamethasone however there is no guarantee that this will help our baby and also the side effects can be very hard on my wife.  Of course my wife and I are...

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Adapting to PM?

I'm a little over 6 weeks post-implant and working with my EP and device nurse to find the best settings. After the last go-round my EP said he wanted me to try these settings for a while and see how they are.

The problem is they're "good" but not "great". Somewhat lightheaded all the time, some odd behavior while cycling, etc.

The logical inconsistency (for me) is that in clinic they make a change and ask "better/worse", perhaps after a walki...

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ecg

I know many of us with a pm also experience a fib.  Do you wear a smart watch with an ecg function?  Why or why not and which device do you use? 

Thanks! 

John 

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Newbie

I'm new here and just got my ICD implanted 09/06/2023, three days ago. 
 I might be 66 years old but I'm not ready to slow completely down.   I've been a skilled trades welder, maintenance/construction since 1976 also a hobby farmer.   Have pigs or cattle at times, put hay up every summer. 
  I believe the hardest part is knowing that I can't just go out to the garage and turn on the welder or work on my tractor's engine while runnin...

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Do you have leadless dual chamber pacing?

If you have dual chamber leadless, was this your first or were you paced previously? If paced previously, were your leads extracted or did they leave them in?

Medtronic or Abbott?

I have other questions, but that'll do for now :)

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Thanks

Thanks for the replies , I am going to contact my clinic. To confirm if any of my  settings where changed. 

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Pets

Light hearted post - Do you believe that pets can sense human distress and discomfort? 

I ask because I had some nasty arrhythmia for the first time for ages this evening and a furry bundle arrived at my feet for a cuddle as soon as it started, and abandoning his place next to my husband on the sofa for once!  This has happened a few times before and I'm curious as to whether or not your pets behave in this way? 

 

 

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Alcohol

Hello All, I hope you are well,

I would firstly like to thank everyone that read and replied too my most recent post, the messages i received where lovely thank you. 

I question that I have been wondering to ask you all for a while is about alcohol. As a 19 year old brit I like to go to the pub with friends, and drink socially. I will also be attending university in September, where I know I will consume alcohol. But one thing I seem to notice all the time when I drink is, ev...

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Leads

I have duel pm, same leads 5th PM since 2004. I am 76 years . Went to day for check up , don't know why but after check up, felt better than I have done for months. Nothing was said to me .

Do think they changed my settings??.

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Pacemaker Lead Replacement

I am a basically healthy 73 year old and have a dual chamber pacemaker on my right side  since I was 35, for sick sinus syndrome.  
My pacemaker batteries last about 8 years and I have had 4 replacements and I still have the original wires.  
I feel fine and my cardiologist had me wear a 30 day event monitor on suspicions that my leads were not working effectively.  There were no critical events except there was a 3 second pause in my heart that shouldn'...

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Pacemaker

I got check up 4 days ago been feeling like missed beats and not like before checkup and a bit anxious now

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CT scan and contrast

Hi All

Having an abdominal CT scan with contrast next week for an issue totally unrelated to my biotronik edora 8drt. My 1st ct scan since I got the pm last year due to complete HB.

Intuitively, and medically as well (I am in the medical field) I know neither the ct nor contrast will affect my pm. I guess I have to hear it though from my fellow pm wearers. I probably should be more concerned for actually needing the ct scan in the first place (haha) but I am more focused on t...

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Risks of long-term RV pacing

I have total heart block, but my Sinus Node is working OK. Consequently, my Biotronik Enitra 8 PM is operating in Right Atrium Sensing/Right Ventricle Pacing mode: effectively bypassing the AV block.

This is now working well and I was feeling optimistic about the immediate future until I read recently about the risks of long-term RV pacing! Various unpleasant sounding consequences, including heart failure and death, are apparently possible. My pacing burden is necessarily 100%.

I...

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Recent Diagnosis

Hello!  I was just diagnosed with Second Degree AV Block after an EP study with Procainamide.  I still don't understand why I need a pacemaker since I am asymptomatic.  My original cardiologist chose not to do tests as he was very conservative but when he left the practice the new doctor did multiple tests and finally an EP study.  I am not in denial but I was wondering if anyone had a second opinion on whether they needed a pacemaker or not.  I am very careful ab...

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Pacemaker setting optimization

I had a Boston Scientific Dual Chamber PM placed in June. It's purpose was to address symptomatic Sick Sinus Syndrom producing long pauses of asystole. I also have A-Fib and a 1st Degree AV block and PVCs. This is a difficult combination to deal with for any cardiologist. I have two good ones, An EP Cardiologist and an excercise oriented Cardiologist. I had a very successful Cardiac Ablation in August that, so far, has enitrely eliminated A-Fib. I am 75 and a long time amateur competative...

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You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

Member Quotes

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