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Decision to get an ICD

  • by Donny
  • 2019-09-16 21:11:40
  • ICDs
  • 423 views
  • 18 comments

Hi, thank you for the support that this group offers!  I’m a 62 year old male and am trying to weigh the risks and benefits of having an ICD implanted and would love any and all perspectives and inputs that you can provide.

According to my doctors, I am on the “cusp” of needing an ICD. I have a slight risk of having a heart attack, but only slight. I guess any risk is not a good one. I have medium hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, meaning that the wall of my heart has...

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Decision to get an ICD

Hi, thank you for the support that this group offers!  I’m a 62 year old male and am trying to weigh the risks and benefits of having an ICD implanted and would love any and all perspectives and inputs that you can provide.

According to my doctors, I am on the “cusp” of needing an ICD. I have a slight risk of having a heart attack, but only slight. I guess any risk is not a good one. I have medium hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, meaning that the wall of my heart has...

Read More...

No sure what to expect

Hi everyone.  I'm a 56 yr old male, that had no symptoms and collapsed at work on 9/11. I did have a right bundle branch block diagnosed about 15 years ago, but it had never caused any problems. I've always walked and kept myself in decent shape, as I have two college golfer sons that I follow.  I've walked 18 and 36 holes a day with no problems.

On 9/11 I collapsed at work, concussed (which I was told probably helped restart me) along with a pretty deep gash on th...

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a little nervous

HI all you wired people My name is Trish. I'm a 56 year old woman. Moderatly active. with a huge personality. I'm getting my pacemaker for the firstime. Don't really know what to expect. They didn't tell me much and I'm trying not to google it to death . Any words of incouragement would be welcome. Nothing that would be scary please. I'm thinking of calling it Metro (short for metronome)

Kind regards, Trish 

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4 days post surgery

Had my PM surgery on Thursday Sept 12, 2019. Even though I had trouble with bleeding, lead placement , and new medication (Cardizem), I was able to go to Zumba class today, Sept 16! During surgery, they had trouble stopping the bleeding, but finally got it under control, then the doctor didn’t like the placement of the leads and had to do it over, before they had closed. I have SSD, bradycardia-tachycardia and dr put me on Cardizem, which didn’t agree with me, dropped my BP to 80/...

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Automatic threshold tests leadless MICRA PM

Hi everyone

Since having my leadless PM put in in July. It is set to 40BPM and it seems it hasn't had to pace me yet. I got it after a 13 second heart pause out of the blue (I had a loop recorder). I've had serious palpitations every 30-60 minutes since the PM op. I was taken to hospital recently whilst travelling as my heart had started racing (still unclear what that episode was as the loop recorder was taken out). But, while I was there I asked the technician about...

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Running after Pace Maker Surgery

Hi! Had my pacemaker implant on Aug 22, 2019, with a Medtronic Pacemaker that is "MRI, microwave friendly", since I also have arthritis and have to get an MRI annually.  I am retired Air Force so had my implant done at Brooke Army Medical Cente.  I have been a runner for 35 years, so my first question to the doc was when can I run again.  He told me 4 weeks from the surgery date, but I have heard through the grapevine from other pacemaker folks that 6 weeks is probabl...

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CRT-D

Hi, I’m due to have a pacemaker inserted under the muscle as apparently I’m too skinny to have it placed in the usual position. Can anyone tell me the recovery differences for this procedure? I’m a secondary school teacher and would also like to know when I can go back to work.

 

thanks.

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Low rate set at 70 HR has dropped lower

Hi all, 

Looking for some advice please. My Husband has a Medtronic dual lead pacemaker inserted in January for Heart block. He also had an Ablation for Afib in March. We are seeing the EP tomorrow as we feel we need some questions answered, ie breathlessness, postural hypotension which seem to have worsened since these procedures. The last few days we have been monitoring BP/HR/symptoms more often in order to discuss with the EP. Today I believe John is having an episode of Afib,...

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Can't bring arm across body

Hi everyone,

I just had my first PM implanted on 12 Sep (3 days ago). I've noticed that when I try to bring my left arm (affected arm) across my body, it's extremely uncomfortable (ie, far more comfortable than any other movement with the arm). My PM is implanted subcutaneously in the area where that movement occurs (below the collarbone, above the armpit, very close to [almost seems to be along the line of] where my shoulder bends to allow pulling the arm across the body)....

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What to ask doctor

Not sure if I am a CRT non-responder. 3 months echo EF 40% as against 35% before CRT. During 3 month doctor visit in August they did interrogation, which I thought was not due till the following month. They immediately did limited echo.

Looking at interrogation, A-Fib several, but one VT/VF brief non sustained. This may be what prompted Eliquis immediately and Amiodarone orally. 

Am I finding out that I am a non-responder to CRT? 

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watchman vs blood thinner

My doctor/tech keeps mentioning Watchman.  The first time when i saw him about getting a pacemaker.  Which i was not aware that i needed. The next time   was at the pacemaker clinic 2 weeks after PM implanted.  The tech said when i saw the dr. at the 6 week mark.  He will say something to me again.

  After the first time came home and looked Watchman up.  Was not thrilled with what i read.

  I was thinking if i needed blood thinner, why...

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Mig welding

I had my Pace Maker put in end of February this year, I work in the semiconductor world for the last 40 years. Recently had to be placed in another group due to the process has a vary large magnetic field equipment running. No big deal there, always somewhere to go in this industry. My question is for the welders out there, I was in the process of buying a tig welder when I needed to have this PM put in. Question is for distance from the power box. I bought this unit about 10 years ago, Mille...

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Running and pacemaker

Just got my pacemaker 9/11/19. I hve 2nd degree heart block type 2. Besides controling my low HR will it help my running? I am 71 and a lifetime runner

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verapamil

I am on verapamil 180mg for  atrial tachycardia   For the past 2 weeks I have a follow up I’m avout 5”6 and 200lbs idk if I need a high dose because all though they have been working my heart still here and thier races fast but it dose calm down now instead of staying high like it use to so should I ask for high dose 

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shallow breath

Hi, got a pacemaker 2 weeks ago. All is well but I am experiencing shortness of breath periodically. NOT a collapsed lung. Doesn't hinder me, just a bit disconcerting. Had a check in today and the NP said this is normal, what do y'all think. I am a 65 year old male...pretty healthy.  Thanks

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Pain in chest bone

Can anyone comment on the following. I've had a PM for 6 months and only recently have been experiencing intermittent pain in my chest bone area near the PM. I exercise daily but don't experience the pain much when I working out. Anyone's input would be appreciated.

 

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Extreme fatigue

This may seem like an odd question but does anyone experience extreme fatigue for days after a routine PM checkup? They didn’t change any settings but did the normal interrogation and tests. I didn’t feel this way when I had my previous PM check up 4 months ago but that was by my EP. This time was a young new person who did take so much longer to do everything. Since this last appt I feel weak and tired. Almost light headed at times. He said everything was fine with my PM but...

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YOGA

Hi ,

I had an ICD implanted last week and have a passion for Yoga , i notice there are lots of posts on Yoga but nothing on doing inversions or vigourous yoga classes ( flow , ashtanga, rocket ) i would love to go back to those and can't imagine my life without them -  has anybody resumed these types of classes and inversions / balances ?  

Thanks 

Jade

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New Pace Maker

I received a new dual chamber Boston Scientific Pace Maker on 7-31-19.  They had to do a revision the next day due to one lead not staying in place.  I had bradycardia and normally had a HR around 49 to 51 at rest.  I am 72 yrs old.  In addition to several additional conditions, I also have emphysema.  It was hoped that the pace maker would  increase by energy level which was severely low and also help with the breathing issues that I had on any exertion.  A...

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You know you're wired when...

Your kids call you Cyborg.

Member Quotes

I have a well tuned pacer. I hardly know I have it. I am 76 year old, hike and camp alone in the desert. I have more energy than I have had in a long time. The only problem is my wife wants to have a knob installed so she can turn the pacer down.