Most Recent Messages

Post Message!

Heart flip flopping again?

Last night I had the flip floppy heart again for about half an hour. I duly dialled in sent a reading via my home monitor. Just phoned the pacemaker clinic. Last night, apparently, my heart went into atrial bigeminy which she says theyre not worried about! And there's nothing they can do. Last Saturday when I got the really slow 60 heartbeat and felt terrible I was in AF and the pacemaker is apparently set too low at 60 so they're sending me an appointment within a month to increase t...

Read More...

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Pacemaker

My battery went into ERI mode two weeks ago so today was the day to get my device replaced. I'm 43, 100% pacemaker dependent, have had a pacer since 1982, my leads are 29 years old, my ejection fraction is in the mid 40's, which is typically where it's been most of my life. My doctor threw me a curveball literally 5 minutes before I was to be wheeled back to the operating room. He discussed my EF and how it may be beneficial to add a third lead to synchronize my heart rh...

Read More...

annual in office pacemaker check

This morning  the gal said everything looks good including the wires.  

 I asked  what is the theshold  for Afib  alert notifcations  she said it was over 2 hours.  Had not had any of those longer ones since March 2022.  Did bring a sheet with the supplements had been taking for Osteoroprosis which i found out i could not take. Wondering if they would recheck from Dec 2021-July 2022 to see if that is when the longer Afib runs were.?

<...

Read More...

one lead not hooked up

hi all,

im new here, and thankful for this site,...its good to get  other patients opinions,...i have a 3 lead pacemaker, since 2015, and my dr, says almost time to change battery,....im very worried cause i had a huge hemotoma after implanted after open heart surgery for valve repair,because i went into complete heart block...but since then always wonder and ask if its ok that a third lead is not attached, my dr, kept trying to say there were only 2 leads, and i wonder if i would...

Read More...

Beta Blockers

First PM implant June 29, 2022.  I am 63 years young, turning 64 on Friday.  Glad to find this website.  Some days, feel good all day, then next day crummy at some point.  Just started blood thinner medication, no side effects.  Doctor talked about putting me on Beta Blockers.  Don't want any more Big Pharma!  Does anyone have experience with Beta Blockers?  Did they make you feel better?

Read More...

Device exchange

I had my Medtronic Sure Scan pacemaker/ICD replaced for battery.  The EP reported something she said she has not ever seen in 20 years.  My device was coated in a yellow goo inside the pocket.  She sent it out for a culture.  I have not been having any pain, itching or rash around pacemarker site.  Has anyone on here every heard if this.I do have silicone breast implant, wondered if they may have leaked into pocket?  I will forward any info to EP. She is a top do...

Read More...

Meds

Just got my first implant June 29, 2022.  I am 63 years young and will be 64 this Friday.  Feel good some days, then next day feel crummy at some point.  So glad I found this website.  No one prepared me for how difficult and long this recovery could be.  Started on blood thinners, no side effects, just being really cautious in the kitchen, etc.  My doctor is suggesting Beta Blockers.  I hate adding another Big Pharma.  Does anyone have experience with...

Read More...

Post symptoms

Hello everyone. I am new to the pacemaker club. I had a dual lead pacemaker done 5 days ago and I think from reading some of the posts I am expecting too much too soon. My original diagnoses was bradycardia with my pulse running in the 40s. I had fatigue going up stairs and some minor shortness of breath. I was expecting everything to be gone after surgery but thats not the case. I know have much more fatigue and shortness of breath and at time my heart pounding in my chest. I go for my first...

Read More...

Backpack with magnet on the chest strap

Hi, I am Nico, 39 years old and I have a pacemaker fitted on the 16th of May 2017, a St Jude Endurity. I wanted to buy a motorcycle backpack from Velomacchi (the one at this link: https://www.velomacchi.com/products/28l-speedway-backpack), but I noticed that the backpack has a big circular magnet on the chest strap. Will this be safe to use with my pacemaker or should I avoid that? I have asked the manufacturer directly but they replied to me that they have no idea so I was wondering if any o...

Read More...

Barostim Therapy

Hello all, 

I have heard actually on this site that the Barostim therapy has been authorized by the FDA and is now available to patients with HF. I spoke to my cardiologist and he doesn't have a lot of information about it other than it is a clinical trial and to qualify for it you need to be basically dying.

I have had my Biventriculator for a year and a half now and my EF still at 20-25%, my heart is enlarged a bit and I think I will need to persue this treatment, I am...

Read More...

Automatic mode switching (AMS) in atrial fibrillation

In Feb. 2022, I had a checkup and my AMS rate was 9 events.  In July 2022, I had a software update for my PM and my AMS events were 565.  I know this is mostly for dual-chamber pacemakers like mine by Abbot that is pacing me 100% of the time.  Can someone put in layman's terms what AMS events are telling me?  My home monitor sent an alert to the hospital over the events, so is this something I should be concerned with?

Read More...

Intramuscular Pacer

Hi all,

I am due for my fourth generator change next year.

I have had a pacer since I was 12 and I'm 36 now. I have two questions:

 

1: has anyone ever had abandoned leads extracted? If so how long had they been abandoned and where/who did the procedure? 

I have leads on the left side abandoned for 24 years. Unfortunately all the bulk up on my chest has recently been giving me more discomfort than usual in my shoulder area. Think it's due &...

Read More...

We have successfully published our Survey

Dear member,

Many of you may recall that we ran a survey between June 2021 and December 2021 on post operative pain following a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED).  I am delighted to tell you that we have managed to get our survey published in The British Journal of Cardiology (The BJC) and I attach a link to the published article below.  The BJC is a unique peer-reviewed publication linking primary and secondary care. It provides an important bridge for ho...

Read More...

Watchman Device

I have had a pacer (no defibrillator) for many years. Is the Watchman Device compatible with the pacemaker? Probably been covered as a topic many times, although I can't locate where. 

Read More...

pacemaker app

the question in the survey asked about using a monitor or an app for results.  What app and where to find?

Read More...

Heart rate variability?

Hi, I follow my heart rate and health info on my Apple Watch. Since I got my pacemaker (July 19th), my heart rate variability is very low. Is this something that is controlled by the pacemaker and is that why it's always low? I'm so tired all the time, and sluggish. I was hoping for a spring in my step once my Bradycardia issue was under control but not yet. Thanks!! 

Read More...

Newbie - Lead Doesn‘t Have Enough Slack?

Hello,

I got my Biotronik dual-chamber pacemaker on July 20th this year. The scar has healed up fairly well now.

Yesterday I experienced some neck and chest pain, and decided to go to the hospital to be on the safe side. (I felt like there was a "gurgling" sensation as well when my heart would beat, so I panicked a bit.)

They checked me out at the hospital and the pain eventually subsided. They didn't see anything that might be causing the pain, but they d...

Read More...

Apple watch

Does anyone know if an apple watch will interfere with the St Jude Pacemaker?

Read More...

Pacemaker

Troponin level 1 18/Ng/l  level normal after getting pacemaker ?

Read More...

New Ventricular Lead Placement Methods

Here is a "state of the art" article I found very interesting. It has a great diagram. 

Despite the title it covers both His bundle pacing as well as LBB pacing.

https://www.aerjournal.com/articles/his-purkinje-conduction-system-pacing-state-art-2020

Gemita/Lavender/Good dog/AgentX86/crustyg and others what do you guys think of this article? See  fine diagram below!

https://assets.radcliffecardiology.com/s3fs-public/article/2020-12/figure1...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You have a 25 year mortgage on your device.

Member Quotes

The experience of having a couple of lengths of wire fed into your heart muscle and an electronic 'box' tucked under the skin is not an insignificant event, but you will survive.