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Repair/Replace Leads

Got my PM in March 2019. Tech detected problem with top lead signal in June 2020. Surgery in August found one lead dangling (disconnected) and second lead almost disconnected. Generator was O.K. Surgeon replaced one lead and reconnected both leads in new locations. My energy level has improved noticeably. Surgeon claimed two attach screws may not have been torqued adequately/correctly on original procedure. Seems to be some 'trick' to correctly attach these leads.

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AMS Episodes

Can someone provide a simple explanation of what AMS episodes are?  I have had a St. Jude 2210 for 8 years.  I usually pace 10- 12 %.  My AMS episodes have ranged from 0 to 350 until last year when it went to 3799.  My last pacer check showed 108238 AMS episodes.  My noise reversion also increased to 414.  The tech talked to me about the noise reversion but did not mention the AMS episodes and I did not see it until after I got home and reviewed my report. ...

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Battery life?

I got my first CRT pacemaker in august 2008. I got my second CRT pacemaker in october 2014.

Yesterday I went for pacemaker check up which is 1x a year and the pm tech says I have 3 yrs 7 months left. So maybe I get to 10 yrs on it. Says I am a frugal user.

I got flu virus early 2008 damage loss of 33% function of heart. I had robotic mitral repair 2001. I had flu shot but it did not work. Now with Corona I am supposed to avoid hospital but my cardiologist still wants an Echo done,...

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Interference from "EZPass" devices mounted in the car?

Is there a risk of interference to pacemakers from "EZPass" devices (and the like) that are mounted in the car and automatically collect highway tolls?

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Problem with a lead?

Does this sound familiar to anybody?  

I am realizing tonight I may have a problem with a lead, and I would assume my RV. I have had the oddest feeling for the last week.  I am getting a slight vibration, almost feeling like something is crawling in me, between my shoulder blade and spine, deep in my chest, feeling it in my back and not my front. It lasts several minutes at a time (trying to pay attention to duration and frequency) and are sometimes more in...

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Ouch!

Not sure what category to post this under, so: this morning, my pacer site started hurting--stinging, in sort of a rhythm.Have done nothing that would aggravate it--no heavy lifting or extreme twists, etc.

I had my 3-month check on Friday and all was well.

I sleep on my sides & can often notice its presence, just as a little pressure. The entire site--plus several inches surrounding it--has been itchy since day one. (Apparently that's normal?)

When the stinging...

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Uneasiness in middle of chest

Had my pacemaker surgery 6 days ago, ok for the first couple of days, the last 3 days been having an uneasiness in middle of chest , my heart rate is 66, my BP is 144 over 80. Didn't have this uneasiness before . But I am belching alot more and alot more gas. It really concerned me a couple of days ago, go back to see my doctor tomorrow.  They put it in because my heart rate was really low, and my heart stop 3 times over the last 2 years and stop once while I was driving and had a ba...

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Close to Fainting

60 year old Female. have St. Jude dual chamber inserted 2/6/18. Diagnosed with SSS. Felt great for 2 years. Today, while preparing my morning smoothie, I felt faint , nauseated, broke out in a cold sweat. I caught myself on the counter. After I got my legs back I went to take BP. It was 117/68. Pulse was 70. I don't have diabetes but took my blood sugar. It was 94. Pulse Ox reading was 98%. All in all, I feel tired enough to sleep all day. I slept 8 hours last night and it was a good unin...

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Long term effects of more sensitive rate response PM settings

This issue emerged on a recent thread (See "HR dropping while on climbs") about rate response to support biking up hills. 

Link to thread:

https://www.pacemakerclub.com/message/37472/hr-dropping-while-on-climbs

Member frankmcw2 posted his suggested settings for Medtronic PMs to make the rate response settings more sensitive to movement. I'd previously (more than an year back) requested and got  that same pdf document from frankmcw2. I t...

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New to this

Hello, got my pacemaker Aug 3rd. After wearing a monitor for 2 days. Found out when I was sleeping my heart was stopping. 18 times in 2 nights. Longest was 9.3 seconds. Doc said if it was during the day I would have passed out. The doctor contacted me at 930 at night & got pacemaker installed 3 days later. Didn't have a chance to get a second opinion. As I was prepped for surgery I asked the doctor what would cause it to stop. He said sleep apnea is a possible cause. SO SHOULDN'T...

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second lead ?

HI all, 

I had my first pacemaker implanted in 2007 and had ithe battery exchanged in 2017. Unfornately my cardiologist was not able  to remove the lead to the atrium from the old pacemaker. All types of people helped with different tools, but they gave up after 2.5 hours, cut the lead off the old pacemaker and capped it. So now I only have a lead in my ventricle. Since that time I have recurrent VT of a few seconds each. I'm wondering if is related to only havin...

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PVC/PAC’s

I received pacer 4 weeks ago. I was having a high number of pvc's and PAC's and doc said implanting pacer would allow her to dose me with enough meds to control. Only med she changed was metropolol. Took me from 12.5mg to 25mg 2x a day. No change. Still excessive. Pacer set at 60. Resting HR has gone from 64-70 to 82-90. Any thoughts??

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COVID 19 & Myocarditis

Good morning all! I'm sharing this with 1) skepticism 2) intrigue 3) genuine interest in what you intelligent and well read folks might think.

My background - I am a healthy 31y/o with no history of health issues except for a VSD murmur which closed up as a child. No symptoms. No issues. Until suddenly I developed heart block in late Feb of this year (PM placed in April). I've come to terms with my condition and ultimately I guess it doesn't matter what got me here...

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Anxiety

Hi everyone!

First of all, thank you all for the support on my previous post. It certainly calmed my anxiety quite a lot.
 

Just as a quick refresher I was diagnosed with a complete heart block at the age of 5 and had a pacemaker implanted since. I've never been in any sort of medications or any sort of irregularities. I am 20 now and thankfully progressing quite well in university and my professional life. However, I often get a lot of anxiety over my life span bein...

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Swollen feet and ankles

Hi all, I had a dual lead PM fitted just over 2 weeks ago. Getting out of breath whilst walking has deffo worsened, I’ve had a few dizzy spells whilst walking, and now my feet and ankles have swollen, sometimes quite significantly. Is this cause for concern? Just the norm at first? PM was checked at the hospital last week and I was told it was working well, but Im not so sure. Any comments or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

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Arm Pain

Hello members. Had pacemaker implanted June 22. Wondering how long it usually takes to have complete use of arm on implant side and be pain free. I still experience pain when raising arm above shoulder.

Thank you

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HR dropping while on climbs

Had a PM (Medtronic Azure) for about 18months, going back a few times for technicians to retune. Can run fine with hr in the 165/170 region and consistent.

Problem I am having though is that when cycling it is not picking up movement correctly, in that when I start climbing, half way up a hill it thinks I've stopped moving so starts reducing the HR. Wouldn't be so bad but leads to basically hitting 'the wall' , dizzy and wandering a bit on the road. Not good with tr...

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Bellababy electric breast pump

Hi all, 

 

I recently purchased Bellababy Electric Breast Pump. Just wanted to know, does it by any chance interfere with the working of a pacemaker? I have a dual chamber Medtronic pacemaker.

Thanks

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Advice needed. Heart rate accelerating with very little movement!

Hey all,

Need some input/advice!  I have CHB with a Medtronic dual chamber atrial sensing rate responsive pacer.  The last few weeks, and with increasing frequency my heart rate has been rising up to 120-180 plus (measured via pulse oximeter) when barely moving or even just standing. If I am laying down I am ok, car rides seem to activate it as well.  I get shortness of breath and major palpitations when it happens and upon laying down it will take up to 30 min to fu...

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Incision

I had pacemaker surgery 3 1/2 weeks ago & I was stitched inside then steri strips & glue on the outside, they just came off, on one side it looks like it is way too open, the rest still has glue, should I put antiseptic on & keep it covered, since it's Saturday & I can't reach the Dr until Monday.

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You know you're wired when...

You forecast electrical storms better than the weather network.

Member Quotes

As for my pacemaker (almost 7 years old) I like to think of it in the terms of the old Timex commercial - takes a licking and keeps on ticking.