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The Famed SIX WEEKS Has Arrived!

Today is officially six weeks from my pacemaker implant of January 11.  This week I have been easing into raising my left arm up more little by little and today I can do a full arm raise. 

Like many here, I was totally unprepared for what I would go through, surprised that I even needed a pacemaker ASAP (a what?!), led to trust it would be routine, and told I could take Tylenol for any discomfort. Two mornings later I was in the ER from not managing the pai...

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Pacemaker self-test and voltage

Hello everyone! 

I have a question about the self-test voltage vs. manually programmed voltage. 

I have an Astra Sure Scan Medtronic pacemaker (Model X2DR01) to manage my LongQT (Type 2). I'm paced at 80 bpm all the time. I've had this particular pacemaker for 5 years (but have had a pacemaker for nearly 25 years). For the first 4 years of this pacemaker I couldn't feel the self-test and only in the past year started feeling it. This seems weird to...

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CRT Placement

Honestly not sure which group to post in so I'll start here.  I'm about to get my first CRT pacemaker sometime soon - waiting to hear about scheduling.  My concerns are about placement.  I do not want to "see" the pacemaker after it's been implanted. This is very important to me on both a mental and physical (esthetic) side.  I'm also a very active lady who likes to backpack / hike, wear strapless tops, and participates in sports like Pilates...

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Serious coping....

(Edit to add: For those of you that want to say that I need a good therapist, we don't have those where I live. I would have to travel over an hour one way to see one and that just opens up another can of worms that isn't feasible.)

Yesterday I went to get into our Jeep, we live on a ranch and I got out to close the gate and got back in the Jeep... that was all it took for my chest to hurt for half an hour. Like really hurt. The kind of pain you want to cry at but don't beca...

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Delta Waves

Hello,

 

I recently purchased an apple watch, and have joined a community that look at ecgs and such on the devices. One common comment about my ECGs are the appearance of a wider QRS and Delta Waves. I was aware RV Pacing causes the appearance of a wider QRS, but i'm not sure if delta waves are also part of this? 
 

Everything online says Delta Waves present in cases of WPW, which i don't have. 

 

Thank you for your hel...

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MRI

I've had my 2 lead medtronic surescan for 9.5 years and having hip issues needed an MRI. I thought,  this is going to be an issue and and headache.  It was so easy!!! Dr ordered the mri, imaging company called to schedule, they contacted my cardiologist for approval, done. The imaging company has a device that looks just like the machine for interogations. Put PM on safe zone. After scan fine,  put it back to my settings.  I didn't even feel any difference.  T...

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When you finally allow yourself to take more meds...

A lot of people in this club have been following my journey for the last several months, and you are the ones who know the literal battle I've had with not wanting to titrate up my meds. Carvedilol to be precise. But lately, I've had a change of heart... no pun intended. 

I realized something rather important. No... I'm not kean on the idea of taking more Carvedilol, I'm afraid of kidney damage and more side effects. However... I had sort of an epiphany the other da...

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Backpacking

Does anyone have suggestions as to how to use a backpack with chest straps as they run across the area where my Pacemaker is implanted..

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Spirit World

I had a strange experience during what I assume was REM sleep recently and received what I can only describe as a 'visit' from a deceased relative. 

I don't (or didn't) believe in spirits and this is totally new to me.  It wasn't a relative I was super close to either. 

My heart was playing up and missing beats and as I walked up some steps (in a dream) and entered complete darkness, I thought my time was up! Then a luminescent and very real imag...

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ICD's and Waterskiing

Hi,

I'm a 67 yo male who was recently diagnosed with HCM and had a Medtronic Cobalt dual camber device (defibralator and pacer) implanted 4 weeks ago as Preventative for VT/VF. I've had NSVT and other atrial arrythmias and have other markers in risk stratification which is how I now find myself "in the club". I'm on two antiryhthmitics which I hate but understand the reason's why.... I'm an avid advanced waterskier who's out on the water...

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Pacemaker Tapping - Left Side Sleeping

Hello, I've been reading older forum posts on this, it's a weird one and seems to be a few different takes on cause / resolution.

Anyway, it's now just over two weeks since I received my PM and life has changed for the better, I feel like I'm thirty again and not in my mid 40's.

The only thing I am experiencing, not overly concerning just odd, is a tapping in my PM if I lay either on my left side or front. It's not painful, but feels like a rhythmic finger...

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Patient app

Does anyone use the "Patient App"?  I tried putting it on my iphone through Biotronik, but it always says the server is having problems.  I would like to use it if it could help me.  I'm new to all this pacemaker that I had put in at the end of December.  Santa said I was naughty, so he gave me surgery for 2023.  Actually, I'm very thankful for this modern technology.  Does the Patient app only work on Android devices?  Thank you for your h...

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Interesting interview

Saw these two items on the news today about a footballer's experience of heart failure on the pitch.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/68346705

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/68346337

I didn't catch if he was still playing though.

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CRT-D question

  • by R2D2
  • 2024-02-19 21:15:11
  • ICDs
  • 323 views
  • 10 comments

I was just reading some information about the difference between a CRT-D and a CRT-P or ICD and was interested in the treatment part of it in regards to the mild little shocks it gives to cause the heart to beat in both sides. I'm making this generic, but from what I understand, it's more than just regular pacemaker stuff like making your heart go faster when it needs to. If I read it right, this provides an extra bit of therapy that no other device does. It actually gives me some new...

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58 day Biotronik Report from ANDREw75

BIOTRONIK REPORT FROM 12-11-2023 TO 2-7-2024 (WITH FLECAINIDE)

58 DAYS. Key points noted.

 I feel much better with no symptoms from the medication. I can take deep breaths and have no dizzy spells on exertion. I have no trouble exercising and feel vital again. The only drawback is with High Intensity Cardio since my CLS settings are set for 130 bpm max. My EP is reluctant to raise this, and I made a joke to him about not being able to “run for a bus” anymore. He i...

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not receiving email notifications

Now not recieving email notification's when someone posts an answer to my query.  Have to keep checking this site to see if any adds to my post.

Also only spell check in the subject line not in the message.

new to pace

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Echo test

I am due to see my cardiologist , March  28 for my yearly checkup.  Had an Echo last May should i ask her for one for this year.  Nothing had changed from the previous year.  This past year have not been contacted at all about any A-fib or other high epsiodes.

Should i ask for anything else.?

Pretty sure she will again suggest a prescription drug, am prepared to say the side effects scare me, espically the one about "could cause problems with my...

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report on 1.4.2024

I just received a detailed report of the 1.4.2024 remote interrogation.  Kinda wish I didn't get this because it makes me not really trust the whole healthcare/insurance system. (2nd time in my life I have felt this way)

 It says I had 3 months left on the battery and 23 days later it switched to ERI. Then I had to wait 12 days for the surgery with weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and inability to take care of myself. 

Have yet to find the wri...

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New role health questionnaire

Hi.  I have an Abbott Gallant ICD for Cardiac Sarcoid.  Health wise things are stable. Work has not been easy though with the pandemic and generally being in a competitive business. 

I have just been offered a excellent opportunity with a new role that I am super excited about. They have though sent me a detailed health questionnaire asking a range of questions which include - Have I ever had a heart problem and have you ever been on medication. I hate sharing information...

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One year update

Assuming you can read my earlier messages, you'll know I was implanted a year ago in March, and had my AV node ablated in June. All this the result of a long term paroxysmal afib condition which had decided to no longer spontaneously self correct within a 30 hour period. This required 6 cardioversions in a 9 month period. 
 

Since June of '23 post AV node ablation, the world has looked VERY much better. Complete stability of my heart rate and as promised, whi...

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