Most Recent Messages

Post Message!

Info to put on medical ID bracelet

I have a rare congenital heart condition and recently got my first pacemaker (right side). I have significantly distinct heart anatomy. In an emergency, it might be important for medical staff to be in communication with my ACHD team, which is located at one of the many local hospitals (I'm in a large city). Most cardiologists are not very familiar with my heart condition, and my ACHD team is specialized.

I'm ordering my first medical alert bracelet and am deciding what to put o...

Read More...

Pacemaker implant

Just fort those who are discouraged.   It took me 4 months to adapt to the pacemaker implant.  I entering my 6th month and have felt fine for the entire 5th month.  

For the first 4 months my pulse rate was all over the place,  I talked with the doctor several times, they checked out the pacemaker and it was ok.  

But it took my body 4 months to accept it.  All is good now and I a rebuilding my strength and stamina.

Good luck...

Read More...

Chronotropic Incompetence - Confused

I've just had a very confusing meeting with an EP who has reviewed some ECGs for me. 

Background : I was dx'd with chronotropic incompetence over 10 years ago following holter monitoring. The holter monitoring showed little response to exercise and h/rates no higher than 55 bpm on a treadmill. Over the following 8 years I received approx 80% a.pacing and a large % of this was due to RR. My PM was dual sensor.  I felt fine exercise wise and could do everything...

Read More...

pacemaker

I have three big side effects of having a pacemaker: tiredness, weak and heavy legs and slower thinking. It started almost two years ago and is slowly gotten worse. I have been to our spine docotor, neuroligist, and the last dr. who said to have my pacemaker adjusted for what I have are side effects of my pacemaker. I called and left a message with my heart doctor and the reply from the MA was the doctor doesn't think it is the pacemaker and the tech said she would not know what to do to...

Read More...

Pacemaker left or right?

Hello, I'm a professional violinist and will have my pacemaker implanted next week. 

I'm very concerned about where to put it, right or left. Does it harm for playing? Can I use the bow intensively when implanted on the right side (what I preferred) or is it better left?

 

Thanks for the quick answer as I see my doctor tomorrow at 8 am. 

Read More...

May have messed up

Not sure if this is a big mess up or not and I can't find enough information to know which way. 

I got my dual chamber pacemaker installed 4/17/2023 so I'm about six days post op. I've been very good about not lifting my elbow above my shoulder. Until this morning when my arm managed to get free from my sling when I was half asleep and I ended up stretching my whole surgery side arm above my head for a few seconds.

How likely is it that I yanked on a lead or dislo...

Read More...

ICD bulge near armpit

Hi everyone, I had my ICD inserted Feb.7th 2023. 

I have noticed that when I try to lift my left arm, there's a bulge right by my arm pit. I feel the icd in there, the edge of it. It's annoying cause it makes it hard to shave under that armpit and wash there. It's like it's too close to my armpit. Also, when I'm washing over it, it's like I'm pressing on it and moving it around, and it makes me nauseous. Then, when I try to sleep on my right side, my lef...

Read More...

Pacemaker post op experience

Hello, I'm new here and new to this whole pacemaker thing. Just curious if anyone has had experience with shortness of breath after surgery and if it goes away? It's not severe and I'm not sure if I'm even imagining it. My original surgery for installation was on April 3rd, but they had to go back and do a lead revision last Thursday April 20th. 
I had a lot of shortness of breath while one of the leads wasn't attached properly and now I'm somewhat...

Read More...

Low BP reminder to me

Hi All

I have been a life long fainter w heart block, got a Biotronik edora PM last May and its been working well. Generally my HR stays below 60 and stable except of course with exercise. More of a comment here that I am wondering if anyone else has experienced. Have always had low (sometimes extremely low) BP. Mostly orthostatic, getting out of bed, standing too long, etc. Fortunately my episodes are very transient,quick quick so I don't really think about it too often.

Howe...

Read More...

Can I get top surgery?

Hey y'all,

I've had a pacemaker since I was 12, and a few years after that, I came out as trans since then, I've been wondering if it is possible for me to get top surgery since I have a pacemaker and I've been unable to find anything the covers this and I'm just wondering if anyone has any similar experience or anything that is comparable. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Read More...

Remote monitoring and atrial fibrillation

Hi friends,

At my checkup this week I was told that back in mid January I had a 3 hour episode of heart flutter.  The nurse/technician said, this means you need to be on an anti-coagulant'.  They were going to forward the report to my gp for follow up.  I have two questions: for any of you on an anti-coagulant, are there any side effects?  Second, I have a Medtronic Azure, is it possible to use an app with it so I can check for any further episodes of flutter/fib...

Read More...

Help With Definition

I am curious please give me your input, in particular I am interested in members who have their cardiac condition stabilized.

How do you define yourself

A.  Healthy

B.  Sick 

My answer is I consider myself Healthy.  Yup, lots of Orthopedic issues Cardiac junk and undefined neurological problems. I define sick as when my cardiac condition put me in the hospital, COVID caused me to be sick.  Most of the time I do not consider my self "S...

Read More...

Pulse rate monitor

Hello

I've been on a PM for 18-years with no trouble until recently.

Ectopics have started and are interferring with normal life.

The problem is that all I get from the physiologists is "PM is working fine, 70 bpm"

What I feel at my wrist pulse is quite different and is more like 30 to 40 bpm, blood pressure is low and I don't feel right.

I've got to find a way of bringing this to their attention and break the hurdle of "PM is fine"...

Read More...

Carotid artery ultrasound

Tried to tell the cardiologist when i saw her this past March.  That i was not scheduled until 2024 by the vascular surgeron, every 2 years.  But she would not listen to me.  

 The results this time  for  both  no significant stenosis of the common carotid <50% stenosis of the internal  and <50% of the external.  Good blood flow to the brain.  Come back in 2 years.

Lesion Morphology: in the right is heterogenou...

Read More...

AMIODARONE?

Hi everyone. I've been prescribed Amiodarone 200mg daily. My doctor said I cannot drink alcohol at all while on this pill. I'm not a daily drinker or anything, but my bf and I do like to go out to events and enjoy a few drinks. No telling how long I will be on this pill. Has anyone had ant experience drinking while on Amiodarone ?? Will I ever be able to enjoy myself again ?? 

Thanks. 

Read More...

Reported AF/other Episodes - Should I worry (probably not but I do)

Long time reader, first time poster.... :-) 
I just got a call from the Medtronic tech/Cardiology today because the Pacemaker alerted to a 7 second arrythmia yesterday.  I felt a spell of dizziness but not until an hour after the indicated time of the episode.  She also said I'd had a 3 second Afib two weeks ago (never noticed anything).  I've had the PM for full HB 2.5 years now, and reports have shown an occasional arrythmia, but...

Read More...

Now WHAT'S going on?

Hello all!

Just over a week ago I had my 1 month check up - no issues. Now, twice since then, I've been getting low HR episodes that last a few hours. My normal HR stays around 70. At least twice my HR dropped to the low 50's and stays there.I get a strange weak feeling in my legs and stomach. If I move around to try and raise it, I get a small response but it won't go above 80 or so and I feel like I get into Wenckeback symptoms. 

Is this some type of SSS? I'...

Read More...

what is recovery like?

this may be a bit of a redundant question, so my apologies! i'm pretty young (16) and i'm getting a pacemaker in soon. i have ABSOLUTELY ZERO clue what to expect for the recovery. my cardiologist makes it seem like the procedure will be very easy w. little impact on life afterwards, but i was wondering to how much that's true? what does it feel like afterwards? what is recovery like? 

 

Read More...

Spironolactone (Aldactone)

Hi all!  SPIRONACTONE ( ALDACTONE)  It's a water pill for heart!  Have any of you taken this medication? The doctor prescribed 25 mg of it along with a beta blocker for left ventricular dysfunction. It is giving me serious side effects! The doctor said to cut it in half to see if it was better but still not working for me. It gives me mental confusion, tired, weak, dizzy, chest tightness! I can't take it.  Have any of you had side effects with this m...

Read More...

ICD

Hi, I am a 69 year old male with an ICD fitted a few yers ago. Also had a Hypertrophic Cardiomiopathy diagnosis.

Had no problems till last September when I was awakened by a rapid heart rate (94BPM) I know this is not regarded generally as 'fast' but it is for me. Resting I am usually around 50 and out and about 70-90. After only being occasional its now happening several times a day and lasts anything from a few minutes to 12 hours before returning to normal.This leaves me feel...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You have a T-shirt that reads “Wired4Sound”.

Member Quotes

I'm still running and feeling great.