I found some different medical alert bracelets if anyone is interested at www.etsy.com/shop/rosesdesigns. These are less expensive and different than some of the others I have seen:)

 

Greetings: 66 year old with good health history. On 31 Aug I had my first PM implant. No history of heart attack, but a slowly declining stamina with shortness of breath over the past two years. Four days prior to implant, I detected a steady pulse of 37 and reported to emergency. They admitted me to hospital, made the dual lead implant, and released me the next day. Since coming home, (I know, only three days) I cannot walk as far as I did before surgery without exhaustion. Two hundred yards is a marathon with pounding pulse. I know the PM is working since my pulse goes up, comes down, etc. Is it normal to experience greater limitation AFTER surgery and if so, is it just a process of starting exercise as if I were a brand new athl...

 

I am about to have my third pacemaker implanted. I got my first pacer in 1993, the second in 2000 and now will have one in 2010. Do any of you know if the surgeon will have to create a new 'pocket?' All of my pacers have been on the left side of my chest....will they eventually have to move to the other side of my chest due to saggin skin and muscle? Thanks for any info you can offer. :)

 

So I'm building my dream kitchen in my imaginary house with my fictitious big bank account. In the kitchen I'm at the point where I'm adding a cook top. I've had a ceramic cook top for year and love it but now this new fancy induction cook top is out and I am very interested! So I head off to the Samsung website to check out models of stoves, cook tops and ovens. I even go to an appliance store(in real life) to look. I ask about induction cook tops interfering with pacemakers and they said they've heard rumors about it but check with your doctor. I'm not wasting my doctors time asking questions about my dream kitchen...yet. So I fire off an email to Samsung's website asking if there is indeed anything a person with a pacemaker has t...

 

Hey folks, as you can tell from my title, I am new to this forum. Here is a little bio

I am a well conditioned 45 yr old male, with a 25 year history of cardiomyopathy; an EF of arounf 30%. I actually served my last year in the Marines with this issue and didn't know it till I got out. About three years ago I kept feeling terrible, and getting chest congestion. It was finally determined the dilated left ventricle has caused my mitral valave to leak. Now I have a nice mechanical valve as of May 26 2010.

I have recovered very well, and feel pretty good. The only problems I had was a bout with Afib, and was given amioderone. I was hoping for a boost in EF with my new valve, but my echo last week was 15 to 25%. ...

 

Hi all,

I was wandering what is a safe time to leave it before I begin to drive again following pacemaker insertion?
Karen

 

Hbecause of my submitted exercise resultsad dual lead PM fitted a year ago for SSS. Was told it was fitted purely because of slow HR. A year later I found out the rate response was switched (have no idea why).

Returned to gym a year after implant and found HR very quickly went up to 160bpm without much effort. Had Rate response turned off and doing the same exercise my HR crept up more slowly to about 140bpm for the same activity. No problems at all and have no idea why my rate response was on.

I asked when I had my rate response switched off whether my upper limit 130bpm should be lowered/highered because of my results from exercise. The technician said it depended on other factors.

Is it better to hav...

 

So since I last posted, I started feeling like my old self again from last Sunday until today, Thursday pm. No episodes of rapid heartbeats.

Had my nuclear stress test this morning and felt quite fine all the way through it. No problems whatsoever. Then just after 12pm today as I walked up the stairs at home , it happened again. Good thing I am wearing an event monitor for 25 more days and recorded the event.

So during the testing the technician pulled up my chart and noted a 13sec episode of v-tach showed up on my 7/29 phone interrogation. I had no idea. I asked if that was correct. She said yes. Something to definitely talk to the cardio about.

I was able to walk the treadmill until I got my heartrate up...

 

I'm a 38 year old mother of 2 small children and have been told I have second degree heartblock (Moebitz 2) and require a pacemaker. Surgery is scheduled for 13 September & although I have a wonderfully supportive husband and family, I know nobody who has had this procedure. I've no idea what happens afterwards in reality & am quite worried as we do not have family nearby. I know it's very individual experience, but I'd really like to get an idea of the reality of the recovery time and any useful tips. My only symptoms of this are occasional light-headedness & I am grateful they've caught it before anything bad happened, but for the doctors & surgeons this is a run-of-the-mill procedure, whereas for me it's intensely personal and a phy...

 

Hello PM club ... I just had my PM implanted on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010. The first couple of days were rough ... soreness in my left arm, weird feeling in my chest ... and of course soreness at the incision. This is day 5 and I feel pretty good ... still a little nervous as what to look forward to but I feel pretty good. I plan on getting back to my daily walks of 2 - 3 miles and hope for the best. Is there anyone out there that has recently had the PM surgery and have started back to exercising without problems ... and can anyone tell me what to look forward to???? Very nervous ... but I want to get back to living!

 

the last pm check i had in the office 6 months ago hurt i have had a pm since 96 and never had it hurt before it was when she turned my heart rate up the only thing i can think of is i had a stent put in a few months earlier my doctor said that shouldn't do anything i have another office in 2 weeks and i am a nervous wreck has any one else had this happen thanks pat

 

Had my EP studay today. Procedure went well and they ablated one abnormal area in my ventricle and ablated some abnormal cells around my SA node. Hope it did the trick. After being on bedrest laying flat for 2 hrs after the procedure, the nurse let me go to the bathroom and while in there by artery burst. I pulled the... emerg cord and then had to walk and unlock the door. By the time there nurse was there, the floor and part of the wall was covered in blood and I looked like I had a miscarriage or something because my gown was soaked and my legs were stained red and my socks had to be thrown away. Almost needed a blood transfusion but managed to maintain my blood pressure with a couple bags of saline. Glad its over and just hope it worked...

 

Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen !

I recently joined this forum in an effort to find out more information and gain a better understanding of pace makers and their effect on my present and long term lifestyle. Last June I admitted my self to the hospital with what felt like an anxiety attack; shortness of breath, confusion, afraid to make the decision if I should continue on my way or stop. If I did stop, what would I do next ? And worried that either way would be the wrong way. OH, yes, did I say I was on the edge of passing out ? Not quite there, just on the edge.

Fortunately, a co-worker was much less confused than me and he took me directly to the E.R.

Aside from ...

 

Oh more problems. Dr. just told me that my colesterol count was great but..... my iron and folic acid count was way low and we needed to retest it. Darn, this is what started the whole process toward sudden cardiac death ! I was anemic. That was due to a rare reaction to plavix which I didn't need as there was no blockage problems. I knew I was getting short of breath again and wondered why and I felt more tired than usual too. Anyone out there have anemia problems with meds? I am taking Toprol XL and Cozar Can either of those give me an anemic reaction?

 

in toronto for a few days. just returned from having cajun catfish. to-morrow mwwting family for polish food. lol gotta love the big cities. jessie

 

Hi everyone,
I haven't been on here in a long time and I've miss it. Its good to read some of your posts again - this site is full of the kindest, most caring people around.
I have a question..do any of you know the reason why my heart is pounding lately? It's been going on for several days now and makes me feel lightheaded, weak and out of breath. My first PM implanted in 1995 was wonderful and I had no problems with it until it needed to be replaced in 2004. The current PM however, has been uncomfortable from the moment it was implanted. For several months I had constant PVC's that made me feel choked, out of breath and just weak. The cardiologist I was seeing would just shrug and say I was fine, there was nothing he could do e...

 

I was implanted with pacemaker 6/1/10 and left with one blocked artery and 2 partly blocked doc told me that they could be unblocked with meds which I am taking . however I continued to have light headness dizziness but i discovered that it was due to anxity about my condition so he put me on
lorazepam 1 mg 1 per day but I discovered that I needed one at night and one during the day so i droped in and was going to have my doctor to mdify my dosage my dr was out and his assiastant was there he would not work with me he said i will give you thirty pills and the only thing that i can suggest is cut the pill half in two and take one in the morning and one at night i did just that i in am not bothered with any more dizzy or light headed s...

 

Many realize that in 1879, Thomas A Edison successfully demonstrated the first electric light bulb, ultimately revolutionizing the world.

What few realize is his youthful engineering lab assistant named Frank developed the theory of the defibrillator later that same day when he stuck his finger in the light socket to see why the bulb ceased working.

And that my friends is how he came to be known as, you guessed it...ElectricFrank

Where else but the PaceMaker Club can you learn so much?

 

Hi all
can anyone exp lane to me what an supraventricular ectopic activity is >?
thanks for your time

 

Had my PM fitted 24th June 10 for 2nd degree HB (insufficient beats relayed from atrium to ventricle). Post-op, I felt much better, have recovered fully & been very active with my hobby (classic cars), lifting engines, fitted a tow bar, etc. I noticed I was still a little SOB walking up steep hills and mentioned this at my 2 month check-up. The physiologist said my heart had raised my rate to 130 bpm on several occasions, but when I pursued the issue further, arranged for me to wear a 24 hour HR monitor & keep a diary of time I walked up hills, etc.
I went for the follow-up appt today.
Saw a different physiologist who explained that my atrium is indeed responding to exercise by increasing rate, but the upper limit on my PM for ve...

 

Everything went fine Monday--I am already home and resting. I want to thank those that reached out to me, and told me what to expect. That and prayer kept me very calm throughout. For those of you still waiting to get implanted--trust these guys (and gals) when they tell you not to worry--it's really not so bad at all.

 

There is any problem if we play cricket....

 

I just checked out all the photos everyone posted and I gotta say what a great looking bunch of people. Everyone looks fit and healthy and happy and everyone is out there doing things, living life.
It makes me feel good to see all that activity going on. But one pic in particular caught my eye and that's ranman... wow what a hunk!
He would have got my heart pumping quicker. Now, I'm in a solid relationship but it never hurts to look! and you are never too old either!
Question. : Can you have your scar tatooed...like with a heart and arrow?

 

Hi every one!!! I have been off for a while. I just wanted to say thank you for those who still thought about me once in a while and send me messages. I appreciate your concern for me. I have had my ups and downs lately with my heart. Seems to stop at times and make me a lttle dizzy. Nothing new. But i hate the feeling. Also, been havin trouble being active. I cant even sit at a theather or restaurant for a long time because just doing that makes me feel very fatigued. I know i just gotta live with it. But i do get annoyed. Anyway, just wanted to say hello and hope you are all doing well. God blesss.

 

Recently I started seeing TV commercials for www.afibstroke.com.

I decided to check out their web site but you can't get any more information about them without filling out a form. I don't give out any personal information on unknown web sites. Might get some annoying high pressure salesperson calling me.

Is anybody familiar with this web site or company.

 

Age 74 and last Feb. went to the ER gasping for breath. Acute congestive heart failure. Ejection fraction 15%, qrs >120. Ended up with a stent, a Boston Scientific CRT-D, and more than enough meds. Was really blind sided by the whole thing as I had not been much for doctoring for at least 30 years. Heart meds affected my vision. New glasses help. You all write how much better you are with your pacemakers. Since I was never the least bit sick until very suddenly, I can't say that. However, I completed Cardiac Rehab , adopted a heart healthy diet, now exercise regularly, etc. For me, the hardest thing was giving up a 50 year cigarette habit. Still is, and that was 6 months ago. It's been good to read about other people's experienc...

 

Old as Tarzan, but funnier.

A cowboy, who just moved to Wyoming from Texas walks into a bar and orders three mugs of Bud. He sits in the back of the room, drinking a sip out of each one in turn. When he finishes them, he comes back to the bar and orders three more.

The bartender approaches and tells the cowboy, "You know, a mug goes flat after I draw it. It would taste better if you bought one at a time." The cowboy replies, "Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in Arizona , the other is in Colorado. When we all left our home in Texas, we promised that we'd drink this way to remember the days when we drank together. So I'm drinking one beer for each of my brothers and one for myself."

The bartende...

 

just turned 38 y/o 8-19. never had health issues before. emergency PM implant last week monday, went back to work on friday, now tuesday, it is finally starting to sink in. what a trip..........thanks to others here at this site I don't feel so alone anymore. thanks.......

 

I couldn't help notice the preponderance of pictures of pace maker scars in the member gallery. In fact there are in excess of 35 images of this genre'.

I can't help ponder why so many people, male and female feel compelled to post those photos, after all we all have one. What's the big deal. I'm pretty sure mine's bigger than yours, but I don't feel the need to show it.

If you've seen one, you've seen them all, and it's unlikely any of us will make the cover of Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition.

 

does anyone take this medication for high blood pressure ?
if you do, do you experience any side effects ?

 

my mother in law has had a guidant icd
and they just told her the leads are bad.
has anyone else experienced this
situation ?

 

Has anyone heard of a problem with using skype??????

 

Anybody else under 30 with a pacemaker?

 

I hope nothing happens to me today, because I forgot to put on my medic alert bracelet.


:)
Angelie

 

I am going for my EP study/ablation of ectopic atrial tachycardia on Wednesday. As a result, I had to go off my betablocker. So I didn't take Sunday's doses and felt fine and I didn't take the dose this morning. I felt horrible all day and every time I checked my heart rate it was between 44-50bpm. I have been extrem...ely cold and dizzy all day. Before being medicated my heartrate was always fast with a resting heart rate between 90-100bpm and my bp was around 110/70. I fully expected when going off the betablocker for my heartrate to sky rocket and my bp to return to normal or to be slightly higher. Even while taking the betablocker, my hr and bp were still within normal ranges. My heart rate was never below 60bpm. I'm not sure if these ...

 

Hi all, my visit to the ENT was today. He discovered that for one thing, I'm going to be ok.

Seems that I have some problems with my voice box. Imagine that. I also have some problems with acid reflux. Something I have suspected for awhile now.

Solution, Meds for the acid reflux and they will keep an eye on the voice box problem. uhmmmmm is what I thought, that requires a scope!

 

I got pm implanted on 8/18 for my syncope. I am 39 y.o., and for the past 20 years I would pass out "with a bang" on average once/every 2-3 years. When I would pass out, I would be out cold for several seconds and go into hypoxic seizure. During the tilt table this June, my heart stopped for 8 sec (and the whole scenario with seizure was repeated). So the cardiologist said pm will work with preventing heart rate drop (but I would still feel lightheaded, dizzy, etc. when "reflex" was activated).

Now, 12 days into this discomfort (including pm getting activated at least once daily with what feels like very uncomfortable rapid pacing and getting "zapped" internally 2 or 3 times for the past 12 days), I am wondering if getting pm ...

 

I was doing my daily review of recent messages via my iPhone when I decided to use the search function to look up entries on PVC's. However, without enlarging to print I simply input PVC into the text box I could see on the small screen thinking it was the search function. Silly me has now deleted Electric Franks shout in error for which I apologise. Wrote this on my iPhone also so hope it comes through making sense.

 

My mother just got a pacemaker a week ago. It is unclear why her heart stopped and any causes. I cant seem to get a clear idea on what she can and cant do. Every website seems to say a different thing. My mother is 50 years old. So when she heals I am wondering about things like walking her dog who is 115 lbs and sometimes pulls, lifting and moving big objects, vacuuming, shoveling snow, changing the cat litter and what issues an airport might have for her. We still have to see the doctor again and take out the staples.
What things can most people do after a pacemaker? what questions should be asked?

 

had my ablation,resting now over the weekend ,they could not finis it all,because my blood pressure was to low,they did get most what they bcan get,then gave me carioversion,question, is is any bodies stomach rock hard ag=fter the surgery

 

I am glad I found this site. Because, I see everyone had the same fears I had. I got my ICD end of August 2006. I had one(small) shock last June because of Atrial Fibrillation. My heart started racing while I was making breakfast and I had a quick which made me blank out for a hot seconds and it was loud.

My pacemaker battery is dying and I will need a new battery soon. So, instead of checking it at home every 3 months I now have to monitor it weekly. My doc is surprised the battery is low since I only had a partial shock last year. My grandmother got an ICD 2 years before me and her battery is completely fine.

I was told that when the battery gets very low that the ICD will alarm to let you know its time to change it...

 

I received my pacemaker on August 16, 2010. Things seem to be going fairly well. However, I am noticing swelling in my left are (pacemaker is on left side). Not severe, but uncomfortable, and troubling. I would love to know if anyone else is experiencing the same or anything similar.

 

Hi All,

I was fitted with a pacemaker about 7 weeks ago, I am now looking to get back into it and am looking to purchase an exercise bike.

I am interested in the model York c302 Diamond Exercise Bike.

However I am a little concerned that the electromagnetic drive system for pedalling may affect my pacemaker.

Can anyone provide any info or guidance on this.

Thankyou

 

I am looking for a support group to help my son and I get a handle on this new defib implant.
My son Josh is 16. One year ago, Josh came home and said his heart was racing. I took him to the E.R. where he was cardioverted with a HR of 265. That day began a stressful year of several E.R visit's, 3 surgeries, and finally on August 3rd, 2010 a defib was implanted.
Everything was going well, until today! Josh was walking to a friends house and was shocked 3 times! It took him down. He texted me and said...."defib just shocked me and it hurt like a mother f....er.......I picked him up and as soon as the "shock" of what happened was over and I talked to his cardiologist, we both broke down and cryed.
Josh is my youngest so...

 

I received my Carelink monitor in April of this year and was able to successfully sync it with my ICD. Since then I have been able to transmit successfully to my care provider.Once after the initial syncing and then my 1st quarterly transmission. It would seem all is well.

When I got the monitor, the nurse did not give me much information about the device and attempts to talk with her since have proved futile. Perhaps someone here can provide me some information.

1. Does the monitor interrogate my ICD every night or only prior to transmitting (quarterly)?
2. If the power to the monitor were to fail - do I need to re-sync it to my ICD?
3. Do I need to take the monitor with me when I travel or will my ICD stor...

 

We have one of those Sleep Number beds. I think it is ok, but my hubby loves it!

last night his side of the bed seemed to lose it's "air" so hubby simply took the control and "aired" it up. When he did that my heart began to jump all over. The rhythm went nutty and as long as he was airing up his side of the bed the crazy beating continued. So very weird. as soon as he stopped, my heart went back into it's normal beats.

I was just wondering if anyone else has a sleep number bed and has had this problem? Just curious. Is it me? or the bed?

 

Hi all
I have had my PM since March of this year for Bradycardia. I just want to know if any of you can feel your PM when it does it's thing? MIne paces about 1% apparently and even though the Docs and clinics told me I wouldn't know when it was working, I swear I can. About once or twice a day for about 30 seconds at random times I feel this hard to describe thumping in my heart. It kind of takes my breath away. I just wait it out and sure enough it quits. I am assuming this is the PM. Anyone else with similar experiences?
Thanks
Howard

 

A couple of times I have logged in to find inappropriate messages on Shoutbox. In fact I found them quite offensive. Particularly the one yesterday.

My reaction has been to just post over the message "Have a good day everyone." and get ride of the offending message.

Any replies on coping with this. Am I doing the right thing. I really don’t want to see this until Blake does his daily checkup or whenever he oversights the site.

Cheers

 

i had my icd pacemaker inplanted on dec 2001 on med for my electrolights i would like to meet people that have an icd just would like to talk

 

Hi does anyone here suffer from the condition heart failure? Have you had a pacemaker fitted and taking heart medication at the same time...or do you no longer have to take medicine once implanted with a pacemaker?

Thank you,
Angel.

 

I had so many questions in mind so I decided to join this club and read on the PM testimonies of others who had one.

I am 30 yrs old, female, married with 1 daughter. I was once very active and athletic until last Aug. 11, 2010 my doctor advised me to have a pacemaker implantation due to bradycardia HR. I still have plasters on my wound until now. My wound is still in its healing process and have been visiting my doctor every day for dressing.

After my operation until now I felt restless at night before going to sleep and often feel sudden strong pump on my chest. As I read the testimonies of PM members it helps me understand that somehow it’s normal, even my doctor told me so. But the other night befo...

 

Just got my first PM 3 days ago. I am in a sling now so the leads can heal. How lon before i can go for long walks? Also, how long before I can lift weights again?

Thanks!

 

I posted a message yesterday, and I appreciate your responses.

I'm the guy who has a rare heart condition, low ejection/fraction rate (15%-20%), and scheduled for a Biventricular Pacemaker.

Can I ask you guys who received the ICD if you were on medications before you got it? Right now, I'm maxed out on Coreg and Lotensin, along with Lasix and Aldactone. Even so, my ejection/fraction has not improved from 15%-20% area.

Did you continue on your medications? Does the ICD replace them? If so, which ones are you still on? Above all, how are you doing?

Thanks---
James

 

Hi, I am a 45 year old female I had a PM implanted 6/30/10 after a trip to the ER thinking I was either having a heart attack or a panic attack ( I just didn't feel normal) They decide to keep me overnight to monitor me and then the nurse wouldn't let me sleep because my heart rate went to 30 and my BP was around 90/45. After staying up all night I was sent to do a stress test on tread mill of course I didn't reach 200, I was sooo sleepy. Then they did an Echo and some other test and decided I had Brady Cardia I needed a pacemaker. Well since then I've still felt anxious and jittery in my stomach and ringing in my ears!
I went to GP he put me on an antidepressant Celexa 20mg.. I only took one pill and I felt like I was on LSD or so...

 

I had my impant in december of 2009 and had a lead line replacement in Feb of 2010, I am now looking to get back in the gym to get all of this extra weight that I put on off of me, I wanted to know if I am going to be able to bench press without worrying about running the risk of my lead line/wire snapping. Is there anyone out there that can shed a bit of insight please????

Thanks!

Dennard

 

Nobody knew him and I totally forgot he had a pacemaker but my uncle just passed away a day before his 94th B-day. His PM was running low but the doctors told my aunt that they won't do a replacement for him. Pretty much he died from old age. He will be missed by all that knew him and loved him. RIP Uncle Erv.

 

Hi everyone. Haven't been on in a little while and hope all are doing well and healing.

I have a question which I know I can get answers on here. I have my next scheduled 6 month checkup for the end of November. I got a dual lead pacemaker for 2-1 heart block in February 2010. Just this past week I have been feeling my heart beating which had happened before my last checkup. At that time I was "tweaked" a bit and it felt much better. I have recenlty lost 20lbs and didn't know if this could be part of the problem. Or is it just possible I am pacing more and can feel it when I do. I have no shortness of breath, it is just a weird sensation.

Because of my fibromyalgia I am so aware when something seems different. I am al...

 

Hi
I had a pacemaker fitted on fri, I have the normal pain I would expect but also keep getting lots of internal heart pain and pressure I was wandering if this was normal after surgery?
many thanks
karen

 

A little story to smile at:


As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back country.

As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.

I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know...

 

Hey good news! I went to the Dr. on Friday a.m. and saw the PM Rep. from Medtronic. I told him the problems I was having on bumpy roads and asked him about the Rate Responce. He said it had 4 settings and it was set on the next to highest setting. He turned it down one more level and said to try it and see how it acted there and come back in a couple of weeks. Well what a difference one level makes! On the trip home on the same roads that it acted up the first time my heart didn't feel like it was beating out of my chest. In fact ever since the rate responder was adjusted I feel like a different person. Thanks for the previous comments and advice. I have Sick Sinus Syndrome (Medtronic ADAPTA two leads)

 

This is my first post and sorry its so long but you will understand after reading.

So my wife had a pacemaker put in on May 28th 2010 and she is under 30 years old. Everything after that has been awful. First she had a collapse lung happen during the surgery, She had chest tube to remove the fluid. Soon after they discovered blood clots in her arm and at the wire insertion point and have put her on blood thinners. Soon after that they discovered a lead had perferated her heart. They had to make a window in her pericardial sac around the heart, back track the lead and repostion it. Also a another chest tube put in to remove fluid. Soon after that we were back in because she had more fluid around the lung. Another ch...

 

Hello everyone, I thought I would pop in and say hello. I have been in and out of the dr. offices and the hospital here and there. Mostly for things not heart related.

I suffered from "Graves Disease" in the late 1990's and I think that is what brought on the heart problems. Anyway, seems there is a problem now with my vocal cord, a nodule. It causes me some problems, chocking, weird voice, pain and so on. Well seems that the original Thyroid problem is still causing me problems... my question is has anyone else had this kind of problem? Vocal cord nodules? How was it treated? Did it change your voice? I'm sched. to see a ENT specialist on Monday and I'm getting nervous about it.

Thanks,
PG

 

I have had my pacemaker about 5 weeks now and have had problems with the atrial lead stimulating my diaphram. The pacemaker rep's have made adjustments to it 3 times to try to keep it from stimulating my diaphragm. Each time it seemed to make to me feel worse. Is this all in my head that I would not feel as well as I did in the first 1-2 weeks before they made any adjustments? Before adjustments I did not notice my heart rate increasing but now I do. I do have tachy-brady sydrome (SSS) but was hoping if my bradycardia was controlled it might improve my tachy episodes. Any advice would help.

 

I had my first PM (Medtronics Stratoes) put in on Oct 15, 09 and thought it would last at least 5 years. I learned this past week that my battery is indicating that it only has 8 months or less left on it. My settings are more than double the normal because my heart requires it to work. I pace 100% on one lead and 80% on the second and then 50% on the third lead. Has anyone ever had to have their PM replaced so quickly? Also I will probably have at least one of the leads replaced. Will my recovery be like the original surgery so that I have to stay overnight and not lift my arm for a month? Any thoughts?

 

Got on my bike for the first time since the accident. 8 weeks and 3 days. Leg is still broke, still has a big gap in it on film (going to get a second opinion) and knee is still all messed up but I can ride. The riding motion is about the only one that doesn't give my leg pain, although I won't mention the climbing or the bumps which send shock waves up the leg and needless to say, through the rest of my nervous system. Felt great to get real exercise again and be outdoors. Was going to take a nice little ride down a bike path with some friends for my first ride but decided I needed to ride harder than that, I needed to ride past where I was hit and I needed to ride just me and my own thoughts. Put in just over 30 (felt I could do an...

 

I'm 43 years old and I'm scheduled to have a biventricular pacemaker implanted in about a month. At the time, my ejection/fraction is a mere 15-20% and I have great fatigue. On top of that, I have complex congenital heart disease. with transposition in the great arteries.. There appears to be ventricular inversion; however the transposition is anatomically corrected.

I understand my condition is rare, and everyone's experience is different. However, I guess what I'm asking is to what degree has your ejection/fraction percentage been effected? Has anybody's jumped up to the 30% level after the procedure? Were you able to return to work?

Thanks for any information possible....

James

 

Not a question, just a complaint. I was supposed to go for my 4 week follow up on Monday. I had to call and reschedule because I have to go to a funeral. They only do checks 2ce a week and the next appointment I could get is Oct. 7. Ridiculous!  I feel fine so took it.  Everything looks good to me. The only things I don’t like is it looks like this scar is going to be longer and you can really see the outline of the pm this time. (even my son commented on it) Last one you couldn’t see at all and could barely feel it. This one stabs into me if I move a certain way and I still find it hard to sleep on my left side because it pokes into my under arm. Oh well. I’ll survive.

 

I am scheduled to get my PM on Wednesday and I am finding myself saying maybe it's not so bad I have my decent days heck my heart rate got as high as 60 yesterday I know that I have more low days than high, but maybe we shouldn't rush to hook some device up to my heart. After reading some of the posts on this site I'm just not sure if I'm going to feel better or worse.

Really I just want all of this over, the worring should I or shouldn't I. Please someone tell me I'm not the only one who feels she is going to go crazy before this is done.. My family just tells me to stop worrying, well it's not their heart that goes so low they pass out or their body is so weak from fatique or that they are going to hook this thing up to t...

 

I have had a pacemaker/defib since March of '04. It only had one episode, which was handled well. However, now (in the last month or so), I constantly hear the damn thing ticking 24/7. It ticks when I try to sleep; it ticks all time! It is driving me crazy!

Dr. checked device and said all was well. But this ticking is driving me nuts because it forces me to think constantly about the fact that I am being kept alive by this machine.

If anyone can tell me why this is happening now after six years, I would love to know.

Thanks Papa. p.s. I feel like the crocodile in Peter Pan.

 

I am a 32yr old very active male and work as a project manager at an internet company. I just got my first PM yesterday for my AV Block III and low hb (resting 30s - 40s). How long do you guys recommend until someone my age goes back to work? I have very flexible doctors, but don't wanna take off too long and neither be back to early. What is a good time frame which worked for you?

thanks,
david

 

I am a 32yr old very active male, currently living in Switzerland and since pretty much 24hrs I am in the club now. Some of you might have seen my first 2 questions. Just wanted to say that the actual procedure of getting a PM is a walk in the park, compared to what I expected. Yes, it hurts afterwards, but nothing what a pain killer won't fix.

I have (or used to have) AV Block III and a resting heart rate in the mid 30s to low 40s. Now I have a minimum of 50.

Just some advice for you who are not yet in the "club". For those of you who have some kind of faith. Praying helps a lot with coping. I prayed for strength and was totally calm the day before surgery, during surgery and now.

Thanks

 

I'm am due to have another pacemaker fitted, in a year or two..
I've had my pacemaker in for 6 years.
I was wondering the recovery time for it, and is it the same when you first get it implanted...?

 

I had a pm put in in March. I was working today out in the field trying to repair a stuck on irrigation valve and I leaned onto the electric deer fence and got a heck of a wallop from the fence charge. Didn't seem to have any adverse affects but I can't imagine that's very good for my PM. Blood pressure is OK 129/54 pulse 62. Should I be looking for any adverse affects? I forget I have the PM most of the time. Feel real good with no adverse things going on at all. Still got the joy gene at being alive though! I been hit on 4 times in the last month! and I'm 64. Can't believe that happened. It's the joy in me that men are responding to think. So put on a happy face girls ... it works.

 

Ok...I've been wired for 9 months, and over the last 3 months, I've started having LOTS of trouble going to sleep and sleeping. I have almost a heavy feeling on my chest. I wake up at least 5 nights a week feeling like I'm catching my breath. I was doing an inhaler, because I thought it was asthma acting up. Even when I just lay down, I can feel my heart beating VERY hard and tends to make me even kinda nervous feeling? I have the most trouble when I'm on my back and on my right side. Left is some better. I went to Dr. for asthma, but he isnt sure thats the problem. He said most dont wake up in the middle of an asthma attack? Some coughing fits during the day, but most after I lay down. HELP.... I work at a school and now with t...

 

Hi! I am new to all this. I went to the doctor in June complaining of fatigue thinking I needed vitamins. I have a strange heart defect That I didn't know I had. My heart rate averages 47. I have done every test known to man. My doctor has been trying to find a reason not to put in a PM, because I am only 39. I find out on the 16th for sure. But I think that is where I am headed. I just want to feel better and have energy.

 

I realize a large number of you have pace makers, and may not be well versed in defibrillators, but perhaps somebody knows the answer to this...

A pace maker sends minor electrical signals to the heart muscle causing it to beat at a set rate when it detects that the natural function is not working properly, keeping the set speed necessary to sustain our lives.

A Defibrillator sends a shock to the heart when the beats either exceed a maximum rate or stops, hopefully returning the heart back to a normal rhythm.

So for those of us who use both the pace maker and defibrillator functions, if the pace maker function of our device fails, will the defibrillator shock it back to life?

 

I had not used this site for at least 10 to 11 months and posted a message a couple of days ago. I had 22 reads but no advice not sure if my funny beats were important or not.

This probably sounds really bad but I was hoping for someone to reply not sure what is going on with me been to A & E twice and waiting to see Cardiologist. I am so scared.

Jules