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 ...

 

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 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'm 42 and scheduled to get my PM next Wednesday, I had gotten very sick while on vacation in Cabo in 2008 spent over two weeks in the hospital and several trips to the ER they say I had a parasite that attacked my heart and lungs now I have Bradycardia with Syncope. I have mixed emotions about getting the PM excited to feel normal again nervous about the whole thing - the surgery, how I'm going to feel afterward is it going stop working and I will drop dead is this going to be the real cure all? all the times I ended up in the ER all the new medications they tried this is my last hope.

Sorry for all the negative, but I am trying to stay positive for my family when inside I'm so scared I cant even sleep at night scared my hea...

 

Hi there,
I am a 32yr old male with an extremely active lifestyle. I have had arrhythmia diagnosed as a teenager, but never had any problems until about 2 months ago when I went to the hospital with extreme dizziness (didnt faint though). My family doctor is saying it could simply be stress-related (i.e. burnout) since I tend to overdo it. Still as a precaution I went to a cardiologist and then to a specialist in arrhythmia. The specialist didnt even listen to what I had to say and told me flat out I needed a pacemaker. Quite a shock! I was not convinced that my symptoms are really related to a worsening arrhythmia and he almost seemed to get annoyed. Anyhow, I now wear a ECG device with me for the next 4 weeks and then I'll visit th...

 

Hi Folks,
After my implant 5 weeks ago, I was feeling pretty good after the first 3 weeks. But in the last 2 weeks I am not feeling well especially when I get up on mornings until 12 noon. Most afternoons into the nights I am fine. I feel very nervous, light headed and depressed. My pacer was reprogrammed sometime during the 2 weeks but I cannot tell if this is the cause of the problem. Prior to the implant my pressure was always around 117/75 but now it higher and on 2 occasions over/around 147/91. Could it be something that I am doing or is it normal.
Thanks in advance.
pcsam

 

I have belong to several pacemaker clubs & this one the best.
Good information, nice folks & all friendly.
A few charges membership fee but this one very good & free.
What else can a person ask for?

 

I have started a pacemaker club for comments on facebook to support this club...Please share comments and concerns as you please.

 

I just added a group on facebook called Pacemakers around the world. You can come join it and I can add you as a friend through that group if you want.

Becky

 

Can that be true, that in this day and age you can not find Pacemakerclub on Facebook? Think of how many potential members there may be around the world. I am from Denmark and there is no pacemakerclub here.

 

Good morning,

I am new to this group. I just met with my second cardiologist and have to make a decision to either have an ablation or pacemaker. I am scheduled for a pacemaker in August.

I had a blood clot in december following surgery and then had a pulmonary embolism. This was followed by atrial fibrillation. I have tried several medications ( Maltaq and Tikosyn) niether are working. I am taking 250mg of Tikosyn twice daily and am still having 2-3 episodes of A-fib per week. My resting heart rate is in the 40's.

One Cardiologist is suggesting a pacemaker because my heart rate is slow and he feels that I am heading to sick sinus syndrome. He says that I could take a different medication with the pacemake...

 

looking for people in the north of scotland who have a PM fitted
Kez

 

I got my crt may 13th 2010...I am slowly getting better...some days are better than others...Is that how it is ?....How long does it take..I still use oxygen 1 fourth of the time...Have cadiomyopathy.....Zeke

 

I have noticed the messages about some of you trying to lose weight so I couldn't help but think of you when I saw this diet. So when you get really serious about losing some weight you might give this a try.


The Cajun Diet

Boudreaux was terribly overweight, so his doctor put him on a diet.

Doc: 'I want you to eat regularly for 2 days, then skip a day, and repeat
this procedure for 2 weeks. The next time I see you, you should have lost
at least 5 pounds.

When Boudreaux returned, he shocked the doctor by having lost nearly 60
lbs!

Why, that's amazing!' the doctor said, 'Did you follow my instructions?'

Boudreaux nodded..'I'll tell you though, ...

 

Hi,
I am 57 years old and just had a pacemaker put in 10 days ago. I am still shocked over it as I thought I was in pretty good health, until I had a total grade 3 heart block, Bradycardia I believe it is called.
I came here looking for support and to have questions answered as like I said, still new to this. I want to know how much my life will change now with this, what I can and cannot do, everything. I hope this is the right place to be.
Do many people chat here? I have been her three times and no one was online to chat. It that normal?

 

I thought the crt pacer would take care of everything......but my lungs still fill with fluid and end up at the E.R WHERE THEY HAVE TO WORK TO GET IT ALL OUT....EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE.....IN THE MEANTIME IT IS PAINFUL AND BOTHERSOEM,,,,HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE ? vIVIAN

 

I might need a pacemaker, they say that I have irregular heart rate. Will I be taking coumadin?

 

My husband who is in excellent health and was in a very intensive heart study a year ago and passed with flying colors.

He will be 67 next month. On June 13, 2010 he suddenly got very dizzy and lightheaded. we went to the ER the next day and they said his BP and Oxygen rate was good but his heart rate was in the low 30's. They admitted him and monitored him, thinking he might be dehydrated, (he Was) but his heart rate never went above the 30's. They were mistified and sent him to Beth Isreal Deaconess Hosp in Boston where a battery of tests were performed, but the decided the next day since his heart rate was still in the 30's to put in a Pacemaker.

Everything went fine and he was released ther next day June 16, 20...

 

Hi. I'm new here; just had my pacemaker implanted on 5/3/2010. I had found this website and it brought me a lot of comfort and a feeling of connection with others who have been through what I have been through. Thank you for that! Until a short time ago, I was a very healthy, very active 54-year old woman. All of a sudden I am diagnosed with an electrical heart block! It actually turned into a complete heart block one day before my scheduled pacemaker implant! I'm healing well, but still experience breathlessness coming up steps and walking after being sedentary for awhile. Does anyone else experience this? Will it get better? I was dismayed to learn at a checkup that I am still in a-fib. I guess I just thought the pacemaker would fix eve...

 

Thank you so very much everyone.
My question has been answered in full.

To the lady who took aspirin with her coumadin - I've been told that's a HUGE NO NO. I cannot believe a doctor would prescribe this.

Toni