Most Recent Messages in Conditions, Meds & Tests

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Food poisoning & now a-fib

Any tips to get back to normal HR? A-fib started May 10, 1 day after I was in ER out of town for diarrhea/vomiting. That has settled down. Spent 2 days in local hospital and got out yesterday and they excused me with my HR still anywhere from 80 to 115 bpm. I feel ok. As of March 15, began taking 25 mg. Metoprolol Tartrate while weining off Sotalol. So now taking 80 mg. Sotalol with the MT. The hospital I don't really trust for several other reasons. They pushed me up to 50 MT along with the 80...

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Ambian

Anyone here take Ambian who is in Atrial Fibrillation?
Any side effects.

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Fish Oil?

Does anyone out there take fish oil supplements? I know these are not recommended for VT or ICDs, but I have read some reports that say they lower heart rate. Since lowering my beta-blocker dosage last week my pulse is starting to be a bit erratic (still resting fine, between 70 and 80), but definitely over responsive to everything!

I used to take fish oil before the heart block, but stopped it because it lowers heart rate, Now I want to lower it (the irony!), and was just wonderin...

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Anyone else with a "buzz"

I know I'm not imagining it, but I find it hard to describe. I can be sleeping and will have this sensation of a tiny little motor running (no noise) at the site of implant/heart area. I can't figure out if it's the defib/PM or my heart racing. It lasts less than minute but has me wide awake and it takes a while to settle back down. It's happened when I'm awake and I'm no better at getting a handle on how to describe this to my doctor. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing. Anyone...

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My baby has Complete Heart Block

I'm 32 weeks pregnant and we were just told 2 weeks ago after my monthly regular check-up (which ended up to be 6 hours of additional hospital visits) that my baby has complete heart block.
She will require a pacemaker for the rest of her life.

They have already started me with a 4 mg dexamethasone steroid/day to help improve and protect the heart from further damage and monitored the heart rate of my baby weekly. So far the steroid has managed to help increase the heart rate bu...

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Stopping Beta Blockers

Hi Everyone,

I am about (tomorrow) to cut the dosage of beta blockers I have been on since the post-PM tachycardia 5 weeks ago in half (1.25 mg bisoprolol instead of 2.5mg bisoprolol). The aim is get off them completely (I want to have a baby!).

My doctor thinks I won't notice the dosage change because it is such a low dose to start with, but I'm anxious because the lower dose didn't do anything when I initially had the problem. If anyone has any positive stories of reduc...

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FYI = Warning it's long

I have been reading a nymber of posts in which arguments ensue regarding what are arrhythmias and what tests should be perfomed based on symptoms. I have found this info on the American Heart Association site, which or any layperson can understand. Only an ECG/EKG can determine if a person has an arrhythmia. A qualified doctor can read and interpret an ECG as to what is going on with the heart's electrical system.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3

E...

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Hi Everyone...should I get a PM ?

Hi Everyone....

I am 25 years old man from norway and I have today been diagnosed with second degree heart block. i dont know yet whether it is type 1 or 2. But i am hoping it is type 1 as i have read that this is the less serious one and more common. My young Doctor told me my hard had stopped about 1 second after I have been monitored in hospital four days due dizziness and slow heart beat which cause a skip. Anyways he told that this could be nothing serious and we wait for furthe...

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Pacemaker Site

Is it possible for the area where the pacemaker is to feel like it is larger than it was a month ago. Surgery was on 2/4/10 and this past week I feel as though the pacemaker seems larger. I have appointment on 5/19 for my three month checkup and will definitely ask the surgeon, but was just curious. I am thinking that possibly scar tissue is forming around the pacemaker itself making it feel larger. I have no swelling on outside.

Thanks for any info on this subject. Hope everyone is d...

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AV ablation

I have ectopic atrial tachycardia. Originally they thought it was a problem with the SA node so there was talk of doing an SA node ablation with pm implant. Now they know its not the SA node and I will be going for a consult to do anther EP study with probable ablation. I have already been told by my cardiologist that in my case an ablation in the atria will probably be extremely hard and risky if it is even possible. From the research I have done, in the event that they can't ablate the abnor...

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Labored breathing

I have had my pacemaker since March 24th and overall feel the best I have felt in two years. I have more energy, am able to do yard work, etc. We are still in the tweaking stages of getting everything just right. The doc made a tweak on it yesterday because I told him that I sometimes get a little winded just walking from the living room to the bedroom or from my truck to my office but I can work like a madman in the yard with no problem. Now, after the tweak to a setting, I have felt all da...

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upper arm pain

I had my pacemaker on March 12, 2010. A couple of days ago, my upper arm has been painful. Has any one experienced this?

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Pacemaker Affecting Medication

Is it possible that having a pacemaker is affecting my pain medication? I have been on the same pain pills for many years for my fibromyalgia. Now I seem to get a little lightheaded/dizzy whenever I take it.

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"SPARKY"

Hello All,

Have had a-fib for about six weeks. It seems to be the persistent version. Will be having a Cardioversion wed @ 7am after an esophogeal echo. Current meds include warafin,100mg atenolol, 300mg flecinide... Strong, but we hoped to restore the sinus rhythm.. It is a little scary to think you will be jump started. Has anyone had the pleasure of this procedure? Has anyone had any luck restoring with natural means. I've thought @"static electricity" but am not sure how to...

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Chemical Stress Test

Hi,
I am a 100% pacemaker dependent. Tomorrow I am having a chemical stress test. I think it is called a Dual Iso Adenos stress test.
Does anyone have any information on this test? What happens during the test? What is the purpose for this test? I had received a call with the date and time and some information on what to do 4 hours before test and that was all.
Thank-you
Dool

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is inr of 1.07 safe

hi everyone ,seems a silly question to ask really but hubby is on warafrin meds for merchanical valve also has a pm ,suddenly his inr range has droped to 1.07 they have uped his meds and having another test today ,i was just woundering is this range safe thanx for any advice his theaputic range should be 3.00 3,05 what would cause this sudden drop

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Just wondering

Had pacemaker for 2nd degree heart block extending to 3rd degree. Much reading since after very little information from doctors. What I do not understand is if idiopathic heart block is an autoimmune disease why isnt it treated with corticosteroids, if its viral, antivirals and antibiotics. None of these things were tried before the pacemaker was put in. Looking back it seems to me the block was going from 2nd degree to 3rd degree on my admission to hospital, that is the process was actually oc...

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coronary artery spasm

I've had a pacemaker for 14 1/2 years and was recently diagnosed with coronary artery spasms. I had been having angina for a few years and was getting more frequent. I am now on a calcium channel blocker and no more angina epidsodes, except when I am really tired. Has anyone else had this?

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Please Help..

I got a copy of my report and it stated I have Borderline Base LV Dysfunction with slightly blunted augmentation, NSVT. Anyone know what that means and if its serious?
My EF was 50-55%. Arrthmias during stress test was PVC's,Couplets,Triplets, and 1 4 Beat run of VT.

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Sinus Tachicardia

Hi,
I am new to this site and joined because I need advice. I live in Windhoek, Namibia, we do not have cardiologists here and have to get various referrals in order to get an appointment in with one in South Africa and it normally takes months to get such an appointment.

I have been suffering from sinus tachicardia since I was a child, but was only diagnosed properly about 10 years ago ... I am now 37 years old. I also have slighly low blood pressure as a rule, taking the beta b...

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You know you're wired when...

You’re officially battery-operated.

Member Quotes

I have had my pacer since 2005. At first it ruled my life. It took some time to calm down and make the mental adjustment. I had trouble sleeping and I worried a lot about pulling wires. Now I just live my life as I wish.