Most Recent Messages in Conditions, Meds & Tests

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effexor

I started effexor over a month ago. I started off on 75 mg while I weaned off of my other antidepressant. 2 weeks ago I went up to 150mg. THe past few days I have noticed my blood pressure going up. Today I have the most outrageous headache and my blood pressure is 160/100. The doctor said only about 2% of people develope high blood pressure from this med. I do have a history of high blood pressure but been quite controlled. Anyone had similar response? I did NOT want to go on the medica...

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Vitamins etc...

As some of you know I've been having what they are telling me are PAC's on a daily basis. They told me they are harmless. They started after the PM...I never had them before it. A few an hour on some days....they make me jump a little as they startle me.

The other day I started taking vitamins again...just a regular daily vitamin and a Folic acid tablet. I've noticed the PAC's are down to only 1 or 2 per day!!!!!!!

Is this because of the vitamins? A coincidence? Or am I psy...

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Pacemaker?

I am scheduled for a dual chamber pacemaker Tuesday. I'm a little nervous...and I just haven't been able to comprehend that I actually need this! I was wondering if there is anyone out there that has experienced some of the same symptoms I have.

This is my story:
Two years ago I was feeling a little strange one night (it came on suddenly). I took my blood pressure and it was 52/36 and I thought "Wow, that is low."......then I woke up. My first thought was "gosh..I fainted."...

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yet again frustrated... need some advice

GRRR well I am back to being frustrated yet again. I get to go see that fine cardiac dude next week. Short recap- had pacemaker installed in july and complete AV node ablation for atrial tach and inappropriate sinus tach. Had a lot of issues getting the right settings and ended up back on almost all of my heart meds again. I have been on flecainide and metoprolol for now ohh about 5 years. Everytime I try to come off the metoprolol, I end up back on it for one reason or another both blood p...

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Oops...Don't do what I did.....

I wanted to share this little story with you...so that no one here is careless and a dummie like I was last night!!!

I have a cold or something wrong with my nose....mainly due to a little kindergartener named Andy. You see...Andy thinks he is a stallion at the age of 6 and wears cologne....bad cologne....and WAY TO MUCH of it. I love this little guy to death but he is gonna kill me!

I was working one on one with Andy yesterday. I had to help him hold a marker and print nu...

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genetic testing

Hi there,

Are there any genetic tests that can be done for Sick Sinus Syndrome.....I have a husband and a 5 year old daughter who both have a pacemaker and would like to know if there is any tests that can be done on my son.

Mandy

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Ever hear of

It was Christmas night last year, when all of a sudden I began getting shocked. I was sitting in a rocking chair and suffered 2 episodes both of which i felt like i had been shocked, I ended up going to the ER and on the way to the Hosp I got shocked another 3 times almost 4 within 30 minutes. They did the normal blood work, download etc, and they said all was fine.. Well I have had the thing for over 7 years and I have never been shocked 5 times in one year let alone one night. My Mag and Po...

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Beta Blockers

Hi All
I am on perindopril and beta blockers, do these drugs make you put on weight?

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Abnormal rhythems

I am wondering what everyone here does when they feel abnormal rhythems, skips, palpitations etc?

I some times feel PAC's, and it feels like a harder beat than the rest and it throws me off.

I sometimes feel some really good beats but then it seems like a valve is hesitating or a beat is hesitating, not following the normal or preceeding pattern of beats. Does that make sense?

Wondering if anyone else has this and what you do when it happens. So far I've been pra...

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Wonder if this is normal?

for a few months now I get out of breath slightly especially when I bend down to pick something up,also from time to time I sweat ,three months ago when i saw cardialagist,he did a sonogram of my heart and said all is fine.I see him in amonth, but I notice if I do something with lifting,I am slightly winded. Does this happen to others with pacemaker,I will call doctor tomorrow and tell him again about this issue. I have a Medtronic with two leads.since 2006.Please answer me I am so worried.ist

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High blood pressure and heart rate.

I had a pacemaker installed on December 14, 2009 because my heart was missing beats particularly during heavy exertion. I am having problems adjusting. I hope someone can help.

Prior to my pacemaker my blood pressure was moderately high 145/90 and my heart rate was about 50. I had a heart attach in 2007 so I was put on Metoprolol which lowered my heart rate as well as blood pressure meds. Prior to my heart attach I had problems with a racing heart. I felt like I was wound up like...

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Thallium Stress Test

Well... here is my first post.
In June, 2009 a St. Jude Zephler XL DR was implanted. I am currently running and lifting weights with little discomfort. My next scheduled check-up is in February. I would normally have a Nuclear Perfusion Stress Test every six months, however, I
now have a pacemaker. Will I be able to have this type of test with an implanted pacemaker?

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What is High Grade AV Block?

Okay, this is an entirely stupid question considering it's been 18 months since my diagnosis. After reading ElectricFranks question about upper PM limits and then Ronaldo's response, I have to ask what is High Grade AV Block? This is what I was dx'd with and have a PM, but only understand it at a kindergarten level (from the cardiologist). Can anyone tell me more - where does the electrical current go/not go? Is the problem in my atrium or ventricle or both? Left or right side? What else should...

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Skipped heartbeats

Can a heart still skip beats after a pacemaker is implanted?

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Stress caused A-fib

I have a St. Jude Pacemaker but still get a-fibs. I take Sotalol 2 x a day. I know that mental stress (even unintentional) can cause my a-fibs. Last night's was 9 hours in length, even though I took extra Sotalol. It was due to thinking about a friend's fatal illness.
Any suggestions for a better medication to keep these a-fibs from happening would be much appreciated. I also can't take antihistamines for the same reason (a-fib).

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ER Problems

Hi Everyone,
I am loving my pacemaker. No more fainting or near fainting spells in the supermarket or on bouts with my daughter. But I am frustrated with the fact that recently when I go to the regular doctor gp or the cardiologist, they have all sent me to the ER. Everything has always checked out fine. One time I had swelling on my ankles and very painful feet from working retail. They ended up sending me to the ER for high blood pressure, which went down after laying in the ER for t...

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Still out of breath

I have had a pacemaker for about 18 months. I am 67 years old and had never had a heart problem and had led a very active and healthy life. Then I experienced a very low heart rate, was getting out of breath going from my car to my office, and ended up in the hospital having pacemaker surgery I. still get out of breath when climbing stairs, walking uphill, or walking at more than a slow pace. My doctors are at a loss and tell me to just keep exercising. A change in the beta blocker I was on t...

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Amitriptyline

Hi Everyone,

I had my PM fitted in October this year for bradycardia and missed beats, after numerous other problems I have now been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. My consultant has prescribed an initial 10mg dose of Amitriptyline onto 25mg if i'm ok with them. Has anyone taken this drug and had any problems with regards to PM?

Thanks

Karen

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Question about biventribular PM experience

I had bypass surgery in July of 2009. Since then I've had two episodes of CHF, complications from the surgery (phrenic nerve damage causing a paralysed diaphragm) and have an EF of 30. In November I had a cardiac cath and while I was in recovery a) my cardiologist came in and said he thought I should have a biventricular PM/ICD and b) the EP came in and said I only needed an ICD as I had no electrical or synchronization problems. My cardiologist said he would "talk to the EP". Now he's saying t...

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Conversyl

I have cardiac and pulmonary sarcoidosis and have an ICD. It's been over 6 weeks since the procedure. My Cardiologist advised that I start on Conversyl 5mg for a month as I have ejection farction of 48%. I have a AV 1:1 at rest and 2:1 on exertion.

Pulmonary specialist advise to monitor for 6 months and then review the lungs.

I have been reading about this medication and found it's mainly used for high blood pressure treatment. Also read the many side effects.

An...

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