Most Recent Messages in Conditions, Meds & Tests

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Replacement PM and new 3rd wire

Last year I started getting fluid buildup but was focused on issues my Mom was having so pretty much ignored my symptoms, shortness of breath.  Anyway Mom died in Jan and I finally got my symptoms looked at.  Turns out by then I was in heart failure, left EF down to 10%.  

I've had my current 2 wire Medtronic PM since 2013, due to total AV block.  Also got arrhythmia about a year ago.  

My Dr put me on Entresto and a couple of other heart meds, did an...

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MRI and risk

Hi ,

I have an MRI compatible pacemaker since 5 years. 34% atrial and no other complications.

I have X Ray with no bone changes. My doc suggested an MRI for meniscal tear. I am liitle concerned about MRI risks with the pacemaker though it is compatible.

Did anybody get the MRI done under supervision of PM technician?

Any suggestions on alternate tests?

 

Thanks,

Venkat

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EF getting lower

I had a pacemaker/defibrilator installed in March 2015...My EF at the time was 25%...all the women in my family  have an electrical problem with the heart...I was having 30,000 PVC's a day.....i have 4 leads....I was put on Entresto, Flecainide and Metoprolol Tartrate....the first echo after the implant my EF was 55% which was great since that's the same EF I had when I was first put on BP meds....here it is 5 yrs later and the EF is now 41%....I'm a bit worried about this......

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Sleeping

Can someone give me information regarding turning over in bed.  I am an arm sleeper and use a sling since my PM insertion on 5/01.  When can I start turning over on the side of my PM without worry?

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Lexiscan due to decreased ejection fraction

I've had a PM since I was 2...I'm 41 now.  Throughout the years my PM checks and cardio appts were all pretty smooth, no concerns, etc.  I had a treadmill stress test back in Nov 2018 and everything looked good. I was supposed to get the Lexiscan but refused after reading all the horrible experiences.  Also had an Echo around the same time and EF was around 50%...had an echo in February and EF dropped to 38% so doc wants to do another stress test but this time told me i...

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Bradycardia

Hi all,

a quick question before I go to my doctor about this. But when I was in hospital one of the reasons why I needed a pacemaker is because I was bradycardic. However recently I've been tracking my sleep via my Fitbit and my heart is still dropping to 41-42 bpm. (Before the pasemaker it was dropping to 36-38 bpm) My resting heart rate is 52-56 bpm naturally too. I thought the pacemaker would speed this up, obviously I need to have a check up and see how my heart is doing (l...

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Beta Blocker

In November, a 2-lead pacemaker was implanted. I was placed on blood thinners and one month later I was cardioverted. For several years leading up to the implant I had Atrial Flutter. It was episodic but at times it lasted up to 3 hours. My typical pulse was 40-45 primarily because I was a distance runner. When in flutter the upper chamber would beat 300-500 bpm while my lower chamber would remain at 60. The pacemaker was implanted when my pulse  eventually dropped to 25 on the...

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Weird fluttering feeling

Hey! Hope everyone is ok during this pandemic! 

I got a question. The last couple of months I’ve been getting a wired fluttering feeling in my chest and when I check my pulse it’s 140 beats /min sometimes higher and then it goes straight back to 70 beats/min again. 

Has anyone else experienced this? 

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Noise on ventricular lead

Hi

I had my annual pacemaker check in February. I have a dual chamber pacemaker for Sick Sinus Syndrome. I don’t take any medication.

They picked up noise on my ventricular lead at the check and concluded it isn’t working properly. 

I was there about an hour while three of the cardiac technicians debated what to do. They concluded they were trying to keep it going and fix it as best they can.

I was to see the Consultant mid April... no i...

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Possible Carcinoid tumor?

Hi. I have a dual chamber Medtronic pacemaker now for 3yrs due to Bradycardia and arrhythmia. Symptoms of bulging neck veins and a feeling of chocking especially when leaning forward, or training my upperbody...and upperbody arm movements. I go red in my face and feels asif i am standing on my head.. They are suspecting s Carcinoid tumor and causing carcinoid heart disease. Anyone have similar symptoms?? Zm awaiting results!! 

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Beta blocker side effects

Hi! I've been on bisoprolol for just over a year now. Before that, I was on metoprolol for about 6 months (many years ago). I've been experiencing extensive eyebrow hair loss, and my doctors don't know why. I'm pretty sure it started when I was on the metoprolol many years ago, and it's continuing now. There hasn't been any regrowth, so I'm almost eyebrowless now (not a good look, unfortunately). I read somewhere that beta blockers can cause hair loss. Has anyone e...

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Covid-19 & Self Isolation

I am extremely worried. I am only 30 but have had major underlying health conditions from birth. I am due to have a heart and lung transplant soon and will be put on the waiting list within the next month or so. My immune system is poor - it takes me six weeks to fight off a chest infection with antibiotics. I can't afford to get this virus because I'm sure it will kill me off. I'm just not sure whether to self isolate now or try and wait even longer.

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should i check out ?

Recently in hoso..again. w/pnemonia . let go 3 days later March 3 2020.  Breathing is still not good, coughing up storm. Hurts when i do. Nurse had fever show yesterday and the heart  doc is all over phone as he said  i need heart meds i have A-Fib.  WHAT? ARE you kidding me? Sometimes i feel if was not for this pacemaker , i would not be in this condition. Sept was orgiinal surgery day but had to be  put off as  i had pnemonia ..again. so this makes 4 times.&nbs...

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P wave Asystole

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone has experience of P wave Asystole,

I have recently received pacemaker due to heart block and my discharge 

notes say that I was having P wave Asystole episodes.

i would like to know if anyone has had same condition and how 

pacemaker has helped,my hope is that I will be able to soon be

back to my old self (if possible)

thanks in anticipation 

Tim

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Heart Rhythm Medication - Exhaustion

I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis last May.  It is in my lungs and lymph nodes and migrated into my heart which caused the ventricular tachycardia events which led to my pacemaker and since then an ablation (little back story there).  While recent PET scans have shown it subsiding in my heart, it is still present in lung area (being treated with immunosuppressive steroids).

To my question...........I have always been quite the active person/dad.  I am thin, always moving,...

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Fluid in Lung & Diuretic

I had a dual lead pacemaker installed on Feb 28, 2020 due to bradycardia which was causing me shortness of breath.

After the surgery they took a chest xray and told me that I had a small to moderate right pleural effusion (fluid in my right lung).  They put me on a 20mg dosage of Furosemide (a loop diuretic) to try to drain the fluid out of my right lung.  It has been 10 days and the fluid is still there along with my shortness of breath.

My question, is how long does it...

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How did you know you needed a pacemaker

Hi everyone I'm new here just got pacemaker on the 21th offer 2020, I went to er because of serious diarrhea was admitted bc of low potassium during the night nurse comes rushing into my room asking me if I feel ok I tell them yes they say my heartrate dropped into the 30s,so next morning a cardio dr comes in saying they are going to transfer me to another hospital bc I need a heart cath and a pacemaker so I allow them to transfer me so as soon as I get to the bigger hospital drs say I ne...

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Heart Block - 100% Pacemaker Dependant

Sorry for the long back story but I am quite concerned, scared, upset, etc.

I had my pacemaker/ICD put in June, 2019 due to the ventricular tachycardia episodes I had due to a virus called sarcoidosis that somehow got into my lungs and heart.  It damaged my heart and the result was ventricular tachycardia.

The pacemaker has been pacing me at the low end to 60 bpm and at the high end around 175bpm.  All this time since June my heart was beating on its own power, but a tad...

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Just venting

So, I have (apparently) an MRI-conditional lead. And an MRI-conditional pacemaker, following an AV node ablation (for longstanding persisten atrial fibrillation).  However the combination is not MRI-conditional (according to Boston Scientific and my current EP/cardiologist) so I can't have an MRI. (As an aside: What????)

Which matters, because I have heart failure (HFpEF) and my cardiologist thought to order a set of blood tests so obscure the vampires at the hospital...

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Several Visits to the hospital

I have just spent nearly a month in the hosp.   Pretty darned fuzzy , to tell the truth. Kidney stones, too much water to try to flush the stones,  PM going into EOL, A mew PM Generator.  Be glad to get this one behind me.  I have now met one surgeon wh has done at least three PMC members scattered over three states, plus the 89 YO mother of a friend I met in the waiting room for my own surgery.  Small world.  To quote my Cardio - "I...

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You know you're wired when...

You’re officially battery-operated.

Member Quotes

I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.