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High Anxiety

Hi everyone, I'm new here and also new to having a defibrillator as of Nov.11, 2008. My docs have been pretty good about answering questions but there is one thing no one can seem to address. Since the day after surgery I have been feeling an incredibly high degree of anxiety. My sense is that it is related to this new thing in my chest but is also due to the underlying reason I needed the ICD in the first place. I'm also fearful of getting a whopping shock that everyone describes as a "kick in...

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Firefighters with Pacemakers

Hello! I am 22 years old and have had a Pacemaker since I was 11. I was diagnosed a partial block in my hearts electrical system. I am currently trying to become a firefighter and was wondering if there are going to be any problems getting a job even though I am NOT pacemaker dependent.....Thanks!

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heart block

cher thanks for sharing your story,how long have you had your pacemaker and does the doctors talk about your ejection fraction mine is 36..and has anyone improved this number and how can you? by the way this site very helpful!

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AV Node ablation patients??

Hey there ya'll,
I know all about the anatomy of the heart, and the electrical system. I also know about AV Node ablations, but I'm still puzzled a bit.
I know when they ablate the AV Node the bottom chamber no longer recieves the electrical signal from the sinus node, thus causing 100% pacer dependency.
My question is how does this really help relieve symptoms of palpitations, flutter and a-fib?
I'm scared that I won't be able to do as much being 100% paced, or in the end I...

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Excessive Pain during surgery/Lovenox

Hello,

My mother had pacemaker surgery at a major hospital in Boston Nov 12. My brother and I were there with her. All seemed to be going well and folks at the hospital seemed supportive. Although there was some comment from the docs/interns that she was being consciously sedated (and they wanted to make sure she stayed breathing on her own), at NO time did anyone indicate that the pain during the procedure would be excrutiating (sp?) and that the numbing/freezing whatever you call...

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POOKIE

COME BACK TO CHAT
Vonnie

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pneumonia/colonoscopy/sedation

Both my internal med doc and the gastrologist agree on proceeding with the colonoscopy as long as I no longer have fever or coughing. I'm glad since I'd already started preping for the procedure by coming off coumadin and giving myself lovenox shots since Saturday. I was going to have antibiotics for the colonoscopy anyway due to my endocarditis history - guess I got a head start - I was given Rocephin IV in the emergency room, and am taking Levaquin orally now. I'm still requesting no versed....

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ICD Shocks

My mother had a pacemaker then got "upgraded" to an ICD. That leaves me wondering if the eventual plan for me is the same. If you have an ICD and it has "delivered therapy" how would you discribe the feeling?

Vonnie

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when bending over, feel like my face is going to explode

I had my PM almost 3 years now, I felt good since. last couple months, when bending over and standing up, I feel like my face is going to explode with blood and a strange feeling around my neck, I am not overweight, my doctors all told me my pacemaker setting is ok, and there is nothing to worry about, but, I have a feeling that something is wrong with me. thank you all.

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heart block

this is all new it all came about unexpected in june and i collapsed out of no where ended up 8 days in the hospital with the diagnosis of av heart block with no know cause and a pacemaker at 37 ! It's taking some time coping with is all,anyone out there with anything similar?

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Home again...

So I'm home from my first pm surgery. Rather sore, annoyed about the new lump on my chest (hubby says it's not really noticable), but overall doing well. It's very weird feeling something thumping around in there...I guess I just have to get used to that. Trying to stick to ibuprofen during the daytime - now that I'm out of bed the Darvocet makes me feel kind of spacey.

The kids (2 and 4) did well. My girl was very brave; I could tell she was holding back tears when they came to v...

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Ablation

Hello to all of my pacemaker pals!

I am going to the hospital on Tuesday morning for my complete sinus node ablation. This will be my 4th ablation to date, and hopefully the last.
I am excited to hopefully get my condition under control, but a little anxious at the same time. This procedure will leave me with no sinus activity, thus being dependant on my pacemaker.
Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers Tuesday morning!

Thanks,
Amanda

P.S. T...

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Colonoscopy with pneumonia?

Oh well, I don't know if I'll have that colonoscopy Wednesday or not. Saturday morning, I just couldn't get warm - eventually I realized I was experiencing a chill, which was followed by a fever. Next I started feeling heart palpitations, so I used my blood pressure monitor to check things out and my pulse shot up to 151. I know, for some of you that might not be a big deal, but my normal resting rate is 45-55. I don't usually get above 80 unless I'm exercising. (My pacemaker's lower rate is...

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Bad day for football...

Yesterday was the regional play-offs for our team and we played Monticello from Charlottesville. I had to come... we lost. 6 to 20. Apart from that, it was 32 degrees outside, we had to cut the tips off our gloves, two cheerleaders fell and did not respond or move for at least 10 minutes, and I got hypothermia... no exaggeration. My fingers burned, my left foot was numb and I could barely walk, and my body was frozen solid. I was literally in tears and my fingers still hurt. I won't elaborate an...

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Pacemaker not far away ?

I found this site a few days ago and have been reading a lot of the posts. Recently I have been having mild chest pain and had an abnormal nuclear stress test last week. I'm scheduled for a heart cath this coming week. The cardiologists said I probably will need to get a pacemaker before long. My resting rate is 45 to 49 bpm. It's been slow like this all my life without any symptoms or problems. All of this is terrifying to me! I don't know what to expect. I'm scared. I'm single and live alone t...

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To those not feeling well

Good day,
I was thinking about the members that I have been missing and it occurred to me that it could be because they are not feeling so well.
I would like all of you to know that you are missed. Each time I come here and I don't see you I think about you guys. You know who you are, I really want you to say that I am thinking/praying about each of you. I understand that so many are going through tough medical times. I understand that it can take every ounce of strength just to get t...

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sis

back in chat. jess

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weird feeling getting me down

hi hope you dont mind another post following my recent post on weird feeling around pm site. i had a pm for years that started flipping on its side and it was changed and another reimplanted deeper nearly four months ago. i suffered a frozen shoulder afterwards that resolved and then had no problems and couldnt even feel the pm and felt great.however a few days ago i started experiencing some weird sensations it felt like crackling under the skin on the pm site and i could feel the pm and now e...

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I am SO frustrated !

I have been banned from the treadmill and my 5k training until I can get a hold of one of my cardiologists.  My husband is freaking out about my atrial flutter report of 380bpm yesterday. No one thinks I should be running, but every "off" day from training makes it that much harder to get back into the groove of things. Plus the race is Dec. 6th.
This really is horrible. How come just ONE thing can’t go MY way for a change?  I hate all this waiting.  My loca...

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Hope you smile.

What’s the difference between weather and climate??

You cannot weather a tree but you can climate. ;D

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Member Quotes

To tell you the truth I never even give it a second thought. While growing up it never stopped me from doing anything and to this day my girlfriend or my kids need to remind me that I have one!