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It's coming out!

I had to share! I had my consult with the EP surgeon today and he says he sees no reason to not take my ICD out and sees no reason for me to have one! WooHoo! He is going to be trying to schedule the surgery for next week. I'll keep everyone posted as to how things progress and what the outcome is.

joy

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Student Survey

Hey everyone,

First off, i would like to say that I found this site not to long ago and I think it is a great community with a wonderful purpose of spreading information, giving support, and connecting people. I am a student at Virginia Tech and am working on researching pacemakers, ICDs, and their users; this brought me to the Pacemaker Club. If any of you are interested, I have posted a link to my survey further down the message, go ahead and run through it with the best of your abi...

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Syncopy

Hi everyone - my son, now aged 37 had 2 valves repaired at the age of 5, We were told then he would probably have to have plastic ones at a later date. Over the last 5 years he has been in and out of hospital because of going blue in lips and fingers and cheeks, Each time hospital put him onoxygen and he recovered quickly. He has been told he has epilepsy now. I dont think so. I think because his pulmonary valve is leaking, it is not sending oxygen from the blood to his brain, making his pass...

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Neurally Mediated Hypotension (Vaso-Vagal)

Hi again everyone.

I'm in the research and share mood!

BEWARE: VERY LONG POSTING.
(but probably the most informative I've ever found)

(People should consult their doctor before trying any treatment)


GENERAL INFORMATION ON NEURALLY MEDIATED HYPOTENSION AND ITS TREATMENT


What is neurally mediated hypotension?

Neurally mediated hypotension is also known by the following names: the fainting reflex, neurocardiogenic...

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Heart Disease & Depression

YES, I did post this about a week ago, but I think it may be very helpful yet again..especially to the newbies!!

Sept. 29, 2008 -- Heart disease and depression are so common that all heart patients should be routinely screened for depression and referred for professional help if necessary, according to new recommendations issued by the American Heart Association.

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080929/check-all-heart-patients-for-depression

thanks
...

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Time Zones

I live on the East coast of Australia and the time here is 8:00 am Thursday 9th DST (Daylight saving time). I noticed that the time of a recent post was about 16:30 Wed 8th. What is this time as it does not seem to be GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) (21:00 Wed 8th). ? Is it Montreal time. I find that because I live in Australia that by the time I see a post quite often a post already has a number of replies and my answer would be useless and I have given up looking at chat. Have to go now as I do not...

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California Firefighter with Pacemaker

Hello! I am looking to contact a California Firefighter who has a pacemaker and is back to full duty. I am a California Firefighter with a pacemaker who is looking forward to going back to full duty myself. If you or someone you know of fits this can you please email me? Thanks!
-Alex
awarski@aol.com

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Weird feelings..

Hi all,

I am 22 and last Wednesday I had a dual pacemaker put in due to multiple syncope episodes in the last 6 months that have resorted into smashing my head many times and many hospital trips. It appears I suffer from Bradycardia (resting heart usually in low 40's, and high 20's at night) and I have vasal vagal syndrome. Also the hospital notices my heart beat was irregular quite often. All in all, the ticker isn't really the way I want it. At 22, this has been like hitting a brick...

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Living With A Pacemaker

Found a very interesting article....enjoy!

Living With Your Pacemaker



Now that you have a pacemaker (or soon may get one), you may be wondering why you need one and how a pacemaker works. Your artificial pacemaker is a modern marvel; it's medical science's solution to the electrical problems of a slow or irregular heartbeat. But before you can understand how your pacemaker works, you first need to know a little about your heart. Basically, your heart is a...

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Biomedicine and me

Hi my friends,

I have got some good news :-) - I study the biomedicine now (first year) - I tried to go to dean (2 weeks ago, because I didn´t know about the study and when it came to my knowledge I knew that it is the work, which I want to do in my future) and showed him my book, which I wrote as I said you before as well (it has got 72 pages - and it is about radiofrequency ablation of heart) - he and also the subdean told me that they like it very much and offered me to study the...

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Managing Your Pacemaker

As promised...

Managing Your Pacemaker

Do your part in managing your pacemaker. You may have to have someone help you, but there are certain things you'll need to do to manage your pacemaker successfully. These include:
Understand your acceptable heart rate. Before you leave the hospital, discuss with your doctor the specific maximum heart rate above your pacemaker rate that's acceptable. Discuss the programmed lower and upper rate for your pacemaker, too. Talking abo...

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Anyone in my position please

Hi Guys

You will be pleased to know that I am not on here to have a moan and groan as such. I am now at ease with having the pacemaker and have stopped taking the pulse every five minutes.

I would like to know if anyone has had their pacemaker reduced to 45 bmp. I still run and attend classes for keep fit and have had the pacemaker set at this. Whilst I cannot say I feel unwell, I just do not feel on top form.

Any comments would be gratefully recei...

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Vasovagal Syncope

I was diagnosed with vasovagal syncope and given a PM after a 5 second pause on the tilt table test.

My EP states that the LOTREL high blood pressure medicine I was taking made the probablity of syncope episodes more likely due to the dialation of blood vessels.

Well I did and still due have high blood pressure. He has me on 20mg of coreg (beta blocker) and 240mg of Verapamil (calcium
channel blocker).

He said that if these did not work to lower my pressure...

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THIS MAKES ME ANGRY

Ok, I know that the general public doesn't think about young people having pacemakers, but I just picked up a college preparation "magazine" in the library the other day and on every other page, there was an add for some sort of US military service. I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH: I know that hardly anyone thinks that kids can have pms, but it is demeaning to the general public when the say "Do something with your life" or "Accelerate your life". Excuse me??? I can do great things just staying on ci...

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Dealing with people who don't have PM's....

Hello all. I have a question. I am soon going back to work and the secretary there is a real pip! She is one of those who thinks she knows everything and then gets real mad when someone corrects her. She actually doesn't talk to people who do that to her for days! Her grandma has a PM and I just know that she is going to be a real ***ch to me and say a lot of nasty things and try to compare us. Short of throwing one of my imaginary hand granades at her, I am at a loss for dealing with her...

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Medical Examination: Please help

Hi,

I just got a much better job opportunity than my current one. It is a sales job which involves both office work and travelling. The new company has a policy of medical checkup for every new employee.

During interview process they didnt ask about my medical history. But now I am afraid that my PM could come in my careers way. Is it possible that I will be rejected during medical examination?? Are PM wearer not consider fit for jobs which require some travelling?? My gene...

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Complete PM removal and reinsertion at a new site

I was at the cardiac surgeon last week. I have been having a lot of problems with pain etc. with my PM since 2006 when I had a new PM and lead put in. At that time I ended up in hospital a month later having my PM and lead repositioned. It has never been the same.

I spoke with teh surgeon who did this an the long and short of it was he wanted me to get a second opinion. He sent me to a cardiac surgeon. I saw him last week.

He suspects that I have a low grade infection...

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Neonatal Lupus Research Registry

Most moms who give birth to a child with complete heart block have unknown autoantibodies called SSA/SSB. This affliction is called neonatal lupus and the symptoms are heart or AV block or a lupus rash on the baby. Once you have a baby with CHB or rash, you have an increased risk of having another affected baby. There is a registry in NY that conducts amazing research on the issue and is currently doing a clinical trial using IVIG to prevent the heart block in subsequent pregnancies.
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About to get pacemaker

I am 72 years old, very physically active for health reasons and lifestyle (treadmill, weights, yoga, moderate hiking). I have had afib for about 5 years. Just taking coumadin to control blood INR. Based upon my last cardio exam and having a 24 hour holter, my cardiologist indicates my pulse rate at rest is quite low (mid 30s to mid 40s), and is recommending I get a pacemaker. I am completely and luckily unsymptomatic. The cardiologist has referred by to an ElectroPhysiologist for a second opin...

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When did you go back to work??

I first posted on here in the beginning of August to say that I had just found out I was getting a PM... still don't have it... it is very frustrating because they tell me I need it for all these reasons and then make me wait. Anyways... everyone was so helpful with my last question and I thought of another one. Can you guys tell me from your experiences how long you were out of work after the implantation of your PM. I have a desk job and don't do alot of lifting or anything but I see on her...

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You know you're wired when...

You have a 25 year mortgage on your device.

Member Quotes

A pacemaker completely solved my problem. In fact, it was implanted just 7 weeks ago and I ran a race today, placed first in my age group.