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Gastric pacemaker replacement surgery

Hey. I had a gastric pacemaker put in 2 months ago and ever since I've felt the shocks. I have to have surgery on Sept 30 to replace the entire device. Has anybody else had/have the same problem? I just wanna know if anybody has had better results after the replacement surgery or if the new one is just as faulty as the first... I'm nervous because there are so few of us that have these and the surgeons don't have very much information to go on. So I have to take a chance with surgery, which scar...

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lawn mowing

my wife keeps freaking out when I try to mow the lawn. Is it safe?

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low red blood cell count

since coming home from my operation,( heart valve repair, pacemaker implant), I get very tired, very fast. My doc says it is low red cells, any advice or comments?

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$$$$$$$

My battery is low in my pacer (St.Jude, model 5342), and will need replacement surgery in 4-5 months. I am a Canadian, living in Savannah, Georgia, and no longer have free medical care...I moved here permanently. I have private insurance that will cover some of the costs of hospital, surgery, and meds, but not the device (can't get one on eBay...lol).

I am looking for the best place to have it done (costwise). I have a medical tourism company looking at options, but wondered where I c...

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pardon me

I am new, so please pardon all the questions that I may have.

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Seatbelt Irritation

Hi
Has anyone bought or used one of those Soft touch seat belt relief items that are advertise on here. I just wondered if they really work or they are not what they say. Thanks

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Have a great day

Just wishing everyone out there in "Electronic" land a wonder-filled day. We just keep going, and going, and going, and going, and going.........ain't it wonderful?
I'm 4 weeks post implant today! For some reason, that means a lot to me, and I'm proud of myself. One step closer to normalcy.
Take care ya'll,
Oh yeah, yesterday we were talking about the nicknames that people have given us since our pacemaker implants. People at work used to call me Porcupine (because of my spikey ha...

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help

Just got pacemaker last week,first week was rough the Doctor installed lead line through my heart and I was not feeling well all week.I call Doctor three time about problems and just brushed me off till we went to ER.X-ray show the lead wire was install to far. He repaired it on tuesday morning and I am feeling better.Anyone have any advice about what to do.

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Still beating

First of all, sorry for my mistakes, I am a mexican lady, so I am trying to express my feelings in a foreign language and it is not easy.
I have had several heart problems during the last ten years. I had two angioplasties, Open heart surgery for four bypasses and a pacemaker in 2006. Now I have had a replacemet of the pacemaker for a CRT that is for people with heart failure. I have two valves with problems and maybe I will need another open heart surgery, I do not know when.
I am...

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Hurricane Ike

Hello to all my Texan friends...please bunker down and be careful. My thoughts are with you all.

Pookie

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Sleeping

Hi,

This is all new to me and my question today is when can one sleep on the side their pm was implanted?

Another question is does the feeling of having something in ones chest ever go away?

Carole

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New, and a Question About Infection

Hi,

I've been lurking for a couple of days, and I think I've finally found a permanent place to help me stay in tune with my new toy. I am very grateful there are such forums, and appreciate the work put in by our benefactor and helpers. My real name is Bob, and my last name is Ad-----, thus the "bobad". It definitely isn't because I think I'm bad. :)

I'm a male, 59, and was in pretty good health until I got SSS symptoms and a 2 chamber PM on June 3 of 08. Things have been...

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Get back to my hobby?

My favorite hobby has been flying radio control airplanes for some years now.

I got sick and stopped for a few months and now that I'm starting to feel better after getting my PM I'm getting the bug to go fly again.

I have been researching and it seems that the transmitters should not be a problem, they are low power 1/2 watt RF transmitters. mine is 2.4Ghz.

I asked the device rep before they discharged me and he said, rather vaguely, It's probably OK.

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WSU? SMU?

Hi, here in Kansas we have WSU (Wichita State University), so of course this story caught my attention.

I'm not sure the school is WSU. The story mentions SMU. A school in Texas. Not that it really matters, but I understand the school's reservations. People are suing people everyday over the most senseless things. I don't support their decision in any way, but I understand why.

The question is, for me anyway, is what to do to change the way the world views people such as o...

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Sleeping

Hi
I don't have a pm but someone I love does and I am trying to understand things. Did anyone ever experience the fear of dying while they slept and if so how did you learn to cope with that. I just want to learn as much as I can from others so I can better understand what is is like to have pm and what worries come with one and what to say and when.
Thanks

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Cabg Patch...

In my case, things are kind of an experiment. I think it's a mutual feeling between my docs and I. I have had arrhythmias for 8 years, had 3 ablations - the last one my phrenic nerve was froze with a -82 degree cryoblation cath, and I have tried every medication known to man. My cardiologist suggested pacemaker with beta-blocker therapy. I was headed for an AV Node Ablation if the Tikosyn that I was trying didn't work. Well, after the 2nd day of Tikosyn, I was on the lowest dose with a long QT,...

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Jokes are flying here

The jokes are flying here after my PM implant.

Frankenstein jokes are plentiful and a buddy called my cell phone and asked for Col. Steve Austin. I responded with "I hope this doesn't actually cost 6 million dollars"

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My first checkup

Had my first device interrogation today, 1 week after surgery. they said I was A pacing at 51% and V pacing only a small amount. apparently my ventricle doesn't respond to the natural signals right away so the pacer gets it going. then it seems to catch up and respond properly so the pacer stops V pacing.

They said that is good because it could add years to the battery life.

forgive me if my terminology is not correct but I am a PM newbie.

so far so good,

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My first bike ride

I was cleared to ride my bike today at my checkup (on road only). So I raced home got my gear on and WOW what an incredible difference.

Before the PM it was difficult to get my heart rate above 100 and nearly impossible to get to 130.

Now on my first bike ride with my new PM I was able to break 100 bpm easy, found a nice cruising speed at 120 bpm and 132bpm. It even got up to 160 climbing a hill, which I haven't seen all year long riding 90 -120 miles a week.

Sti...

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Pranks

Hi everyone!

I work at a hospital with kids and we were playing pranks on the nurses and parents and one of the kids had those fake pens that when you click it,it shocks you. I did it a couple times and didn't think twice about it until someone else said "Wow that hurts, better not let anyone with a pacemaker use it!" He didn't know I have one and I didn't say anything but I hadn't thought about that at all. Does anyone know if those shocking toys do anything bad? I've had my pacemake...

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You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

Member Quotes

It's much better to live with a pacemaker than to risk your life without one.