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I REALLY messed up !!!

I went on my first holiday of 3 for the summer.....I thought I had it all together..and with all your all's help I thought I was ready.......I feel like a fool...I am a grown women...and I messed up !!!1 We went on several tours in DC...and had a great time...the day we went out on our own to one of the Smithsonian Museum's ....oh my gosh before I knew it I had passed thru the security door !!!! When I got on the other side I realized what I had done.....I just stood their and wanted to cry.....

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Back Again

Hello all again... I was here a year ago with a posting "Told I need a Pacemaker". To keep this short I got several opinions and found a doc who was on the board for determining the criteria for pacemaker surgery. He told me I didn't meet the criteria then.

..Here I am about a year later and went for my follow up and all checked out fine. The funny thing is for the entire year I didn't have any skipped beats (noticeable to me that is) worked out and felt great. The day after I met wi...

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One Year

It's my first anniversary. Boy! Going from 36 BPM to 66 BPM is SOME difference. I feel so much better (dare I say "normal"? or what I feel is pretty darn close). Best wishes to all you fellow pacers. :-) Barbara

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need to know

since having this thing I have to start a new career, I was a truck
driver for many years, and in the state of Ohio I don't know about any other state but, I can't get a medical card . A truck driver can't drive without one. So I've have to start all over again with a new career, Don't know where to start . Thought about being a cable
tech. But that involved being around wires,and electrical boxes, stuff, so let me know?

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new lead placement

I have had my PM for 6 months and in 2 days I will have surgery to replace a ventricle lead that is not well situated ( It is touching my diaphram and not giving enough stimulation to the ventricle.) 3 questions:1- my surgeon is going to leave the old lead in because she is concerned that trying to pull it out could result in pulling out some heart tissue also. Any feedback on this? 2- I was reading one of the messages in which the PM was under breast tissue and I would like to know if this is...

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Bra strap/ seatbelt pads

I am thinking on buying the pads for my bra and seatbelt....I find some of my bras hurt to wear and I drag my seatbelt under my breast.....anyway I was wondering if the pads really help. Are they comfortable....thank you

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Thank you for everyone's comments

Referring to the post I made yesterday titled "Individual Rights and Free Will", I must admit I was concerned people would view my post as inappropriate; tell me I had some head problem or that I was trying to stir up trouble. Thank you for being open minded. What had set me off and inspired me to write, was reading a post by a person named Roger and all the comments that shut out his obvious pain and distress. Having been in his place and still struggling with my feelings (2+ years later) I had...

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i am a newbie

hello
its been amonth since i got mine. still in alot of pain. my doctor took me off for 2 months, and then 3 months of light duty. i work as a nursing assistant in a cancer ward. i know that i couldnt do my job right now. im unsure if i will ever be able to do it.
also i drive 45 mins to work before. the driving, the bumps in the road, the seatbelts,it all causes more pain.
i dont know if this is normal or not.
my cardiologist said i could return to work in one week. but th...

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Natural Death with a Pacemaker

My family and I are very concerned about our mother being able to pass away with dignigt and without distress when the time comes. She is 85 years old and is in advanced stage of
altzhimers. Can anyone tell us exactly how death occurs when a pacemaker is stimulating the heart? Thank you very much to anyone who can answer our question honestly.

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pacemakers and antibiotics

When I had both knees replaced, I was told to always take antibiotics before any dental or surgical work is done...even the simple cleaning of teeth. When I called recently to ask if the antibiotics are still necessary for dental cleaning and mentioned that I had a pacemaker, I was told "very definitely especially with a pacemaker for EVERY proceedure". A short while ago I read that one of our members had an infection a year or so after implant. I do know that if there is any infection the bacte...

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Ayone set below 50

Pacers,
I have to start by saying I'm very lucky to have basically no ongoing issues or symptoms, and for this i'm very grateful.

I went for my 15 month check yesterday.I got a clean bill of health. The report said 8.5-11.5 years of battery lety...Bewdy!!.
I basicailly only get paced in the atrium when my heart rate is between 50 and 60 .my resting HR before PM used to be 44 and ECG showed RBBB.it was only when I had the holter test and had a dizzy spell that showed up as an...

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protector

iam 36 and still play rec-basketball, and iam looking for a chest protector for df/pm. Iam new to this i just had my surg-3 months ago and iam ready to play ball again.. help

chest protector-for basketball use
thanks
bfree

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Individual rights and Free Will

I want to say how much I appriciate this site and t theo many of people I have interacted with. Having said that, I hope everyone who reads this knows that EP doctors receive their certification as a specialist by how many devices they are able to put in every year.

There are so many sanctimonious people both here and else where who think that everyone who has an ICD should be as greatful as the next person. When a person states they don't want their ICD, asking them "why they don't...

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Under the Pectoral Muscle Placement

I am 74 years old and had to have a pacemaker put in in October 2007. I noticed that one edge of the pacemaker was protruding near my armpit around Decmber of 2007. When I finally saw my cardiologist in February of 2008 he advised that I see the surgeon who implanted the PM. On March 14,2008 the same surgeon said that it had shifted and he operated and placed it more towards the center of my body. It moved again and is still protruding. I am 5'2" and weigh 123 lbs and do not have much fat ti...

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Thank you

Hi All

Thank you for all your lovely welcome. I am still trying to find my around this message board, I find it a bit complicated, I am sure I am missing out some important messages.

I also have some other problems that have been highlighted since having my pacemaker, the pacemaker has recorded several episodes of AF and two of VT, has this happened to anyone else. I now am being monitored closely and I take beta blockers.

would like to hear from anyone who has...

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Health Update

The last time I posted, I was trying to go caffeine-free with pretty good success I must say. Well, I must admit that I’m back to drinking colas and coffee. Yes, I’m officially off the caffeine-free wagon, but before you say “get back on that wagon, Blake”, let me explain.

Last June I had an ablation and was told to stop taking my arrhythmic heart drug. Well, one of the side effects of that drug was it caused my thyroid to go hyper. I continued to take thyroid medicine. After abou...

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pm settings

I have been having trouble with the setting on my duel chamber medtronic. I have had a cough that started 13 months ago when the pm was implanted. The PM clinic says it has nothing to do with the divice. Last week they turned off all the bells and whistles and set my pm to 40 bpm. Now I fell lightheaded when getting up to just walking, the cough is still there and now I have to go back to have another adjustment. Does anyone have any suggustions on settings.
Thanks,
Gary

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After the operation

Hi, I am a new member. I am 34 and five days ago I got my first pacemaker. It took two operations in one day to get it right. During the last few days I got gastritis, sore gums and a migraine and feel not very energetic at all which probably indicates that my immune system is low. My heart rate though feels fine and constant. Now and then I do feel that I cannot breath terribly easy. Everybody told me that I would feel great (apart from the wound) immediately after the operation. Not feeling ve...

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Im at home recovering.

Hello everyone. Just wanted to let you know the PM surgery went smoothly. I wasnt completely out under anesthetics but was enough out of it that I only remember random conversations that happened in the OR. I spent the night in the hospital and was able to come home the next day. I am feeling more soreness in my shoulder then I expected but I am optimistic this will pass quickly. I will keep everyone posted on my recovery. I was wondering, at random times I feel like my heart flutters, almost li...

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any young adults with a pacer?

Hi everyone,

My name is Lexi. I'm 22 and just recently had my 3rd pacemaker put in. I had my first one at 10.

I am interested in hearing from some of the young adults who also have pacemakers/ cardiac issues. I feel very alone as far as having heart issues at my age. I don't know anyone else who does.

Every time I go to my cardiologist, I am the youngest person in the office. It is sometimes discouraging.
Please tell me about your experiences!! I would lo...

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You know you're wired when...

You can feel your fingers and toes again.

Member Quotes

I'm 43 and have had my pacemaker four weeks today. I'm looking forward to living another 50 years and this marvelous device inside me will help me do that.