Most Recent Messages

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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young adults with pacers?

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 love...

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Downsides??

Hi, I've had PAF for many years, then last September my conduction system crashed.

After months of trying this drug and trying that drug, I finally had a PM implanted 3 months ago and had an AV node ablation, a month ago.

I feel wonderful, a bit breathless at times, just want to do more, faster, etc. than I am able with it set at max. of 110 bpm.

Does anyone know of any downsides to what I've had done?

I was just so symptomatic and had no qol, so didn...

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2 year birthday

Hello Friends,

Today, May 18, is the 2 year birthday for my PM and my new lease on life. Very difficult to put into words exactly what this pacer means to me. Fortunately, I had no problems post-op and was back to "normal" within 2 days. I was only limited by "don' t raise your arm above your shoulder" mantra! LOL This little technological gem has kept me humming right along and I feel great most of the time. Honestly, most days I do not even think about having it! It cannot be...

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Gym

Hi. I am a 68 male with a Boston Scientific/Guident PM. Itake no supporting drugs and consider that I am reasonably fit but need excercise. I want to join a local fully equiped gym. Can anyone advise a program or what I can or can not do.

Many thanks

Regards

Tony

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back to check in with my PM friends

Great to be checking in on Pacemaker club. i have been post implant for over six months receiving the PM for atrial fibrillation and no response to six ablations. since my surgery six months ago which was an av node ablation(no. 7 ablation) then implant of PM, i have had no evidence of arrhythmia. wierd, huh? maybe this is because the last one or two ablations burnt the bad circuit..
..anyway,i feel great just a little problem going up steps fast. my rhythm gets a little irregular but...

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Help.. Batteries need to drain

Hello everyone,
We have just joined this forum.. My sister, mother, and I have been trying so hard to learn about pacemakers/defib. since a year ago when our dad/husband had to have one put in.. Since then we changed drs... and have recently found out that the one put in was to small.. now we have to have it replaced.. However, we can't have this done until the batteries are drained down... this is what we were told.. When the dr turned the batteries up to 86%(which was the highest it would...

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Lack of guidance about exercize

I am a 67 yr old male. I had a double lead Guidant PM implant about a month ago for an accidentally discovered sinus block condition (asystole for 5.5 secs). I have worked with free weights and done cardiovascular (CV) exercizes all my life and have just gotten back to my CV routine.

I am eager to get back to weights (after another one or two months as recommended) and am not sure whether I can exercize using free weights or should use resistance machines.

I very much ap...

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Loosing Job due to PM/Defibrillator

Is anyone else out losing their job due the PM/Defibrillator being implanted. As a telephone, video and data installer, the doctor told me that I can no longer climb telephones, climb ladders and walk beams in attics for the PM/Defibrillator could shock my heart at any given moment possibly causing me to loose my balance, thereby causing me to have an accident. The company I work for said that since I can no longer perform some of my job duties, that they will have to let me go. That I could...

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New person

Hi my name is Julie, I am 43 and have a pacemaker. I have had my pacemaker for 4 years and it has changed my life.

I suffered with blackouts for about 30 years and was diagnosed with epilepsy but after have a lot of seizures in a short space of time the Dr did some more tests and found it was heart related and not epilespy.

I joined the patients support group STARS (syncope trust and reflex anoxic seizure) www.stars.org.uk after my daughter also started to have blackouts...

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Need life insurance..with pacemaker

I have seen comments about trouble in obtaining life insurance with a pacemaker. I am 53 years old and want to find a policy. Does anyone know how I can do this? What about the no questions asked, no physical required policy they offer through AARP? Would appreciate any information. Thanks. JoyUnderHisWings-Barb

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what does it mean?

ive had a pm 2wire fitted for 2yrs and just had my pm check up at a differant hospital than usual.
when the technicians were taking the information from the pm, they said ive had 3 heart ocurrances this year 2 in march and one in april (the latter lasted 16 hrs), but not to be concerned because its nothing to worry about unless i start to get them regular then i may need some treatment.

The problem is i cannot recall having them

note - i have tyhroid problems as well

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question on exercise

hi all, i'd just like a little advice from you pros. i was told by the doctors that i could resume normal activities and exercise after 3 weeks of implantation.
but after reading the horror stories of people with leads slipping out of place, i'm now not sure if i should wait longer. advice welcomed

dying for a swim,
verger

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%=%=%= HAPPY BIRTHDAY! =%=%=%

TO:
Smitty May 15, 1929

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Smitty, Happy Birthday to you !!!!!! And many moooore !!!!

It's your birthday again? GEEZ! Weren't you old enough last year?
Just joking! LOL.
I hope your day is wonderful.

~ Dominique ~

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Back home from the hospital

Hi everyone,

I had my ICD implanted on Tuesday, and came back home late yesterday afternoon. Everything went well, and my surgeon, doctors and nurses were all wonderful and really went out of their way to make me comfortable. I have rheumatoid arthritis and can't straighten my arms, and my surgeon actually let me rest my arms across my stomach instead of strapping them to my sides.. he just made me promise I wouldn't try to "help him out" with the surgery!

I had the device...

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Hello Everyone

Hey everyone Just wanted to say hello. Been awhile since ive posted. Been super busy with college. Never realized it was gonna be this stressful. Seems like every semester something bad happens and its always the week of finals. But I am hoping for a nice and easy summer semester :-)
I hope everyone has a wonderful Summer and Welcome to all the new people Ive seen making post. and Last but Not Least HAPPY BIRTHDAY SMITTY :-) YOUR AWESOME.


Britt<3

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Tomorrow is the big day...

So tomorrow is my PM implant. I am excited to finally have all of this sorted out and feel better again but I am also very nervous about the surgery. I have faith in the docotor and the hospital and I know God will be in there with me but Im still a bit nervous. What should I expect tomorrow? Part of me wants to be asked to be completely under and not just local anesthetics. Can I ask for that?

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Soccer

I'm 51 and just got my PM last Friday, completely unexpectedly. I passed out a few times and my heart stopped for too long, so I was told it was a no-brainer. I'm sure it was the right call. Other than these episodes, my heart is in great shape and the doctor told me there shouldn't be any restriction on exercising, so I'd like to continue playing soccer on over-40 and over-50 teams. However, I've read that if you have a PM you should avoid contact sports, though, and sometimes it can get pr...

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You know you're wired when...

Microwave ovens make you spark.

Member Quotes

Without this little machine, we would not be here.