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Newspaper Clipping FYI

Was reading the newspaper today and came across this little article and just thought I would share it. Doesn't really relate to me, but thought some of you might be interested in it.

Medtronic shares drop 12%

Minneapolis - Medtronic Inc. is stopping distribution of wires that connect some of its defibrillators to patients' hearts after learning they may have contributed to five deaths.
Medtronic shares dropped more than 12% by midday Monday after the disclosure.

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Just curious about Device Rep.

My PM was installed in 2002 and I have noticed that a lot of you have dealt with a device rep, or seen, talked to a device rep etc. I have never met a device rep nor did a device rep. explain my pm to me when I received one. My EP doc did all the explaining and put my fears to rest. Are device reps really needed, since they really don't know your history and the doctor probably knows just as much about the device as the Rep does? I would have more to say, but don't want to start a heated d...

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Those strange pacemaker "shocks"!

I'm the lady that was getting "shocks" from her pacemaker. I got some great information here that relieved my mind until I was able to get to my EP today. As I felt the shocks were from the impedance check of my atrial wire, that's what we checked first. Yup! That was exactly it. Because I have Unipolar leads, the pacemaker battery (called the "can") becomes part of the complete electrical circuit. The charge goes down the unipolar wire to the heart muscle and then travels back to the can...

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Our Valerie....

Hello Everyone,

Had a lovely email from Valerie. She is still recovering from the surgery but doing okay. This beautiful child has had an awful time and thru it all has not lost her sense of humor. She is trying to keep up with her school work. As we all miss her, she is missing everyone in the club and when she is able will be back on entertaining all of us with her wit, humor and beautiful heart. Please, let's all keep praying for her and for her family who are so supportive....

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Chuckle

Hello,

Been a long hard week and I think it is time for a chuckle. To anyone offended I promise to do better in the future.

The census taker in a rural area in the deep South went up to a farmhouse and knocked. When a woman came to the door, among the questions he asked was her how many children she had and their ages. She said, "Les' see now, there's the twins, Sally and Billy, they're thirty-two. And the twins, Seth & Beth, they're twenty-six. And the twins, Penny and...

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Re: Raising arm

Hi everyone,

Just a quick question; I know that when the pacemaker is implanted, you aren't supposed to lift that left arm (or whichever side its on) afterwards. By the way, I noticed that for most of you, your doctors say 6 weeks, ours in Canada say 2 weeks; but anyway, all the postings I have read here, made me feel better and I haven't really raised my left arm above my head yet (its been nearly 5 weeks now). But what I was wondering was: Has anyone experienced problems from us...

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Phone Check?

I know probably a lot of you have had phone checks before. I am scheduled for my first one Oct.30 and everyday it makes me more nervous. Does it feel any different that when you go into the office? My wonderful husband of 31 yrs. says he will take off work and be here when they do it if that will make me feel better. But I don't know why it is bothering me so much. I just somehow feel it is not the thing to do. Is this a normal reaction? Has anyone felt like me or I just being paranoid? Thanks...

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Medtronic Suspends Sale of Heart Device

Medtronic Suspends Sale of Heart Device

The Associated Press
Monday, October 15, 2007; 6:42 AM

WASHINGTON -- Medtronic Inc. has suspended distribution of its Sprint Fidelis defibrillation leads after identifying five patient deaths in which a lead fracture may have been a contributing factor.

A defibrillator monitors a patient's heartbeat; if it senses an abnormal heart rhythm, it delivers an electronic shock to reset the heart to a normal beat. A defibrilla...

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Changes to the site

Hello all. I'll be making some changes to the site this evening. If you notice anything odd (and you shouldn't) just give it a few seconds and try again. I'll be working on it for the next couple of hours.

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shocking experience

hello, i'm new to this site. never knew it existed. i had my first pacer check. wow! kinda weird, the rest of the day i kept feeling a small jolt from time to time. i'm 10 days out of surgery. didn't know if maybe someone else has experienced this. please let me know if you have any answers. all i hear from the doctors is "it can't be shocking you, you don't have a defibrillator." please help!

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traumatized

When I had my p/m inserted in 6/2000 I initially felt slight pain when doc started to cut...when I winced he gave me a little more local pain killer. After that there was only pressure of him inserting p/m into pocket...no more pain. Your doc's procedure should be checked out...you might want to question his continuing while you were in pain. I'm getting ready for a replacement p/m......battery life is almost at an end...thank God, in all this time I've had no problems with it. Good luck.

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Radio Controlled Aircraft

I belong to a Radio Controlled Aircraft Club and enjoy the flying of the models and the meeting of friends, I am wondering if the transmitter will have any effect on my PM or if so is there any work around that I might try.

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Phone Check

Nothing to get excited about. The only thing I've had to contend with is my phone. The unit the doc gave me to use at home has a cradle to hold your phone. I find that the new smaller phones don't work so well...I need to use an older phone that is larger and fits into the cradle with ease. You might want to sit on the magnet for a while and warm it up before you place it over your p/m...it can be a little chilly. Have had no problems doing this since 6/2000...I don't think you will either....

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traumatized

Hi, I'm a new member from down under and would like to know if other people have experienced a lot of pain during the surgery. I had my pacemaker implanted on 10/10/07 under a local anaesthetic. The pain was bearable until the surgeon started opening up the pocket under my skin. I made it obvious I was in pain (moaning and groaning and talking about it was like a bad chidbirth experience) but he did not acknowledge me or offer any more anaesthetic. The only other person I know who has a pacem...

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pain during p/m insertion

Gem, I don't know what kind of pain medcation they used when they put your p/m in. But I never felt any pain except the pressure when the doctor inserted it. It felt like he was pushing pretty hard. But that's all. No pain in the area since.

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thanks marty

Thanks for telling me about the "phantom shocks". I had my defib checked. Sure enough, the three shocks I thought I had were just of the phantom variety. Its a load of my mind. Thanks bunches. =)

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leads

I don't know how many saw the article in the Wall Street Journel today about the failure of the Medtronic leads. It concerns the leads used with the ICD. According to the paper there have been 5 deaths realated to this lead failure. I called Medtronic and they said they have had 665 failures out of 268,000 in use. The paper said they have had a failure rate of 2.3%, so I don't know who is right.

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power tools and machines.

I use every power tool I own which is a pretty long list and I,ve never had a problem. I,m very big on the firewood and do alot of work with chainsaws and never had a problem. I have VT and am the proud owner of a Guidant ICD. I say live life its why I had it put in. Thanks, Zapper.

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hey peoples!

Blake, you could go ahead and send me that extra $50 from the photo album ;) lol jk
So, where to start….? Oh, I guess from the beginning.
I think I told you about the surgery I had last month? Everything was okay after that (except feeling a lot of pain on the incision site….not to mention feeling like a piece of paper with the staples they placed on the incision). But, my sister kindly offered to help out by using her staple remover she purchased at an office supply store….in which...

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3 month checkup

Hi everybody:

I went this morning for my 3-month checkup and all seems to be OK. During the test, he (electro-physiologist) ran some diagnostic things on the computer, including speeding my HR to 100 and dropping it to about 40. At the lower rate I felt very lightheaded and nauseous. It reminded me of before I had my PM.

Do these all sound like the normal parts of an evaluation? From now on, I will start with the monthly phone checkup, and he tweaked my PM to increase effic...

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You know you're wired when...

You have a dymo-powered bike.

Member Quotes

A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.