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Husband just died after getting a pacemaker

I don't want to scare anyone but my husband just died 16hrs after getting an Adapta DR Medtronic pacemaker installed. He had Sick Sinus Brachcardia (his heart only had problems when he was at rest. It would drop down to the teens, but worked fine when he was up a moving).
Here's my story. Eight years ago my husband was repeatedly complaining of not sleeping at night. Frustrated, I called his phys. and requested him to be tested by a sleep apnia cly. Well while in his phys. office he...

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beta blockers

hi just wondered if anyone with a dual lead pm has any experience of propranalol beta blockers. i have second degree heart block hence the pm but have intermittent fast heart rate with annoying palpitations in the chest. i have been prescribed a low dose propranalol which ease things slightly but only for short spells and make me feel tired and not sleeping so well and a little tight in the chest.any thoughts gratfully recieved

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Unable to obtain enough information

Last week I was implanted with a biventricular pacemaker/defibrillator. I understand it is supposed to resynchronize my heart beat - as I have a lower left bundle branch blockage. (Among other problems) My primary symptom was shortness of breath with frequent fatigue. - and I have had episodes of V-tach captured on a holter monitor (hence the defibrillator I am assuming....) My question is this: If the pacer is synchronizing my heart beat, is it always working? Does this wear down the ba...

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Is this normal?

I am going into the 5th week of recovery from my 3rd PM implant. Had a checkup today and the tech hooked me up and didn't change any settings and said I was fine. Now mind you, I have not seen my doc in about 3 years - just techs and nurses. Another surgeon did the surgery due to the location of my pm (under the left breast).

I'm 31, had a pm since 18. Like I said before, this was my 3rd surgery and I should be a pro, but I got no instructions regarding activities this time. It...

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Do I dare ask about sex?

Yesterday I was participating in "extra curricular activities" when all of a sudden BAME!!!. This has never happened before. I have not had the chance yet to get with the doctor but I will be letting him know. It scared the crap out of me. I wasn't hurt but it made my ears ring and feel like I got hit with a baseball bat. I also must admit that I had three cups of coffee earlier (I know, I know). Bad combo (kids don't try that at home). Anyways I am wondering if anyone else has had this and...

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new pacemaker

I just had a pacemaker implanted 3 days ago. I had an ablation for SVT 7 years ago and in the process the doctor damaged my
AV node causing me to have 1st degree and 2nd degree heart block at times. Wednesday I passed out leading me to my pacemaker.
I'm glad I found this site to talk to others who have a pacemaker like me because most don't understand the fears and thoughts that go through our minds.
Look forward to talking with you.
Lynn

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Hello

I hope your all in great spirits and your heart continue to beat with grace. I miss all of you and I hope to have a computer soon.
I've been keeping up with my running and I have lost about 25 pounds and I look and feel great. I have not forgotten my awesome family here at the pacemakerclub. You've all been here for me at my worst and confusing times. I love you all for what you've given me. I'm hoping you all have a great life. I'll keep you in my prayers.

...

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Here it goes again!

Wow, this has been quite the week. First of all, thank you to everyone who commented or sent me a message. It can feel pretty lonely sometimes to have this machine inside me that acts of its own free will, and even though I wish none of us had them, it is really comforting to read other people's postings or hear their feedback.

Well, apparently I was in for yet another surprise this week. After the shock with my boyfriend, my doctor increased my beta blocker in hopes it would calm my...

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6 yr old with pacemaker

Hello,
I have a question for anyone with a pacemaker. My 6 year old son has had his pm since 2 months old due to heart block. He is currently on his 2nd device and now after having this one 5+ years he has developed a knot on top of the generator. It is located in his stomach. His dr thought it might be an infection but the knot is not getting smaller from the anibiotics. Some days it is tender to touch and at first it was redish purple. They have only done an xray and ecg but nothing...

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Suggestions Please

I had my pm inplanted on July 18th. I have my first appointment with the St. Jude rep on Tuesday. I have a dual chamber. Any advice on what kinds of questions I should ask? Even the obvious? No one except people here ever really explained to me how this thing works or what to expect. I've learned a lot on this site and thank you all very much.

Vicki

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Very bumpy lead

Hi
My daughter (aged 7) had her battery changed 6 days ago. The wound is healing well but there is a quite prominent bump (part of a lead I think) above the pacemaker. It wasn't there before and she didn't have the leads changed. It's about 3/4 of an inch long and protrudes about 1/4 of an inch. I'm not sure if this is normal. Any ideas? Thanks

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Pacemaker replacement

Is ther anyone out there who has had an AV node ablation and then at a later date had thier pacemaker replaced. If so how did they keep your heart beating when the pacemaker was swopped for the new one. Cheers Peter you can contact me directly at bayhoecott@yahoo.co.uk

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Trying to recover

I 47 years old. I've had a pacemaker since I was 18. I'm on my fourth one, I have two leads. 11 days ago I had one of the leads replaced and I'm still trying to recover from that. The old lead apparently is not sensing the new lead very well and I have have all sorts of flutters and worse. Yesterday I could hardly walk my son to his classroom, it's like the pacer would not speed up. Then my left arm is swollen and purple. They checked for a blood clot but found nothing. Since the surgery...

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doing well

Hello again, well its been a week since i had my icd installed and iam doing fine pain is gone no shocks going monday to remove stitches and back to life , amyone need any hael or questions just ask ill help all i can....

thanks again
chris

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Climber again

Thanks for your replies. I had my first post surgery meeting with my cardiologist who still felt I should quit climbing. He said it was the same as weight lifting and neither should be attempted because of the potential for lead dislodgment. Reading that other people still continue to weight lift I feel he may be too conservative. I posted a climbing with icd question on a climbing forum were a cardio physiologist responded that she felt she would be more concerned about an incident when cli...

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just had pacemaker fitted left withopen wound

Hi everyone. im from the uk i am 42 and i have just had my first pacemaker fitted which came as quite a shock to me as i had been feeling tired had all my bloods tested and they were fine, it was only by chance that i had to have a laporoscopy that they did a pre med ecg where they found i had a ectopic heartbeat within a month i was fitted with my pacemaker on the whole i feel 100% better. but when the surgeon stiched me back up he overflaped my skin and when they took the stiches out the woun...

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Itching

hello everyone,

i have had my pacemaker now for about 2.5 weeks. i feel so much better now, i don't know how i lived without it. :))))
but i have a question for anyone out there. i know my would is still healing, but has anyone else had trouble with itching around the site. its making me crazy. (not that i have far to go) i know its not infected or anything, the area is not red or anything, but it is bothering me and am so paranoid about touching the area that it aint funny....

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Welding

Hi
This is my first post. Hope someone can answer this question.
My hobby is building classic cars. Much welding involved. Had a pacemaker installed in July 2007. Of course my doctor says no welding. Anyone out there have the same problem and what have you done?

Garret

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What happened to Sweetartgirl

Has anyone heard from Laura in a while?

her last posting was in May?

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New drug may help treat atrial fibrillation

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Cardiac researchers say a new drug may help treat the abnormal heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.

The drug, dronedarone, is not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration but has proven effective in two major trials, with fewer side effects than existing medications, according to a report in the Sept. 6 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

And in the same issue of the journal, researchers say a special pacemaker...

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I’m healthy as a horse because of the pacemaker.