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happy father's day

happy father's day to all the father's out there. our sight is made up of young old men women and there are many father's who to-day are honoured for being there. as for my own father he was great. life was different then and the expectations were different. all i can say is he took little for himself and saw that all five of us were educated and could fend for ourselves. he stayed when many would not have. he didn't have a father long himself so he had no one to identify with. so my advice is l...

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dissability

hi have anyone with a icd had problens with reciveing dissability

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possible lead extraction

Hi All,

I've had a dual chamber pacemaker (due to congenital heart block) for the past 16 years. I'm scheduled in a couple of weeks for my third generator change. Not to concerned about that, but it was recently suggested to me by my EP that I may be in need of lead extraction. Ok I have to admit I had never even heard of this until a few weeks ago. So now I've been reading about it like mad and must say I'm pretty afraid of it. He says that in younger patients like myself he doe...

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This is pretty interesting!

FRIDAY, June 15 (HealthDay News) -- The bizarre death of a New York City high school track star from a muscle pain cream overdose is raising a red flag once again on the hazards of overusing common over-the-counter medications, experts say.

The New York City medical examiner's office ruled last week that 17-year-old cross-country runner Arielle Newman died from an accidental overdose of methyl salicylate, the wintergreen-scented ingredient found in popular sports balms.

To...

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Swimming?

Anyone ever go swimming with their pacemaker? I have been invited to go swimming this summer. I never been swimming since my pacemaker implant and back sugery. They say swimming is good for you. It's been a very very long since I went swimming. It will also depend on my energy level.

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PM Clinic

I read on one of the other boards that PM clinic visits sometimes leave patients exhausted or just plain not feeling well for a while. What can anyone here tell me about their experiences and what I can expect? I just had mine implanted this past Monday and my first visit to the clinic is June 26th.

Rick

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Remember John Hopps?

WE SOULD ALL THANK MR. JOHN HOPPS
John Hopps, a Canadian, invented the first heart pacemaker. At the age of 21, he joined the National Research Council in 1941 after training at the University of Manitoba as an electrical engineer. He found that by using mechanical means the heart could be artificially started again after it was exposed to a cooling process. With this discovery, Hopps was able to build the first pacemaker in 1950.


In 1958, the first pacemaker was implanted...

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Type of pacemaker

Hi everyone, I've had questions about my type of pacemaker, and I think it's called a Medtronic Adapta and it has Rate-Drop Response, also it is dual-chamber, and I am at lower-limit of 60 bpm, so as soon as my heart tries to go to 59 it kicks in (I actually got to see/feel that happen on the monitor when I was at the hospital). The first night my heart dropped 22 times, and I'm sure it does that most nights. During the day I feel it kick in at least 5-6 times per day, and those are just the o...

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Update to endless pain

Hello,
Thank you everyone again for your thoughts and prayers. Today I went and did a lung scan that came back negative for pulmonary embolism. Nice to know, but...please forgive me...I am absolutely frustrated. The doc is relying on solely the scan (which only looks at the lungs and can be highly inaccurate) to say I have no clotting going on, but wouldn't do any additional testing until I mentioned it. Now I am on to ultrasounds of both legs and my bad arm.

I have another condi...

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About to join the Club

Hello from New South Wales, Australia. I have read many of the postings here as I approach the date of my defibrillator implantation on 27th June 2007. I have learned much more here about little things to be aware of than I learnt from my doctor. Any suggestions for a newy welcome!

I need to check, but I think I am having a Medtronics defibrillator. I know it has three leads and that the pacing side of things won't actually be functioning, just recording, because my doctor said with m...

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Non-pointless thought ;)

Hi pacer friends,

You know how before theater people go up on stage to perform someone says, "Break a leg!" ?

What about a pacemaker person going in for surgery...would it be 'Pull a lead!" ?

there's my wise thought for the day.
take care,
~valerie :)

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Anyone know what I should do?

Hey fellow Pacers... I have a situation that I am not quite sure how to handle. I sent my inquiry to a fellow member, then copy and pasted it here, frankly because this private message says it all... (hope you don't mind Valerie)
Thanks to all in advance who take the time to read and reply!


Hey thanks Valerie. I have been doing ok. Trying to keep busy with school, and physical activity. Bored.com, never heard of that but I will have to check it out.

Anyways, I re...

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Any Suggestions?

41 on 3rd pm put in nov 2006. 18 yr old leadwires. left arm numb, pain, tingles, twitches since nov implant. cardiol. says not related to pm. problems swallowing- throat tightens up like muscles frozen. says not related to pm.all this started in nov. dizzy spells and fainting since may. discussed putting in new leads with new pm in nov. card. insisted we get as much time as possible out of them. 6 months down the road, i am fainting. about to be divorced with no health insurance in one month. an...

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I'm back after surgery!!!

Hi all, I'm the 24-year old that had my PM implant surgery was last Friday morning June 8th and I am feeling great compared to before! I am sore of course kinda like some pulled muscles is what it feels like in my chest and shoulder on the left side. I guess that is normal. Having trouble laying down in bed too at night. I prop up with about 5 pillows under me and then an extra pillow under my left arm to prop it up. I have also been having trouble with my left breast.... sorry to be so blu...

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Let us remember why we are fathers to our kids. Happy Father's Day!

A hard working man, never having time to spend with his son. One day would understand how important it was to walk by his side. After years of ignoring his son he one day was forced to a choice of seeing his son and understanding his presence in his life. He decides to take time out from his busy schedule to spend father and son moments together. Everyday, him and his son would walk through this open field and they would stop at a rock where his son use to love playing on. Both of them look...

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life insurance

Hello,
Would anyone be able to suggest/reccomend any companies that will provide life insurance? I am finding it really difficult to get a policy for myself because of my pacemaker. Thank you!

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Newbie

Hi Y'all,
I just found this site by way of the Medtronics site.

On February 7 I had open heart surgery to take care of 5 bypasses. On May 5 I had my first bout of AF that lasted about 8 hours. After a few days I was released to go back to work as a truck driver then on Memorial Day weekend had my second AF bout. This one only lasted about 90 minutes but it put me off work again.

This past Monday I had my PM implanted set at 60 bpm. It's a Medtronics Enrhythm. The Med...

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Pacemaker defibrillators help women as much as men

By Heather May
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 06/12/2007 08:39:45 AM MDT

A researcher at LDS Hospital says he has dispelled a myth that has prevented some women from receiving a life-saving heart device.

John Day, a cardiologist who specializes in heart rhythm abnormalities, said there is an erroneous perception among doctors that women don’t benefit as much as men from heart-failure pacemaker defibrillators, which strengthen the h...

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Electro-Mab Compatibility Guide from Medtronics

Medtronics mailed me a booklet "Electromagnetic Compatibility Guide".

It is a compendium of devices in the home, office, and garage, and elsewhere, which can impact your implanted device.

4 categories are:
Household Items/Hobby
Telecommunications & Office Equipment
Tools/Industrial Equipment
Medical/Dental Procedures

Their website is www.medtronic.com.
Phone line 800 551-5544, Ext 41835.

It's helpful reading.

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PM & Breast Cancer surgery

Has anyone in our group developed Breast cancer in the breast with the PM? I am going for a biopsy (& removal of lump) for IBC next week. I have been informed that my PM will have to be turned off for the surgery an dif I require radiation the PM will have to be relocated to my stomach.
I am very scared about the possiblity of BC but now even more worried about the PM (Which is reality new only 8 months. )

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You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

Member Quotes

I am just now 40 but have had these blackouts all my life. I am thrilled with the pacer and would do it all over again.