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The Sorin Group

Has anyone had an implant made by the Sorin Group company? I've been researching what the smallest ICD's are (unfortunately I wasn't able to do this in the hospital before they pressured me to get mine) and I found that the Ovatio DR model made by this Italian company has a significantly smaller ICD than made by Medtronic, St. Jude or anyone else for that matter. I'm pretty upset with my surgeon right now since I told him I wanted the absolute smallest one possible for cosmetic reasons. I guess...

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Did your eyesight get better after?

I am 1 week post-op with my PM. For years I have been nearsighted (see things close up, but not far away). I could read and do close up things without wearing my glasses. But I needed the glasses to do things like driving and watching TV. I am still just out of the hospital, so I haven't been driving, but - I can see the TV just fine without my glasses, now. My BPM (beats per minute) was down to 36 before the PM, and now it is 60. Could the improved bloodflow have helped my eyes and hence eye...

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CHF & 3 lead

Hi everyone. Another problem/question. My husband just had his 2 lead ICD (implanted 10/06) changed on Monday to a bi-ventricular 3 lead due to CHF. Came home Tues., went back in on Thurs. due to a low grade fever. Nothing showed up on blood tests. He was given IV antibiotics and now oral at home We finally got out on Sunday. They "think" he may have had a pneumonia in his right lung. When we went in on Monday for the ICD his weight was 120. When we went back in on Thursday his weight wa...

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Now A Two Pacemaker Family

In previous posts I wrote that I was implanted with a pacemaker in February of this year for second degree heart block. On May 15, my wife had an attack of ventricular tachycardia where her heart rate went to 210 bpm and she was rushed to the hospital. After a heart cath, it was determined she needed a pacemaker/defribulator to control the v-tach.

It has been nearly two weeks since the implant and she is doing very well (probably better than I am) and we hope to resume our "normal" da...

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Intermittent pain

Hi,

I made a moved my arm backward yesterday and got a sharp pain over my pacemaker site. It last about half an hour. It was a sharp intermittent jagging pain. It is still happening every so often. Could it be a box or wire moved over a nerve or something. Would be grateful for any info. Thanks.

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Loud Speakers

Can anyone tell me if loud speakers from a band effect a pacemaker?

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We are home again, home again jiggty a jig

Greetings Everyone! ;-)

My husband and I have returned home from our wonderful visit with Nina and Peter. We had a fantastic time! It was so wonderful to actually meet and chat with someone who has heart issues as I do. What great friends my husband and I have made in Nina and Peter. We shall remember this trip for the rest of our lives.

Travel was quite easy internationally speaking. No problems if one does not mind being personally body searched each time one enters a...

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Scar question

Hi again. I was wondering what people's experiences have been in regards to the healing of their scar from the implant. This is the only surgery I've ever had and I wondered how long it has taken the redness of the scar for others to return to a more skin type color. I've been using Mederma on mine but it's only been 6 weeks since my surgery. I'm guessing it takes a long time for the red line to turn more skin color but I thought I'd ask and see what others experienced. Thanks!

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Body Fat testing

So I was at the gym today and was going to test myself for bodyfat. They have this portable device that you hold on to and it sends a small electrical signal through your body to figure out your body fat. Anyway, I decided not to use it because I wasn't sure if it would interact with my ICD. Has anyone used one of these before with an ICD?

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Thanks to all of you guys!

Hello everyone. Number one thank all of you who were concerned over the traumatic episode that i experienced. This place is a blessing! Well saw the pm clinic yesturday and got a tune up...The dr said that my icd was being too sensitive so that turned the icd part down a bit so it wo't jump to the conclusion that i was having cardiac arrest. Like some of you said it was a good thing that i had it, but you have to experience it to believe what a feeling! I know now what it is like to be struck by...

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Ablation Update

Only time will tell if my ablation was a success. I traveled four hours from my hometown to the hospital on Tuesday and returned home Friday evening. The procedure was on Wednesday and took over seven hours. I was heavily drugged, but was not put to sleep. What a feeling! Even with narcotics, it felt like my chest was on fire.

Three bad electrical circuits were found. The doctors tell me two of the three are corrected, but only time will tell if the third will cause atrial flut...

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Official PM Member Now!

Hi Guys, Colleen Here
Last night i was at the bank and got the biggest shock of my life. The ICD fired off! I am soooo traumatized by this! My god what a feeling? Going back to pm clinic today to find out why this happened. Pray for me!

Colleen

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Happy birthday Peter !!

Hi Pete
Hope you had a great birthday yesterday.Sorry we forgot on the day!! Better late than never though!!
It sounds like you are all having a wonderful time together.
Say hi to everyone and have lots of laughs .
Take care and hope to hear from you again soon about your adventures-Regards from Kay

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETER! ;-)

Happy Birthday Peter, a day late!

Peter, Nina, Tim and I have been out for Peter's birthday dinner last night. We enjoyed some wonderful laughs and had a fantastic dinner!

Peter's birthday was yesterday and I didn't see the posting here. So for everyone who would enjoy sending birthday wishes... Now is a good time to do that ;-)

We are due home in Wichita on Saturday night. We have had a wonderful visit here in the UK. The weather has been very sunny and war...

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oops

my bad.

lol It's May?? All this time I thought it was March.
I meant to say....

~*~Happy Birthday Peter.Nash: May 24, 1939!!~*~

No wonder when I was posting my message to Bob, I was having Deja Vu.
Now, another apology to dear Peter!
take care,
~valerie

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HR of 380 bpm?? physiologically impossible?

Hey guys,
Sorry I haven't been around much - I've been focusing more on my neuro issues and have been focussing most on graduating on June 15 from high school (everyone said i wouldn't make it because of all the school i've missed and surgeries I've had) and then getting ready to move to Seattle to attend the UW. Anyways, I'm going on three years with my pacemaker as of two weeks from now (WOW) and it's pretty much completely helped my bradycardia. Now I'm dealing with tachy issues though....

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BLAST!

OH NO!
My deepest apologies to Bob (bowlrbob). I’m so sorry for not typing this sooner! Hopefully you were born in the western time zone; specifically anytime after 9pm. This way, I still have at least 3 more hours to wish you a

“HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
Bowlrbob: March 24, 1942
I hope you have (or had *sigh*) a wonderful day! I assume you like to bowl? If so, then let me restate my apology this way: Please excuse my gutter ball, lol
Take care,
~valerie

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chat room

I am going in the chat room if anyone is interested. 7:50 pacific time.

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Allergic to tape

I got my PM on Monday. After surgery the DR. covered my wound , and used a clear tape to cover the whole thing. Boy, within a few hours, I felt a burning. I looked, and the whole area underneath the tape was red and swollen. They removed the tape (which also removed several layers of sore skin, as well - OUCH!) I had to stay in the hospital 2 extra days due to the threat of infection. Who would think -- the tape? Barb.

P.S. The PM is doing find.

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Home from the hospital after PM.

As the PM was installed, I felt a warmth spread throughout my chest. I figured that it was the increased bloodflow. (My pulse was only 36, and now it is 60 -- some difference.) My PM is a CYLOS DR by Biotronik.
This site and the questions and replied of all you wonderful people helped me prepare for surgery. Thank you all from the bottom of my (now faster) heart. Barbara

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You know you're wired when...

You prefer rechargeable batteries.

Member Quotes

Just because you have a device doesn't mean you are damaged goods and can't do anything worthwhile and have to lie down and die. In fact, you're better and stronger. You're bionic!