Most Recent Messages

Post Message!

Dehydrated?

I did some research and what do you think of this? I have mentioned that I probably don't get enough fluids and that may have caused that near fatal arrythmia I had. Well, as it turns out, the day that happened I know I was dehydrated because I had spent the day before going pee a LOT. Sometimes I skip taking my lasix if I'm going to be in town all day and driving. (Before the shock, I would drive 2 hours into a bigger town to shop.) So I hadn't taken my lasix for a day, and took...

Read More...

Unable to get MRI- opinions?

71 yr old male. Had a St. Jude/Abott pacemaker placed 6 years ago. I am 100% paced a have been trying to get MRI for chronic lower back pain. Twice Ive been prepped , gowned ready to go and PM tech turned down my PM and consulted with my Cardiologist. Both times i was told too risky. So 2 questions.. anyone else experience this and second, what other imaging would be beneficial for  a neurologist to examine my issue. Xray does not seem to be adequate for Clinic im trying t...

Read More...

A conclusion.... of sorts

It seems to me that I may not be the only one to have stumbled across this particular conclusion about my condition, albeit a bit later maybe? I was mulling over in my head some thoughts about the fear element and trying to make sense of it all when I realized something. The reason all of this is so darn scary is because I feel like my heart betrayed me. ( I know, I'm supposed to not be thinking about it for awhile, but I'm on to something here.) 

The only other time my bod...

Read More...

New to this!

Hi guys, I had a dual pacemaker fitted in November, I'm 30 years old and was diagnosed with Sick Sinus syndrome. Originally the cardiologist thought I maybe had POTS, after a tilt table test (7mins into it) my heart stopped for 18 seconds, had 1 beat and then stopped for another 10 seconds. After coming around etc I was told what had happened and that I needed a dual pacemaker. It was fitted 3 days later. 
 

Since then I have had my check up etc and all is fine. The o...

Read More...

Distolic pacer dependent

Hello I had open heart surgery due to a growth on a damaged valve from a car wreck. When replacing the valve they cut out my diatomic receptors making me 100 % pacer dependent. I am 48 moderately active (much less since surgery and cardio issues). My doctor advised my battery would deplete quicker because of my age and activity level. I have 2.5 years left on a supposed 10 yr battery which would make for a total of 5.5- 6 years does this seem normal and secondly do the leads need replacing? I...

Read More...

strange sensation

Good morning everyone,

I wonder if what I am experiencing is a "thing", or my imagination, reflux, or?

I am 2 months post pacemaker implant and Post TAVR. Medtronic, two leads, 99.9 percent paced in ventricle; .1% atrial.

Frequently, when I bend over, I perceive what I can only describe as a pulling or tightening in my chest which disappears rapidly. Has anyone heard of the leads stretching? being too short? Can this be PM related?

Incidentally, I have h...

Read More...

new owners of this site

Was suprised last night Dec15,2023 to receive an email saying this site has new owners.  That explains why there have been many changes to this site.

Glad to find out that the new owners are Pacemaker related. 

Hopefully they will not charge the users to post on this site.  I will for sure drop out then.  I have found  that the other users  are helpful when i have concerns or questions

Do hope one of the first items on their list is to...

Read More...

PM lagged response

Had a Biotronik Eluna 8 DR-T implanted in 2015. I'm now 77 and have had good results. Includes work outs walking and jogging. I still ski mostly blues but some blacks. Now, in the last year or so I have noticed a lag in response of the pm. When I go out for a walk I often get short of breath for the first 10-15 minutes. When I check my watch it shows a beat rate of from 65-75. But not always. Eventually it rises to anywhere between 115 and 135. I have discussed this with the PA who is ass...

Read More...

MRI

Hi folks, I had my first PM implanted in 2004 at 44 YO and second around 2014. I want to have an MRI on my lower half to check back,, hips and knees all at once. I do not have an MRI safe PM but am starting some research to see if this is possible. I will probably need a new PM in the next year or so, but the leads will not be changed to the best of my knowledge. This would be near Cedars in Los Angeles CA

Thanks All!

Eric

 

Read More...

Battery

Six months ago my battery life was 5.2 years. Today it was 3.2 years. I've never had a drop like that and I paced less this six months.  At this rate, I'll need a new battery within a year. This is my second battery and I've never had a drop like this. Anyone have this happen? Medtronic.

Read More...

Good news: Extraction was successful

Greetings Everyone!

It's been a while since I've posted.  Life got in the way.  Funny how it does that to us!   

Well,  I've made the decision and deed is done.  No more pacer, leads or software.  I deleted the software months ago - it was causing too many issues, as was the pacer.

Today, my leads and pacer were all successfully extracted.  The surgery completed in less than an hour and I feel absolutely fine.  Sh...

Read More...

Taking a hiatus

Okay everyone... What I really need is to unplug from the heart thing for awhile. It's Christmas time and I want to enjoy it fully. I can't do that if I'm talking about this stuff all the time. I'm going to do my best to put it on the back burner for awhile. That's not to say I won't be reading or responding to comments or messages, it just means that I'm going to attempt to stay clear of the serious stuff for a bit. I need peace. I need hope. 

My e...

Read More...

ICD CHECK UP

After being unwell for a while with irregular heart rhythms, high heart rate and BP (see my previous post), I had a three month check up yesterday and I thought I'd share it with you.

My first question was had I had any AF or arrhythmia since last time as I can feel an irregular pulse when when my HR rises to 90 to 102. I was told I had not been in AF and not had arrhythmia.

I asked about Rate Response. I was told the setting was what I needed but when I explained how my heart...

Read More...

Cell Phones

"If they can send a man to the moon..."

There must be a way to cary a cell phone (Google PIXEL 7)

in a man's jacket/coat left breast pocket without interferring with the pacemaker.

Is there a stick-on shield for the skin or

a pocket-protector for the jacket pocket

that will prevent cell/pacemaker interaction.?

Read More...

News from Doctor today

Well, you all were right. R2D2 saved my life last week. The doc said I wouldn't have survived that episode without it. Something about a heart rate of 260+ and how my difibrillator did exactly what it was supposed to. 

What I find frustrating is that none of my doctors have seemed really all that concerned about my  heart condition. The only person that looked pretty worried was that nice lady that does my echo every six months. She told me that more than likely I wouldn&#...

Read More...

A big thank you!

I just want to start by saying I don't honestly know what I would do without the support and kindness of the club members here. This journey is difficult and scary, it's demanding and there is very little satisfaction from searching the internet for answers to our questions. I mean, let's face it: what we really want to hear about is other people's experiences, not our doctor's automated responses based on internet statistics. Not that all doctors are that way. But wi...

Read More...

AV node ablation

Hi all

I'm wondering if anyone has experience of having an AV node ablation and if so what was your experience?? I 've  had my PM now for 3months because of permanent AF. And this ablation is being discussed but I am unsure what to do.

Any thoughts  welcome

Trixie 

 

Read More...

Answers from EP Questions, I am happy.

Pacemaker Answers from “Andrew’s EP” and “Tim the Tech”. Dec 11th 2024. 

Biotronik DDD-CLS, with Adaptive Rate Response turned on.   

            

1/       What is my diagnoses? I know I have Bradycardia - low pulse and PVC’s. What about Sick Sinus/ Heart Blockage and other symptoms?

Answer: “Sick Sinus-Bradycard...

Read More...

Dizziness & Fatigue

Recently had some issues with dizziness & lethargy 

Had a PM intergation, 24 Hr Holter Monitor, Echocardiogram & blood work preformed. 
 

The PM only picked up short episodes of AFib on  Saturdays when out drinking beer with mates. (Over the months since my last intergation, no other periods or arrhythmias were picked up) 
The 24 hour monitor didnt pick up any periods of AFib or other arrhythmias only a few ectopic bea...

Read More...

Pacing has increased very quickly

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all well and happy and getting on okay with your devices.

I have 2nd degree type 2 heart block and had my pacemaker implated 6 years ago. When I first received it I hardly needed it and used it 1% of the time.  Fast forward 6 years and to my check up yesterday I am now on 90%.  This year I have have actually had a vast increase in use starting in January at 50% and ending December on 90%.

My cardiologist is now doing various tests tha...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic man.

Member Quotes

Yesterday was my first day mountain biking after my implant. I wiped out several times and everything is fine. There are sports after pacemakers!