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Lead voltage

I was in for my six month pacemaker check today. The cardiologist had said six months ago that my right lead isn't optimally placed.  Today he turned up the voltage from 4 to 4.5. He said it's an extra safety measure due to the lead. He said that I will need a lead replacement when the box is replaced. He said they may also add a new lead and leave the old one in place. He also said this voltage increase will use my battery quicker. I have 3.5 years left at the moment. 

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1 month after pm

I'm 76 with a healthy heart but SSS. I was told by my husband 50 years ago, a cardiovascular surgeon, that I had bradycardia.  I have been mostly asymptomatic and active up until the implant a month ago. Everything went fine but I had tachycardia 170 bpm on the 4th day and returned to hospital to be put on a drip overnight. I returned home with a low dosage beta blocker. I had never experienced tachycardia for more than a few minutes prior to pm. My incision healed quickly with...

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Patient app help

I'm new to this pacemaker club and have a Biotronik Cardio Messenger by my bed.  I'm told that as long as it has an "OK" showing on it, I shouldn't worry about my pacemaker.  It's been over 3 months now since my pacemaker was installed and no other instructions except a Patient app for my iphone.  I've tried using the Patient app, but it won't work from my house, only if I'm out and about.  I contacted Biotronik and they said to use th...

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Curious - Palliative Care

I am curious how many PMC members are using Palliative Care?

My daughter seems love the term "Palliative Care". She has used that term for years. 

Most of the people I knew who were using Palliative Care had Cancer and all avenues of treatment had been exhausted. Palliative Care was pre Hospice Care.  I worked at The Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, so my experience is tilted toward Cancer treatment, plus so many people are fighting some for...

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PVC's

68 y/o very active male, I am 6 months post op dual lead Medtronic pacemaker.  100% right ventricle pacing, 38% rt atrium pacing with a VVI algorithm and 150 BPM top and 60 BPM bottom.  Started having PVC's a week ago for no apparent reason, no change in lifestyle at all I can point to as a contributor.  Sent a pacemaker transmission through my App and my cardiologist set me up for an appointment this afternoon to discuss.  My PVC's are constant, skipping beats, po...

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1st Post, significant problems

Hi guys,

I'm grateful to be here. 1st post. Got my PM installed on 14 March 2024 and have had a slew of problems and looking for advise:

Timeline:

- 1 March diagnosed with AV block. HR at night dropping down to 26 BPM (eek!)
-14 March 2024: Initial PM implant. 
-21 March: Wound check no problem. Felt great.  
-25 March: Lead falls out and is giving me muscle spasms in my diaphragm. No explanation as to why. I had been walking at my own pace with...

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AV Node Ablation

Hi,  I had my 4th ablation, AV Node, in March of 2023.   While I feel better and am no longer bothered by Afib, I am still short of breath after exertion and sometimes no exertion.   I use a CPAP at night and some mornings after walking out to get the paper my oxygen is 94 (we live at 7500') and other times it's 84, 86.  I don't understand the swings but can't get anyone to explain what's up.  The cardiologist says, see your pulmonologist, and the...

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Advice for taking Entresto

Okay.... Ta..da... drum roll please...

I got my Entresto today and took half of the lowest dose to start; making it easier on my sensitive system. My question is, I'm supposed to take it twice a day, but I already take my Carvedilol twice daily at 7:30am and 7:30pm but I read somewhere that taking the two drugs at the same time was difficult for some... so, how should I take it? My usual method is I get up, have a piece of toast and a few ounces of milk to take my Carvedilol. Then a...

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If you could rename Heart Failure, what would you call it?  

No one likes the term “heart failure” since it implies a terminal condition.  Heart Failure sounds so final as though it is the end stage of all diseases related to the heart.  But is it always so final for those of us who have been given a diagnosis of heart failure when it may have a treatable or even reversible cause in some instances, especially if it is caught early?

Instead should we perhaps call it something like Heart weakness, Heart impairment or Hear...

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Electric car chargers and pacemakers

Hello, I read in The Sunday Times at the weekend that one day wireless car charging *plates in the ground* "may be commonplace".

I think this is something the pacemaker community needs to be aware of. As far as I know there is nothing to worry about with ordinary charges beside the road or in parking bays but wireless charging plates might be a different matter.

 

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Now I know why I had problems with Entresto! Gonna try it again....

Many of you know my issues with Entresto, I didn't exactly tolerate it well right away the first time. And you want to know why? Well... as it turns out, they forgot to tell me that I was supposed to stop taking my Losartin because you can't take both together! It's no wonder I had problems right away! So... with that said, I've decided to give it another go. I'll take the lowest dose, cut that in half and start there. Wish me LUCK everyone! I'm hoping that the Entrest...

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Angiogram Results

My cardiac doctor ordered a heart CT Scan for me which I had on April 1, 2024, after the pacer clinic accidentally turned my 100% pacer off during my yearly screening causing cardiac arrest again, and could not restart my pacer.  Trip to the ER who restarted my paver.

 

Angiogram Results:

1. There is stable prominence of the ascending aorta measuring approximately 4.3 cm in diameter.

2. There is a 2.4 cm nodule in the right lobe of the thyroid. A dedicated th...

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Cycling. movement and PM reaction

Hi there,

I am one month post PM insertion.  Female 57 years, active exerciser, cyclist, hiker and multiple sports player. I had unexpected bradycardia in January that had me down to 32 bpm at rest.  I struggled to get my HR over 70 under exertion. Climbing stairs had me winded and light-headed.

I have been cycling indoors (low impact, no hills) to get back into cycling shape before I head outdoors.  My PM settings are 50 - 130 bpm. Recovery has been going well unti...

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Pacing

Hi, 

I got a message after my quarterly download that I am pacing 100% BIV.  No explanation.  What does it mean?  Is it OK?  Should I be worried:?

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Gut Microbiome

We’ve talked about diet quite a bit recently on this forum, so I apologise for bringing it up again but there’s a lot of information being passed on to consumers (and patients) re: improving our gut microbiome and how we should aim to eat 30 different plant based food items p/week for various reasons. Reasons include: the impact on the environment, our intestinal health, to improve our immune system, reduce inflammation and for the prevention of diseases - e.g. gastrointestinal di...

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Pacing rate change/rate response

Hi

i noticed from my last visit that my atrial pacing percentage has changed:

1-9-23 atrial pacing: 35%

3-27-24 atrial pacing: 59.8%
 

my ventricle paces 100% of the time and I'm pretty sure always has since I had a pacemaker.

i have complete heart block. 

the EP was explaining to me that my heart works fine but what doesn't work is the connection area (forget the term) where the atrial speaks to the ventricle to relay the beats etc....

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You should check your " health portal" after your visit for those in the US

I do not know if those out of the US have the same options.  I know that after i see the doctor or have tests.  Do check my patient portal.  Why because sometimes they do not put the right information in my records.   Supposely if you are ever in the hospital they  check your records.

Why you ask, one time after seeing the cardilogist looked an they had written my blood pressure as 274/.  I wrote them and it was corrected immediately.  Another tim...

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Why no test for "ischemic heart disease" after PM?

This issue came up because my older sister had a stroke recently.  She is doing well in rehab and may escape any long term effects, but her doctor was asking her about the family cardiac history and she asked me to give her specifics about my problems that led to getting the PM.

So I looked at my hospital records from 2021.  I came across this note from the doctor who did the PM, "recommended consideration for ischemic heart disease or cardiac sarcoidosis." 

...

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Cardiac rehab a resounding no

This is a subject that comes up a lot with me; and for MANY reasons, I can't do that. No cardiac rehab for me. I won't go into all of the "why"... Let me just simply say that cardiac rehab is NOT going to happen. So I know many of you have suggested it and rather than spell it all out, which would take awhile, I feel like that isn't necessary. It's off the table and unless I move, which isn't even a possibility as far as I'm concerned, I won't ever be doi...

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Lead Extraction Experiences Please!

Hi everyone - I am getting this in June - and would love to hear people's experiences good and bad, and any tips or things to be aware of.  Curious about healing time vs just having a lead thrown in as well.  I am going leadless so will not have that issue. Thanks so much!

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