flu and pacers don't mix

hi everyone I just wanted to update you all about my pacemaker change. surgery went well however complications due to the flu wich my whole family and I caught while at the hospital. The flu and pacers dont mix well neither does new boston science pacers and ekg machines they did a ekg in the emergency room on 2 trip to the hospital in two days when they hooked me up to ekg machine it interfered with my pacer and sent my heart rate over 280 beats per minute and it printed out as weird scribbles they were able to fix this by taking off the number 6 ekg lead that hooks up under left breast and moving the machine as far as they could away. The flu however leaves you very out of breathe and caused my qt time to be longer and my chambers not to fill with blood completely leaving me with that oh so familiar dizzy feeling . I hope all of you stay healthy!

1 Comments

Flu

by MarkW - 2009-08-04 08:08:50

Hi - I was just strating to look at the forums re shortness of breath I've been experiencing. Have had a dual chamber pacemaker for 4 months now. I've felt much better - more energy and no shortness of breath or dizziness.

Got a dose of the flu 3 weeks ago - probably swine flu but here in Australia they are not even bothering to test as it is so widespread. Staff at work had confirmed cases so probably was swine flu. Took Tamiflu and got over the flu after a week or so with no lingering symptoms, but after a week or so started to really struggle with shortness of breath, raised blood pressure, and light headedness.

All felt like my PM wasn't working but it may be the effects of the flu.

So interested in your post and hearing from anyone else.

Mark

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