Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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Hi Everyone

I had my pacemaker check at the Geelong Hospital yesterday. They don't implant Ela's in Geelong so they got a technician to come down from Melbourne to the Cardiology Department. He was a really nice guy and knew my Technician in Hobart. He did make some comment about my pacemaker being set low. It is on 50 min - 132 max rate. It was set at this a couple of years ago when I felt a kick in the ribs each time the pacemaker started. If I was sitting down I would have to get up and walk aroun...

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block terminology- question for Frank

You've mentioned you don't like the general term heart block. Can you tell me the different types of blocks? I know my signals from SA to AV nodes are blocked and my medical records say CCHB but I've had doctors call it BBB, 3rd degree block and av block over the years. Can you please tell me the difference between the terms? I just ignored the different names but you've got me curious :o)

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janet's questions

Ok, I feel like an idiot. Maybe some of you can educate me further. My upper rate is 130. That's all the programmer said. This is my 2nd adustment is pm surgery 6 wks ago. It's was given for a 2nd degree block in my ventricle (right one). Question: does rate mean pulse? TraceyE, they set yours to the max of 160? Is this your pulse during a work out? Is this setting hard on your heart? Or does it just give you the capability of exerting yourself better w/o getting SOB? I'm 55yo and work...

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heart rate

Hi, thanks Maryanne and Smitty for your questions and answers. Maryanne, they said my "upper rate" is set at 130. I'm not sure what that means.
Thanks, Janet

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Is this Normal?

I'm 6 wks post op now, have a dual chamber pm. My atria is paced 1% and the ventricle at 48%. My rate is set at 130. I still need alot of education, and my understanding is limited at best. I still feel tired most the time, feel challenged to walk faster, feel SOB when I try. Feel some chest pressure when I exert still (but it's not as bad as it was) I keep being told I'll feel like a "million bucks" but it hasn't happened yet. How can I tell what's post op recovery and what's a wrong sett...

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Left axis deviation

HI all,
I have not been posting for a long time, but I check the site every day and enjoy everyone's input. All of you have been a great help to me.
I went to the ER today in our small town. I have been having lots of irregular heartbeat, nausea and diarrhea and thought that perhaps my electrolites were off. I'm also on digoxin and my symptoms matched those of toxicity. Our local ER is nothing to brag about and only one doctor is present in the whole hospital on weekends:-(
All th...

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$&$&$ HAPPY BIRTHDAY! $&$&$

Today is ( winelover )'s Birthday. August 31, ( 1954 )

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WINELOVER!

Wishing you a Birthday filled with dreams, and a year in which they all come true.

~ Dominique ~

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NJ?

Hi everyone..hope all are well. So, I went to my first EP doctor on Thursday and came home more upset than when I first went. He was SO caught up on how young I was, I felt he was more preoccupied with that. Quite frankly, if I hadn't come onto this site and see how many young people do have pm's (I'm 23), I probably would have let him scare the life out me and NEVER agree to get one. I've been told by 3 cardiologists that I will probably end up needing a pm because of my taching and then sudden...

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Next adventure

Hi all, hope you are all doing ok, I am 2 years post pm now for SSS, Bradicardia and I also have Afib. I'm taking meds for the afib.I have been noticing that I am short of breath and have slight chest pain when I lean foreward, eg; working at my bench or typing this. I have just had a stress test which showed some abnormality when I first started the exercise, I also notice this when riding my bike which I do for exercise, I find it really tough going for the first mile or so until my blood star...

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Irregular beat, 2 weeks post implant

33 yr old and getting back into the swing of things after pacer implant on 8/14/08. Last night, I walked slowly (3 mph) on the treadmill. The first mile was a breeze, the 2nd mile was riddled with PAC's or PVC's or something. It was hard to count it was so irregular. It felt like pauses, but my doc says that's impossible with the pacer. All I know is that it was uncomfortable. Some of the skipped beats were pelting me extremely hard, but I walked through them. I just really don't know what to do...

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WHO

YOU DECIDE WHO IS THE INVENTOR OF THE PACEMAKER.

In Dr. Albert L. Hyman's words:

"Finally on April 6, 1930, I received Grant No. 30-2 from the Witkin Foundation to explore the possibility of developing a practical machine to be used as an artificial pacemaker in experimental animals. Reduced to its simplest blueprint form, such an apparatus would include


(1) a small source of electric current, i.e., a common flashlight battery;
(2) an interrupter mech...

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Who really invented the PM

In a recent post "ICD and Pacemaker Testimonials' 2008-08-28, it states that Mr. Wilson Greatbatch invented the PM.

In "Famous Members" there is a post 'We should all thank Mr. John Hopps' that says that he invented the PM.

Does anyone know off the top of their PM, who really invented the PM or do I have to go a google square search.

Might be a good Clubhouse tab 'History of the PM'

Later,
Charlie

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Chat

Uvagershwin,
I'm online if you want to chat.

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ICD and Pacemaker Testimonials

As most of you may know, Mr. Wilson Greatbatch invented the pacemaker over 50 years ago. I work for Greatbatch, Inc. the maker of components for medical devices such as the pacemaker and ICD's. We manufacture 80 - 90% of the components that go into these devices. I was wondering if anyone would like to share their story about how one of these devices has saved/changed their life.

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I'm New Here

Hi all!

Actually, I am not yet battery operated. I'm scheduled for PM implant in 3 weeks. I have been having irregular heartbeats that have been getting more frequent over the years. Also, my heart rate and blood pressure are gradually declining. I used to like running but I now get too winded to jog more than 300 yards. I figured I was just getting old (I'm 49) but I mentioned the heartbeat irregularities to my Family Doctor and she referred me to a cardiologist. I then failed thre...

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need texas ep

Hi! I just moved to Texas after living in Connecticut. I had a pacer put in three years ago and loved my EP. i now live outside of Dalls in the Plano area (more specifically McKinney). Can anyone recomend a good electrophysiologist in this area?
Thanks,
Lori

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car travel

How long did you wait after getting your CRT pacemaker to travel by car to another country as in 7 hours drive for a few days holiday and then drive back again home?

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Life insurance

Hi

I am wriitng in desperation now, my wife had a pacemaker fitted in November 2006, she is 30 years old and we have been trying to get life insurance for her but every insurance company we have tried continues to turn us down on medical grounds. We live in England, my wife has had no problems with her pacemaker and she is physically fit and well. Has anybody else had this trouble before and if so does anybody know any good insurance companies to approach.

All suggestio...

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Possible Pacer?

Hi everyone. I'm so glad I found this site. Ive been in such a whirlwind of news and possible this and that over the past few weeks, I'm exhausted! I'm 23 and have been diagnosed with Neurocardiogenic I ended up passing out and found out that it was heart rate driven, not b/p drop that did it. They got me taching into the 150s and then within 2 seconds I dropped junctional into the 30s 40s and acclerated junctional and finally back into sinus rhythm. So, theyve started meds which really isn't...

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pacer removed may 5 08

just letting everyone know im still kicking had pacemaker defi removed in may broken wire that was recalled
Still haven;t heard from lawyer got shocked 11 times got alot of bills from this but no one seems to want to help pay for them except me.
has any one else got a lawyer and what have you heard about the bad wires
I had my pacer and fib removed heart still going strong and doctor says everything looks fine so far
IF ANY ONE HAS FILED A LAW SUIT WITH MEDTRONIC EMAI...

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You know you're wired when...

You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

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I swim, scuba, garden, hike, climb, workout, play with the kids, play tennis, baseball, basket ball and rollerblade with mine with no problem.