Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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PM revision

I had my PM implanted 1997 (dual, Medtronic) and has worked like a dream since., however replacement day will have arrived on 26th November and the PM leads will need replacing as well. Can anyone who has had this done before advise me of how the lead removal/replacement went. I worry somewhat about this part of the procedure as I believe there is some possibility of damage to the heart when leads are removed as they will have grown into the heart over the preceding 10 years. Thanks to all if yo...

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Pacemaker Dependency Percentages

My pacemaker implantation was September 2005 and now that my PVC's (post ventricular contractions/extra heart beats) are now under control, I feel so much better. I still have some brady-tachy episodes but they are split second and my dizzy spells are minimal. My pacemaker is set at 70 and I have so much more energy. However, my heart beats mostly at 70 and rarely a beat more on its own. I have gone from pacing at 12% initially to over 57% according to my last 4 checkups. My pacemaker depende...

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Weird Feeling Behind PM

Tomorrow will be 4 months for my Pace Maker. Haven't had any problems except early on with some pinching type pain around the site but that went away and probably was nerve related.

But this morning something weird happened. All of a sudden I am feeling my heart beating right behind (or maybe in front of) the Pace Maker location. Never happened before. It felt like it was racing but when I took my pulse it was about 84. It went away in about three or four minutes. Anyone else ex...

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Electrician Contractor -Occupational Concerns

Hello,

I am wondering if there are any electrical contractors out there who have a pacemaker and are working in a different work site or location every day. How do you manage the uncertaintly of magnetic field and electrical current levels if your job requires that you visit a different customer (sometimes power plants) every day?

I would appreciate any input from those who may have experienced this? Thank you!

Teri (Nurse from Michigan)

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Atrial Fib

G,Day everyone, I have a question about Afib, I have bradicardia, SSS and atrial fib, I have a St Jude pacer (1 year now) with an algorithm which controls the afib by speeding the heart up then slowing down again once the fib is stopped. I get the afib every time I lie down , It is worse when I first go to bed and also when I wake up. I have been woken up occasionally in the early hours with mild discomfort and afib .
I am not on any medication. The Afib seems to be getting worse but this...

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Long Term Prospects

Our daughter had her regular 6 monthly check-up this week and, fortunately, all is still well with her (she has complete congenital heart block and has had a pm since 10 days old, she is now 8yrs old).

We were just generally chatting to her cardiologist when she mentioned that there are reports suggesting that long term pacing can lead to the heart not functioning properly at all, even with a pacemaker.

She has been asked to talk on the subject but admits herself that there...

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*********Happy Birthday**********

With our Valerie not quite up to speed yet....... I thought I should let you all know it was CathrynB'ssssssss birthday yesterday So Happy Birthday "Cathryn" He He you did not really think I would let you get away with it did you !!!!!! You girls know me don't like to talk about a ladies age but somewhere in the 21-30 range.
Anyhow I am sure we all hope you had a great day.... your pacer friends........Peter N

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Not for another Year

Hi Pacers

Got back from two days in Hobart for my checkup. Everything AOK. My battery has had little use in the four years and my technician said everything is fine. He is a great bloke. He was explaining everything to two trainee emergency nurses. Brian stood up with them and enjoyed the lecture too.! The Cardiac Sp was pleased with my progress and neither Cardio or Tech want to see me for a year. I ahve been given appts for 30 Oct 2008. Unless, of course I feel the need to c...

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Jimmy and his last beta blocker

A new brake-through was discovered in a small town in South Jersey.

One morning Jimmy woke up and was running late to work. It was his first day at his new job. With his mind set on impressing his boss he decided to wake up alittle early to get a head start. He took his shower and finished dressing up. Soon after dressing up he gathered his things and headed out to work. He got to his car and realized that he forgot to take his beta blocker. He quickly ran back into his house a...

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Pacemaker Change

Hi,

I wrote last week with a low battery question and got some encouragement and support from the group. Then on Friday, I went to my Dr. and found out my battery was indeed very low and needed an immediate Pacemaker change.

I had the change yesterday and am back home. It is a strange feeling. I felt immediately better, but it was in the background as I feel sort of groggy from the anestetic and such.

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stam...

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Me Again

Hello Folks,

Well my trip got delayed a couple of days because I had a flair up of my arrhythmia on Tuesday morning and had to go to the doctor. I got some new medicine and I was instructed to wait until tomorrow or the next day to see if things settle down a little before we leave. So, I'll see if I can give some of you good people something to read.

Some questions I saw today were "How does a sick SA node normally respond to the use of a pacemaker? Does it become lazy, d...

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Checking back in!

Hello everyone,

It's been a longgggg while since I last posted. Thinking of everyone.

The last time I wrote I was about to pursue another opinion out of state (closer to home) regarding my SVC obstruction. I went to a major teaching hospital known for taking "tough" cases.

Well, I went in September. Met with a vascular surgeon who decided not to make any recommendations right away, but to consult with several of his colleagues about my case. (understandable).

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chat

Hey! randrews i tried to answer you and the chat room kept. Going away. I am back there now come on by. Or any one else here now. bowlrbob

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a very intellectual question

If you cross your eyes while undergoing an MRI procedure of your head, do your eyes look cross-eyed on the scan?

:p
~valerie

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I asked this last year. I am trying it again.

this Sunay I am leaving town for the week. Going to a national bowling tournament in Las Vegas. Do we have any members from the great city of Vegas. If so it would be fun to meet you. With some inside info I could maybe get to see a side of Vegas I have never seen. I think it would also be nice to meet with others who also have pacers or ICD's that have an interest in this club. I will be there from Monday night thru Friday night. If you are interested in meeting up or going out to a dinner some...

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My Recall!

Hello all long time no talk! Well hows everyone!, I now have to get my lead replaced as it has been recalled by Medtronic! I am so p.....sed! Anyone else got to gt their leads replaced due to Recall??

Stay Well, Colleen

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Power grids

In my state the "Rural Electrification" systems are really kicking into high gear. I pass three of those transmission farms everytime I travel a certain highway. These monsters are half as big as a football field and contian huge towers, massive coild and lines all enclosed in razor wire and chain link. My question is of course does such a contraption have an effect on my PM? I've tried other routes but there is at least one of these things on every road. It's probably just my imagination but...

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Back again

Hi Pacers

Back home again in Tasmania after five weeks away in New Zealand touring the south and north Island. It was great to pack a bag and just relax. No kids, no gripes, no worries.

Our special time on the way back was spent in Melbourne with Rewired Aussie (Kay) Each time we saw each other we just laughed and laughed. Kay is a sure tonic for blowing away the blues. As you all know I suffer from depression. One hit with Kay and it tops up the dopamine in my brai...

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What we do or did for a living

I read the postings from and reg. Pooh's message. I am glad I didn't get yelled at that way the first time I posted a message, I would never have dared to post another. I actually think it is very interesting to know what people did or do for a living. Some of us had to have a pm very sudden, without having prior heart and health problems and to me it is interesting to know if stress, equipment etc at work could have caused some of the reason(s) why we suddenly needed a pm.
Also, just as th...

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Gone Visiting

Hey Folks,

So that no one thinks I have died, I'll be off to new adventures for a few weeks. Time to go visit the kids, relatives and some friends. I'm starting early because I need to check out who will have the best menu for Thanksgiving. I'll have access to the internet at a few of our stops so maybe I can check from time to time.

Hope all of you have a happy Thanksgiving.

Smitty.

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You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

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