Most Recent Messages in General Posting

Post Message!

Why are there no rechargeable pacemakers?

I understand that getting a new device every 10 years has benefits, and that there are other reasons to "open you up" like lead complications, but it still seems strange to me that there are no rechargeable pacemakers, or for that matter, pacemakers with longer battery lives.

Pacemakers have come down in size but don't necessarily last longer. Why are they not just slightly smaller but with a higher (let's say double) capacity?

Or for the case of rechargeable one...

Read More...

Happy Birthday!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FRIENDLY PACEMAKER, TWELVE MONTHS OLD TODAY!!

Read More...

Another famous member

So, Mr Netanyuha joins the worldwide club of pacemaker users.

Not much information on why, but apparently he had a problem recently and had some sort of monitor fitted. According to the news, he had become dehydrated from sitting in the sun too long.

When the monitor alerted him to the fact that something was wrong, he was whipped in and now belongs to our exclusive group.

Get well soon.

Read More...

Home monitor NOT transmitting for almost a year!

Hello,  I received a Patient Portal message a few days ago stating they did not receive my transmission.  I was out of town and had forgotten to plug it in when I got to the hotel. I assumed when I plugged it in, it would send that night.  I sent a message back apologizing for not plugging it in!  I called the company the next day to see if they could verify it for me.

When I called, I was told they have not received a transmission since August, 2022!!  I w...

Read More...

Been about 9 years, probably due for a replacement soon--upgrade?

Checking back on my calendar, I've had my pacemaker for about nine years. I lost my regular cardiologist two years ago and am going in for my first checkup since then. Last time it looked like I had about another 2-3 years on the battery, so I'm assuming that I need to start thinking about getting it replaced. My question is, are there any newer models out that I should push for? I currently have a Medtronic Advisa MRS SureScan.

Read More...

26yo recommended pacemaker

Hello,

I am 26yo with Long Q T syndrome. Diagnosed as a child and medicated since. I have had few issues since being medicated (some side effects from beta blockers and low blood pressure), but for the last 10 years I have just got on with life and haven't thought much about my heart condition. Until Monday when I went into cardiac arrest and have been in the hospital since. My cardiologist has recommended that I have a pacemaker fitted, a conversation that had come up in the past b...

Read More...

The twitch when pacing, what is it?

I've recently been fitted with a pacemaker for an intermittent AV block and posted elsewhere about the sensation of being paced which I would describe as a twitch in the chest area.
 

Now that I've had some time to get used to it and understand what it is, it no longer freaks me out and is almost reassuring as it sugygeststhat everything is still hooked up and working.
 

As I have an intermittent block, this only happens occasionally, sometimes isolated...

Read More...

NSVT

Just for interest, I captured what I think is an occurrence of NSVT on my Kardia Mobile 6L a couple of days ago, which I've posted on the Member's Gallery.  I only knew that I had them from my last pacemaker interrogation, which showed one since the interrogation before that. Since I captured one, my assumption is that they're quite a bit more frequent than one every three months.  Or my pacemaker's detection algorithms are junk, which I've been suspecting for so...

Read More...

New specialist

Hi Everyone. Have an update:  Met with an extraction specialist who actually listened.  The associate was horrified by my story and I did not share everything.  The new Dr saw right away what was happening, especially with the electricity.  I'm still pacing at less than .01% long term.  What happened to me was a nightmare. 

Here's the new plan of action:

1. 7 day bardy test

2. Turned off upper lead (already feel better)

3.  Tu...

Read More...

pacemaker extraction

Hello to all, I hope all is well and summers enjoyable, I've been on a somewhat haitus feeling a little discouraged because back on Feb, March , April i had a small case of paroxysmal afib which really didnt help my mental state but i got through it and saw an EP in boston who said i would be a perfect candidate for an ablation. He has done over a 1,000 ablations all with great results. He also to my surprise, told me that because i was pacing at a minimal that he wanted to remove my pace...

Read More...

Which drink is best for hydration? Hint: It isn’t water

There was just a brief discussion on this topic in the previous couple of days. I thought that some may find this interesting (copy and paste the link in your browser):

Which drink is best for hydration? Hint: It isn’t water

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/25/health/best-drinks-for-hydration-wellness/index.html?iid=fw_var-reg-hp-9

Read More...

Significant Heat in Southern Europe

With holiday season upon us and warnings of extreme heat in southern Europe - (Italy - 45 degrees celsius) - I wanted to check out heat related symptoms I've had in the past in very high temperatures - mainly puffy ankles and swollen fingers when walking around in the heat. 

 I had neither of these symptoms in the heat prior to receiving a PM. 

My question is whether this type of swelling is normal or heart related and IF it is card...

Read More...

Discussion Questions

Hello, it’s me making work for myself again!  We are of course free to ask questions or to post on any subject whenever we wish but do any of you have any topics you would like to see discussed more frequently on the Pacemaker Club?  If so, what would your chosen topic be?   

One member told me: 

The general topic I have thought about raising is "Things I wish I had been told about my pacemaker . . . and high on that list would be Settin...

Read More...

Pacemaker self test

Consider this a public service announcement if you like.

I had my pacemaker checked today and got the opportunity to ask a lot of questions. One thing that came up when I mentioned the sensation of pacing (I have an intermittent AV block so only happens so often) was that the device is set to run a self test to find the lowest voltage that will trigger a heartbeat. It does this by starting at the highest setting of 5V and stepping down until there is no response.

Just as they disc...

Read More...

US club members

Just a pointer to Amazon Prime Day: Kardia Mobiles on sale

The 6L is $109. The original Kardia Mobile and Mobile Card are $79 each.  This is a pretty good sale.

Read More...

Kardia Mobile

Does anyone know WHY KARDIA say  devices should NOT to be used with Pacemakers etc. Is it because of possible electrical interferenc? I know Pacing spikes do NOT show up as they do on a proper 12 lead ECG, I can't imagine them causing harm to anyone with a PM/icd. 

Read More...

Low heart rate with pacemaker

I received a dual lead pacemaker at the end of February this year for intemittant complete heart block. I have had a few episodes of SVT and atrial tachycardia since then which have improved after eliminating caffeine. I take 25mg of metoprolol tartrate daily. Today my fitbit recorded a few short episodes of a 48 beat per minute heart rate.  My heart rate has not been below 60 since the pacemaker. I'm not sure what the settings are.   It was the fitbit that prompted me to g...

Read More...

Motorcycle air vests

 Wondering if anyone has a motorcycle on here and wears a protective inflatable air vest?

 I am thinking of getting one but not certain the electronics and the magnetic button closer/activator would affect my pacemaker.

  The electronics are housed at the bottom of the back in the vest. The Dainese smart jacket I am looking at has a magnetic button closer at the top of the frontal zip which would be close to my pacemaker box. It also has an LED status light pretty m...

Read More...

Fatigue

Hey had pacemaker installed April 20th and I'm still experiencing fatigue Is this normal?

Read More...

Can the amount of pacing change?

Hi, me again. I know... sigh. 

So I've been trucking along, doing my thing, trying not to fret about everything and failing occassionally... I think Gotrythym posted recently that the mental recovery is longer than the physical and boy is that true!

So 2 days ago, I had my 3 month checkup at 4 months :-) anyhoo... doc commented that I've had some 150bpm episodes, and I explained I returned to the gym, but a few of the episodes I wasn't at the gym and turned out it...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

The dog’s invisible fence prevents you from leaving the backyard.

Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.