Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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.

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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. 

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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...

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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...

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Fatigue

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

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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...

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Could not get an MRI

Due to back problems, my orthopedic doctor wanted me to get an MRI.  All the protocols were done, the pacemaker group approved the MRI.  When I went in to get the MRI, they did a chest xray first.  Everything seemed fine.  The pacemaker rep did some checks and was in the process of getting me setup to go in to get the MRI.  During a discussion with the rep I mentioned that when I got my last pacemaker St. Jude( 3 lead CRT)  (previously had a 2 lead Medroinic) tha...

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Ectopic Beats

I have dual chamber Pacemaker. From last 6 months I'm having Ectopic Beats which are extra or premature (PVC).

I'm worried even though I have pacemaker, ectopic Beats are generated 8-10 times in a day. They make me anxious and worried.

My doctor has already prescribed beta blocker but still there are few in a day.

Can pacemaker detect PVCs?

Did you had any such issue or you know anything that can help me cure?

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FG Update

Well some may recall I thought I had a PM infection. The leads, not the pocket, as the pocket area was fine. I felt terrible for a long time about 3 almost 4 weeks with non-stop fever from 99.5 to 100.5 (37.5 to 38), sluggish, general malaise, no energy, sleeping 9-10 hrs, and WBC count of 11,000 with elevated SED rate twice normal, and elevated C reactive protein 5X normal. I was really scared as I shared here on the website. I had 2 negative sets of blood cultures, and I felt better af...

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Flying with new Medtronic Cobalt

Hello everybody,

 

I haven't flown since getting my new ICD in October but heading out this weekend. So what about security screening. I have a new Medtronic Cobalt ICD. I have the Medtronic ID card. Should I show this and ask to bypass the machines at check in? Or is it basically safe anyway? I've been through a few stadium style detectors for sporting events/concerts already.

Thanks for any replies!!

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You know you're wired when...

You can finally prove that you have a heart.

Member Quotes

At age 20, I will be getting a pacemaker in few weeks along with an SA node ablation. This opportunity may change a five year prognosis into a normal life span! I look forward to being a little old lady with a wicked cane!