Most Recent Messages in General Posting

"Poll" - what sensations have you had from your pacemaker pacing or running tests?

I understand why doctors woulnd't want to tell you up front that you may feel when your pacemaker does something to your heart as it may result in more people noticing, actively looking for, or otherwise convincing themselves of having these sensations even if they're not present. In a way this post also risks having the same effect here for new members.

Still, I'd err on the side of knowledge being power and would love to collect your lived experiences if you're willing...

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The pacemaker "twitch" sensation, now on ECG

Some of you may remember me posting about a "twitch" sensation in my chest that started occuring the day after I first had my pacemaker implanted. It freaked me out at first, now I'm more used to the sensation, but it's still something that I feel and notice multiple times a day.

At my pacemaker checkup earlier this week I mentioned this to my EP and the person performing the pacemaker tests (I'm not sure what their title is, are they nurses?). We played with setti...

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UK Cardiology diagnostics

03/08/2023

This might be of interest to UK NHS patients.

Here's the link to a BBC news item.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-66388748

Delays in diagnostics and follow-up consultations and treatment have been getting steadily worse, not helped by Covid and a recent spate of long-term pay and condition disputes within the NHS.

Anything that the GPs can do at the primary care level is to be welcomed instead of them having to go through the forelock tugging ref...

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Wearable ECG monitoring (personal "holter monitor")

Hello friends,

I'm not sure yet whether this falls in the category of compulsive checking of your heart or personal empowerment/understanding, but regardless, does anyone have experience (good or bad) of using a consumer continuous ECG monitor?

I've come across two products, the Frontier X2 and QardioCore. The Frontier does appear to place itself much more as a "very fancy sports heart rate monitor" but does include continuous ECG for up to 24h whereas the&n...

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pacemaker movement

Hi, I have had my pacemaker a little over 2 months. Lately, if I turn onto my right side while sleeping the pacemaker rises up and can be see like a ridge.  I was told to push it back down. I did this a few times now it does not seem to go all the way down. Please help.

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Increased usage

Had Medtronics for 13 months now. Went in for 6 month device check and hace appointment with cardiologist in 2 weeks. 
 

Technician said device was being used 44% in top chamber and 0% in lower. Last visit it was 33% so a fair sized increase. No real explanation other than "normal" resting rate may be lower than 60 bpm and maybe it's when I am asleep. 
 

I will ask my cardiologist but thought I would see if anyone has similar experience....

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Atrial Fib and Varicose Veins

Hi friends,

I'm 59 y.o and have had varicose veins for a long time.  So has my mother who is now 88.  I got a pacemaker in Feb 2020, Mom got one two years later.  We have also both had atrial fib to some degree.   Both varicose veins and atrial fib also run in our family more generally.  I was curious to know if there is any correlation, because apparently varicose veins form because the valves in the veins that are supposed to prevent blood f...

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Watchman

Has anyone had a .watchman implanted for afib. My .dr keeps pushing it 

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Panic Attack

It's been 3 weeks since my Pacemaker Procedure!! I'm trying to get used to it. Last night out of the blue I had a Huge Panic Attack!! I haven't had a Panic Attack in 5 years. I had low Heart rate for the last 5 years. So that Panic Attack was Brutal. Heart rate got up to 110. Took me 2 hours to calm down. Has anyone else ever had a Panic Attack fews weeks after Getting their Pacemaker??

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Pacemaker newbie

Hi all!  Just got my pacemaker 3 days ago.  I'm still processing this happened.  I'm 66 and a few months ago I had some slight dizzy issues and noticed walking uphill was causing shortness of breath.  Long story short, doc had all the usual tests done but NOT a EKG.  Everything was completely normal.  Then 2 weeks ago I got a Apple iwatch because I'm a type 1 diabetic (not juvenile, I was 38 when diagnosed) and I wanted to keep closer tabs on my gluco...

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new poll on arrhythmias

thanks to whomever started this new poll.

On the summary page from my  last remote transmission of June 20,2023, i had  1744 Atrial high rate  episodes.  And 1 venticular high rate episode.

new to pace

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Big increase in pacemaker dependency

Hello everyone, hope you are all well.

Yesterday at my 6 monthly check up I was told that my bottom chamber has gone from 15% pacing to 84% pacing in the space of 6 months.  Has anyone experienced anything similar or such a big jump in useage in a few months and what was the cause?

I have type 2 2nd degree heart block but my cardiologist thinks it may have progressed to 3rd. He took a whole of of bloods to check for any electrolyte imbalance, also kidneys, thyroid, liver...

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My story

Hi all, hope everybody is well. Recently my story was featured in an article for the Victor Chang Research Institute website. The institute is a leading cardiac facility based in Sydney, Australia. I am fortunate to have been treated by the executive director, Jason Kovacic. Their team were amazing and I felt like I was in the best hands possible. I'm the one in the hospital bed given the devil horns sign...LOL. 

https://www.victorchang.edu.au/real-life-stories

Cheer...

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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...

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Happy Birthday!!

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

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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.

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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...

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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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You have an excuse for being a couch potato.

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