Most Recent Messages in General Posting

Post Message!

name change

does anyone know how to change our user names on this site?

Thanks,
Linda

Read More...

Hi Everyone, I'm Back....

Hi to all members of the Pacemaker Club,

I am back from my Huge Ugly Operation......finally able to get on with my life again. :)

It was a humdinger of an op, lots of pain, etc as well as a 16 inch scar from my breastbone, then follows below my ribcage to about an inch of my back. OUCH!

Spent 6 days in the hospital, then staggered home to recover.

We arranged for my daughters to spend 4 nights, Hubby stayed for one ( in a private room) and the fir...

Read More...

Hey there ya'll

Nice to see all of my fellow energizers here this morning. I'm trusting that you're tickin' away just as I am.
Today I find myself again tickled by the the "You're Wired When...." comments. LOL.
"You're wired when your pacemaker receives radio frequencies"
Well, honestly, I'm kind of disappointed that mine doesn't. Did I get last year's model? I seriously just think it would be great if pacemakers played music. You could just tap a button through your skin to control the music, a...

Read More...

Colonoscopy

I'm scheduled for my first colonoscopy next week. I was awake for my pacemaker surgery with no problems. For the colonoscopy I also don't want to be given any drugs which put me "out" or be told that I wasn't "out" yet can't remember what happened. Can anybody share experiences, advice, or suggestions?

Vonnie

Read More...

Energy

Hi! Does anyone know if having a pacemaker can affect energy levels? Also, my PM is set at 60 bpm, but I feel like it's too low for me at rest. I sometimes feel weird when I am at total rest..somehow my heart feels weighted for a second here and there (if that makes any sense) and it sort of makes me put effort into taking a breath when this occurs. Is this common? I know some people can feel the PM kick in, but I just don't know if this is it. I hadn't noticed this with my first PM of 10 years....

Read More...

Depression

I think this may be very helpful ..especially to the newbies!!

Sept. 29, 2008 -- Heart disease and depression are so common that all heart patients should be routinely screened for depression and referred for professional help if necessary, according to new recommendations issued by the American Heart Association.

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20080929/check-all-heart-patients-for-depression

thanks
Pookie

Read More...

Disability Problems already

Well I guess its started. Off on disability per my cardioligist and three weeks after I have been off work, well actually they let me go because of absences since my fmla ran out. The insurance company that i paid weekly to have are questioning my disability could take up to a month or more. Called and they got crappy with me I thought so anyways the lady says well the excuse is a little vage, so I asked her what i was supposed to do, she goes oh well we will send your doctor a questionare to fi...

Read More...

Pacer is out!!

Well, finally got the pacer taken out this morning. I am doing ok but sore. It is so wired without this thing in me for the first time in 11 years and I hope I can sleep better now that I don't have to feel my heartbeat every night.
My heart rate is now in the 70's rather than stay at 60 when I had the pacemaker, wow, I have so much energy for the first time in 11 years although I am still hurting but I have energy!

Read More...

What do you call a...

recipient of an ICD.

There are pacergirls, pacerchicks, pacers and probably pacerboys. But what do you call someome with an ICD?

An ICDer?


Read More...

Living With A Pacemaker

Hi Everyone! I was asked to repost this....so here it is...I didn't compose this, I found it, but can't remember where!!

Managing Your Pacemaker

Do your part in managing your pacemaker. You may have to have someone help you, but there are certain things you'll need to do to manage your pacemaker successfully. These include:
Understand your acceptable heart rate. Before you leave the hospital, discuss with your doctor the specific maximum heart rate above your pacemak...

Read More...

PM removal

I had my PM installed about 2 years ago. I didn't think I needed it then, and I still don't. I was feeling weak. My pulse rate stayed in the 40's and 50's except one time when it drop to 38 breifly. My doctor said that he didn't think I needed it. I told him that my wife said that she observered it once being 38. He recheck his information and said it had breifly and that he would leave it up to me, but I had to decide before 1pm today( it was about 9am at that time). The nurses were telling me...

Read More...

PM popping

I have a strange question, has anyone felt their PM pop in their chest? Last year I was DX with breast cancer. Since then I have had 8 surgeries, including relocating my PM from the left to the right. About a month ago I had my final reconstruction surgery. Since when I move my right arm backwards or over my head, my PM actually pops. I am guessing the muscle moves and therefore causes my PM to bounce around.
MY PM surgeon was in the OR during my last surgery, and said everything was okay...

Read More...

New Person

Hi, Everyone!

I'm kind of new here. I'm not sure what to say or ask. This is the first time I have ever posted a message on a club sight, so I'm alittle intimidated. Sorry.
Charles.

Read More...

Single Lead Atrial or Ventricle Paced.

Hello to all,
I've got a question to ask? is there any one that is Atrial Paced for Bradycardia. Reason for this question is that I am Ventricle Paced for Bradycardia ,after three Holter monitor tests they all showed that my heart stops 2/3 times during my sleep for 7-10 sec therefore PM, during the day all is fine .I attended a meeting at my local hospital and manage to catch a few moments with a Professor in Electrophysiology and told him about my condition and showed him my Holter result...

Read More...

Scared of doing anything

I've had my PM since late July. After a lot of small problems, my doctor has set my PM. My problem is I am afraid to allow my heart rate to increase. When it gets over 100, I can feel myself panic. The doctor wants me walking to lose weight but I can't bring myself to do it.I won't even go to a movie or anyplace where there are a lot of people or where I'll have to walk a lot for fear that I'll collapse. I never acted like this before! Has anyone else felt like this? I have this fear that I'll d...

Read More...

Neurocardiogenic Syncope

Found this at www.hrtcare.com

Neurocardiogenic Syncope

Syncope (fainting) is one of the most common medical ailments encountered in clinical practice. Although frequently thought of as a condition with a neurological origin, it’s actually a cardiovascular problem - as such, a neurologic work-up is seldom rewarding. The two main causes of syncope are cardiac arrhythmias and neurocardiogenic (vasovagal, vasodepressor) syndromes. In both of these conditions, blood circulation...

Read More...

RECENT POST

Im in New Zealand at the moment visiting my son and grandchildren. A friend on this site told me to read BATMAN007s post. I have and the comments that were posted are a complete confirmation to me of the value of this site and the overwhelming decency of the majority its members who have a determination to remain in the land of the living as long as possible. On a sad note I have two friends in NZ and they have both been diagnosed with cancer and one of them has only until christmas to live. I...

Read More...

Lots to say!!

Hey! Ummm, ok. First, I would like to say that we WON our football game yesterday!!!!!!!!!! I forget the score, but will let you know ASAP. The best part was that it was a semi-final regional game and if we win 3 more, we're going to states... IN CHARLOTTESVILLE! This is coincidentally where my cardiologist and the wonderful Uninersity of Virginia is located. I get to play my clarinet at church today, and then I am going to meet the National Novel Writing Month group at the Daily Grind! Oh yeah...

Read More...

Looking for Orange County Firefighters

Can anyone help me with info on Orange County firefighters with a pacemaker that are still working as a firefighter post implantation of a pacemaker. I am going to have my two chamber pacemaker implanted next week, my doctor told me I can return back to work in one month post surgery. I am a little nervious about how my city is going to react. If anyone has information on any firefighters still on the job post surgery it would be a big help to me in keeping my job.
Geoff
gdelabar@h...

Read More...

Dyspnea

Greetings All,Had my initial PM changed after 13 yrs and now on my second year with the new one. No problems.At age 86 am still active,play golf,workout at least four times a week.
What is frustrating is that I have had complete cardio-pulmonary workups at Duke Med and no one can explain my exertional dyspnea.No problem riding an exercise bike for 30 minutes but get short of breath after one minute on the treadmill.Mild pulmonary obstructive disease secondary to GERD.Anybody have breathing...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

Member Quotes

The pacer systems are really very reliable. The main problem is the incompetent programming of them. If yours is working well for you, get on with life and enjoy it. You probably are more at risk of problems with a valve job than the pacer.