Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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I´m glad to have you here - thanks a lot ;-)

Hi to everybody :-),

I would like to tell you that I read really a lot on this web site and it´s the best site for me now, because I know that I am not alone here with the PM device in my age (22).

I tried to find someone on the internet with PM from the Czech Republic and it is quite difficult, because we haven´t got a site like this but I think and still hope that I will find somebody later. But I am very glad to have you here - it´s nice to know that I can tell you what...

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Medtronic PM Settings

I'd like to know what the settings mean. I got a printout from the EP Technician, but she does not want to take the time to explain everything to me.
What she told me was the PM is doing atrial pacing 98%, the ventricular lead is turned OFF. Don't know why, because they told me the reason for the PM was my resting heart rate was too low, and the heart pauses; so the PM was put in to maintain the low heart rate. But, I feel that the PM is working all the time, even when my heart rate is over...

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Confused.

I have had a PM/ICD for 4 years and been shocked by the ICD twice in that time and when it shocks it's like being kicked in the chest by a horse. I am confused when I read that some members are 'shocked' by their PM's or know when they 'fire'. My question is, do PM's shock as ICD's do? Mine doesn't, it's the ICD that brings my heart back to life when I go into VF, so are there different types of PM? My understanding is that the PM detects a strange rhythm and then paces the heart to settle...

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More risk to PM Dependent patients.....

Did anyone know that there is more risks to surgery if you're PM dependent?

The surgeon says I'm at higher risk of stroke, heart attack and general heart damage!!!

I have a cyst in my Common Bile Duct, seems to be benign but will cause malignancy if left....so no real choices.

Apparently, it's harder to monitor us under anaesthesia, we do NOT respond to "stressors" such as infection or internal bleeding, post-op.....our heart rates do not increase, their first si...

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OOOOOOO HAPPY BIRTHDAY! OOOOOOO

To Chris ( CBulifant ) September 1, ( 1970 )

CHRIS,

May all good things come your way today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!!!

~ Dominique ~

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Re: CBD Surgery

Thankyou to Pete and Gellia, guess I'd better get on with it, eh?

Unfortunately, laprascopic surgery is not an option, as he has to see what he's doing.... I concur.

When they have to remove the CBD and resect a new one, it's a lot of "stuff" to visualize and they don't want to cause injury to nearby organs.

I'm very worried about being off blood thinners, as I have chronic AFib. Sure hope I can have that epidural though, the pain sounds awful!!

Tha...

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Anyone chatting these days?

I'm here sitting in chat, it's been empty recently......

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Hi Everyone

I had my pacemaker check at the Geelong Hospital yesterday. They don't implant Ela's in Geelong so they got a technician to come down from Melbourne to the Cardiology Department. He was a really nice guy and knew my Technician in Hobart. He did make some comment about my pacemaker being set low. It is on 50 min - 132 max rate. It was set at this a couple of years ago when I felt a kick in the ribs each time the pacemaker started. If I was sitting down I would have to get up and walk aroun...

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block terminology- question for Frank

You've mentioned you don't like the general term heart block. Can you tell me the different types of blocks? I know my signals from SA to AV nodes are blocked and my medical records say CCHB but I've had doctors call it BBB, 3rd degree block and av block over the years. Can you please tell me the difference between the terms? I just ignored the different names but you've got me curious :o)

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janet's questions

Ok, I feel like an idiot. Maybe some of you can educate me further. My upper rate is 130. That's all the programmer said. This is my 2nd adustment is pm surgery 6 wks ago. It's was given for a 2nd degree block in my ventricle (right one). Question: does rate mean pulse? TraceyE, they set yours to the max of 160? Is this your pulse during a work out? Is this setting hard on your heart? Or does it just give you the capability of exerting yourself better w/o getting SOB? I'm 55yo and work...

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heart rate

Hi, thanks Maryanne and Smitty for your questions and answers. Maryanne, they said my "upper rate" is set at 130. I'm not sure what that means.
Thanks, Janet

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Is this Normal?

I'm 6 wks post op now, have a dual chamber pm. My atria is paced 1% and the ventricle at 48%. My rate is set at 130. I still need alot of education, and my understanding is limited at best. I still feel tired most the time, feel challenged to walk faster, feel SOB when I try. Feel some chest pressure when I exert still (but it's not as bad as it was) I keep being told I'll feel like a "million bucks" but it hasn't happened yet. How can I tell what's post op recovery and what's a wrong sett...

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Left axis deviation

HI all,
I have not been posting for a long time, but I check the site every day and enjoy everyone's input. All of you have been a great help to me.
I went to the ER today in our small town. I have been having lots of irregular heartbeat, nausea and diarrhea and thought that perhaps my electrolites were off. I'm also on digoxin and my symptoms matched those of toxicity. Our local ER is nothing to brag about and only one doctor is present in the whole hospital on weekends:-(
All th...

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$&$&$ HAPPY BIRTHDAY! $&$&$

Today is ( winelover )'s Birthday. August 31, ( 1954 )

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WINELOVER!

Wishing you a Birthday filled with dreams, and a year in which they all come true.

~ Dominique ~

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NJ?

Hi everyone..hope all are well. So, I went to my first EP doctor on Thursday and came home more upset than when I first went. He was SO caught up on how young I was, I felt he was more preoccupied with that. Quite frankly, if I hadn't come onto this site and see how many young people do have pm's (I'm 23), I probably would have let him scare the life out me and NEVER agree to get one. I've been told by 3 cardiologists that I will probably end up needing a pm because of my taching and then sudden...

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Next adventure

Hi all, hope you are all doing ok, I am 2 years post pm now for SSS, Bradicardia and I also have Afib. I'm taking meds for the afib.I have been noticing that I am short of breath and have slight chest pain when I lean foreward, eg; working at my bench or typing this. I have just had a stress test which showed some abnormality when I first started the exercise, I also notice this when riding my bike which I do for exercise, I find it really tough going for the first mile or so until my blood star...

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Irregular beat, 2 weeks post implant

33 yr old and getting back into the swing of things after pacer implant on 8/14/08. Last night, I walked slowly (3 mph) on the treadmill. The first mile was a breeze, the 2nd mile was riddled with PAC's or PVC's or something. It was hard to count it was so irregular. It felt like pauses, but my doc says that's impossible with the pacer. All I know is that it was uncomfortable. Some of the skipped beats were pelting me extremely hard, but I walked through them. I just really don't know what to do...

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WHO

YOU DECIDE WHO IS THE INVENTOR OF THE PACEMAKER.

In Dr. Albert L. Hyman's words:

"Finally on April 6, 1930, I received Grant No. 30-2 from the Witkin Foundation to explore the possibility of developing a practical machine to be used as an artificial pacemaker in experimental animals. Reduced to its simplest blueprint form, such an apparatus would include


(1) a small source of electric current, i.e., a common flashlight battery;
(2) an interrupter mech...

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Who really invented the PM

In a recent post "ICD and Pacemaker Testimonials' 2008-08-28, it states that Mr. Wilson Greatbatch invented the PM.

In "Famous Members" there is a post 'We should all thank Mr. John Hopps' that says that he invented the PM.

Does anyone know off the top of their PM, who really invented the PM or do I have to go a google square search.

Might be a good Clubhouse tab 'History of the PM'

Later,
Charlie

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Chat

Uvagershwin,
I'm online if you want to chat.

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You know you're wired when...

Your life has spark.

Member Quotes

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.