Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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complete heart block

I had joined this group last year. I don't remember the user name I used. I have been told I had complete heart block since I was 25. I'll be 37 this September. Last year I had an episode and was told by 1 cardiologist I needed a pacemaker then. I got a second opinion and opted not to get it. I had talked with a girl with the same situation who opted to get it and wondered how she was. I don't remember her name.

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UPDATED PICTURES OF ME ON MEMBER GALLERY ON THE VERY LAST PAGE !!!

Haha sorry guys but I am sooo excited that it finally worked !!!So I look different and I have contacts!!! Yesss !!! Ok That is enough hyperness for today !!! E-mail me !!!

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Good news for me.

Some of you who I have chatted with here knew I was going in for a prostate biopsy. Got it done last week. Not a very pleasant experience to say the least. My wife tells me you should try everything at least once. Trust me guy's you don't want to try this one. But if the Doc says you have to then you have to. This week I heard from the Doc. NO CANCER!
I didn't think there would be a problem because I felt that would be a very cruel trick to play on me. God, saving me almost 3 years ag...

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Pacemakers

Hi Everyone.

Haven't posted for ages but please can someone verify for me the concern I have with a pacemaker.

My pacemaker works when my pulse drops below 50 which is if I am sitting in the evening or asleep at night. Other than that my heart's own pacemaker works for me.

My question is does a pacemaker actually weaken your heart muscle over a period of time when it takes over your heart rhythm. I have asked my cardiologist here in France but as usual the answ...

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can the leads move?

Hi every one!!! Its me again..jeje. I just have this question. Every time i am in the shower washing my hair i feel like my heart is racing. I dont know if its because i have my arm way up so that i can wash my hair..or if its that i have it stretched too far for too long...but i feel funny and sometimes a little dizzy. Can the leads move if i do this for too long? I have had this pacemaker already for almost 2 years so i didnt think the leads would move out of place. But it is just weird that i...

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New website for LVNC patients

Hello everyone!

Looking for more patients that may have been diagnosed with Left Ventricular Non Compaction or Non Compaction Cardiomyopathy. There are 5 of us at this time and we would love to talk to more people and compare notes, etc.

We have a new website to try and pull patients together since there are so few of us. Check it out.......
http://groups.google.com/group/left-ventricle-non-compaction

Thanks-
Candi

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How does a PM work?

I've still yet to understand how a PM works; the PM tech are not much help.
Can someone give a layman's version of how this thing works?
I went in for Atrial Fib ablation. After the ablation, my heart would not stabilize, sometimes goes very slow, pauses a few seconds then resumes. So, they put in a PM to correct that.
The PM is set at 70; from what I understand, if my heart rate goes to below 70, the PM kicks in. Now, does that mean the PM "takes over"? if so, what happened to th...

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Why do people say shoulder.....

I've always wondered why people refer to their Pacer or ICD being implanted in their shoulder...

Unless you have something weird (ie on top of your deltoid...) it's on your chest...

Now, if it's slipped up under your clavical, then I can guess you can say shoulder.....

Just wondering....

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Thank You

Today is the first birthday of my little buddy Violet(my PM).I am so thankful that I have her(without her I would not be here today to celebrate).

I know I would not have made the transition from mere mortal to bionic woman without the help of this web site and all of you. I have learned so much and it was a real comfort to know that so many of us share the same healing problems,feelings,pain etc.

Tonight when we go to dinner, we will say a toast for all of you...for a happ...

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Magnet placed over Pacemaker??

I will be having surgery soon on my rotator cuff. It is the right side thank goodness....but I am only almost three weeks post op from the PM.
I had my PM implanted very deep in my under my breast. I still can not move my arm above my head for two reasons. Even though the doc says swing it around....I have seen on here all to often to try and get to that 4 week mark before using your arm above your shoulder. Also...I still have to much pain..I am still swollen and bruised. It's getting bett...

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sleep apnea

I want to thank all of you that responded to my sleep apnea posting. Most of you asked the symptoms well, snoring, extreme fatigue, waking gasping for air, stop breathing during sleep to mention a few. I would stop breathing an average of 11x an hr for 45sec to 1 min. They can tell you this after the sleep study is completed. I truely believe that the heart disease and sleep apnea are connected. I don't really know which one comes first but at this point it doesn't matter. Thanks again for...

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PM has moved....After over a year

I have noticed in the past week that my PM has moved or turned. It was put in June 11,2007. I called my doctors nurse and she said that it isn't unusual for this to happen but to keep an eye on it, just don't touch it. She said she would stop in and see me when I come to have my next stress test.

What could have caused this to hapen now? I haven't done anything unusual. Ths morning before I got up I was lying on my side and felt a bit of uncomfortable pain coming from the PM pocket.

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Thanks!

Thanks to all you lovely people who have sent private messages and replied to my last postings - without your on-going support I really don't know who I would cope with being a new pacemaker girl!

Hope to be in chat later tonight gmt!

AND ANOTHER THING ..... the british weather continues to do what it does best.................... rain, rain and did I say... RAIN!!

Hope you are all well and chat soon!

Loopy Lou xx

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What are we debating?

This seems as good a forum as any to state one more twist to this very important subject. To cut to the chase, we are talking about human lives and the right to live in health. If we are healthy, we can be productive participants in society. What happens to those of us who struggle to put food on the table let alone find the hundreds of dollars for insurance premiums?

Are certain people more entitled to health care than others? Although I can hear a resounding "no!", [I hope], then ta...

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Thank You

I have been reading your postings for over a year now and I can not begin to tell you how many times you have come to my rescue. I have had a very long year and a half.

In early December 2006 I had severe back pain in the late evening, but, it went away. I thought it was from laughing to hard! Then the next morning I could not lift my left arm. I went to the Dr. the next day, took an EKG. From there I went for a stress test and was air lifted to a larger hospital. After being "sta...

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MaryAnne - HMO & Health Care

Hi MaryAnne,

In your reply to Verger on surgery and anesthesia you say "Now in Canada your surgery would be done high risk or not if it is determined you need the surgery. You see, we don't have HMO's that dictate whether you can have the surgery or not."

I wish to respond to that statement of as to me that may imply that in the USA the HMO helps the doctor make the decision on the level of care for a patient. We do not have HMO's that dictate the level of treatment for...

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Questions for the Cardiologist........

Hello everyone!

Hope you are all feeling good today! Well, another cold, windy day in Poole, Dorset UK!! Need to emigrate I think!!

Anyway to business......... I have an appointment on Thursday to see my Cardiologist and the Pacing Technician. Last time I saw the tech guy I forgot things to ask! Put me in a room with the doc and I always seem to go blank!!!

Anyway, I know I will go in with a list....(!) but need some hints as to what to ask.... This will be...

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Shoulder pain and live in Pittsburgh,PA

Hi I'm Stacey28
I had my ICD device put in last year on June 18th and I had no problems with the device or the settings. This year starting memorial day weekend I starting having shoulder pain and pain in where the device is and heat. I was wondering if there is anybody in the Pittsburgh Area that is on the site that may have had similar problems to mine. I need some help and I was wondering if there is anybody from Pittsburgh.

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Sleep Apnea

Has anyone with a PM ever been diagnoses with sleep apnea. I was diagnoses about 6yrs ago. When diagnoses the doctors said heart problems were associated with it. Since I didn't have any problems or symptoms of heart disease, I'm wondering if their connected now. The heart doc said studies are not completed to determine. A case of the chicken or the egg.

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Mammograms

Hi, does anyone know if you can have a mammogram done with a pm. I got my pm on July 3rd and I've been putting off having my mammogram for sometime now and was wondering once this pocket heals when I can get the mammogram done. Any thoughts? Thanks, Jean

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You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for gaining an extra ounce or two.

Member Quotes

I have an ICD which is both a pacer/defib. I have no problems with mine and it has saved my life.