Most Recent Messages in General Posting

Pulse oximeter prices

If anyone needs a Pulse Oximeter for home use let me tell you about the one I purchased. Last year my husband was very ill, in and out of ICU for several weeks because of end-stage emphysema. He would be coming home on continuous O2 24/7. But, the providers of home oxygen equipment do not provide a PO to monitor O2 sats. We were expected to "guess" at how my hubby was doing and adjust the O2 based on this. So, I did some searching on the internet and found a PO for less than $100.00 (actuall...

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PAIN AFTER SURGERY?????

Hello All,
Got my PM yesterday!! Thank you all for all the help I received prior. I don't think they liked that I knew half way what I was talking about thanks to you....but it sure helped me.
I did not get the right settings...the doctor said I decided not to set it where I said I would....after the surgery. I thought that was pretty rotten. When I feel well enough....He will be hearing from me.
HERE is my QUESTION......I had it put down deep so that I would still be able to b...

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PM's in work enviroments

I just had a PM installed on July 22nd 2008. St. Jude Model 5826 two leads. Installed only for low pause rate. I do not have the defib unit. I workin a manufacturing facility as a maintenance supervisor with lots of CNC equipment. Our Nurse is looking for information on what to be aware of before i come back to work in a couple of weeks. If there is anyone out there that knows what the guidelines are and what we need to be aware of please let me know.

Thanks

Rick War...

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Pacemaker-induced hypertension

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I appreciate the help and will look into each of the things you suggested.

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Welcome Newbies

I just want to say Welcome to all the new members.

You all have certainly discovered a wonderful & supportive site.

Keep checking back daily as you never know; we might be able to help one another or at least support each other.

I also want to thank all the people I have met on this site during the past several months. You all mean the world to me.

thanks!

Pookie

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pacemaker-induced hypertension?

I have had a normal BP reading all my life. I had a pacemaker implanted 3 years ago to increase my heart rate....no other problems with my heart. It has been working without a problem. I moved recently and needed to change cardiologists and pacemaker checkup technicians. My blood pressure was the usual 130 over 75 until the week the new technician checked my pacemaker. It went up to 160 over 90 the following week and is now (a week later) 190 over 90!!!! Can the pacemaker make such a drama...

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New Member / Police Officer & Pacer

I posted this question as response on another message, but decided to post it here as well. I am a new member and I am in need of some help. I am a police officer who had my pacer implanted in January 2008. I am desperately trying to return to full duty status and rapidly approaching a forced disability.

It has been suggested that I find any other officers working the beat with pacers. If anyone knows of an officer on patrol with a pacer, please contact me.

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Having my high-risk dr. appointment today!

Hi all,
I am going in this afternoon to meet with a high-risk ob/gyn specialist for a 'pre-conception consultation' to assess my risks for pregnancy with my condition and pacemaker, etc. My hubby and I want another child (ours are 10 and 9) but we had been waiting a long time to get my fainting spells with my NCS/VVS under control, etc. The pacemaker one year ago has been a lifesaver!!!! It is great to have a pulse and oxygen to my brain!!! Now that I am 'under control' with the pacemake...

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Tracey...I sent you an E-mail

Thank you...I sent you an e-mail regarding placement.

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TRACEY....PM surgery site?

My EP plans to put it in under my breast...he did mention going in from the side or the top.....I thought the side might hurt more and get in the way of an underwire......he said it was up to me.

ANY thoughts as to which might be better? The EP doesn't seem to care which I chose.

Is your in your abdomen? Hmmm....not sure which would be best.

Thank you, Holly

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Recovery Time...How do I make sure My PM is set right before I leave?

I am so thankful for this site! I am getting so nervous !!! I go on Friday morning for my pacemaker!

My EP has not got called me back...I have questions about the settings and recovery time etc.

Soo, I am hoping to get some answers from you. I trust what you tell me more than the doctors anyways. If there is one thing that seems to ring true while I read the post in this site....it's that "they do Paint a Rosey Picture".

1, Will I be able to walk go for a walk t...

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Beta Blockers & Blood Pressure

I have been taking beta blockers for the last 2 weeks to blunt my natural heart rate so that the pacemaker has to do all of the work. As far as my heart is concerned I am feeling great, but I have really low blood pressure while taking the beta blockers. With my doctors advice, I have tried lowering the dose, and lowering the frequency of the dose. So far, that hasn't worked, when I try to take a smaller dose, I start to get palpitations, chest pain, shortness of breath...all of those horrible t...

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Hi Folks


It is hard to believe we have been here in Victoria nearly two weeks. I had my cardio checkup at Geelong Hospital yesterday with the specialist there. My PM check is on 1st September. I happened to mention if they checked Ela PM's and he said "NO" good job I mentioned it as they have made arrangements for the tech to come down to the PM Dept that day.

The sp was really good said my heart was in good cond and gave me some BP tabs with a diuretic in. I had been complaining t...

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Smitty and Tracey....I am still confused!

Sorry, I don't quite get the settings. I think I get the lower setting.
BUT..the high set point.....is that the one that they set at like 170 and if your heart beats to fast it will slow it down? I thought thats what the dual chamber did.
I have sick sinus syndrome.My biggest problem is that at rest...this includes any time I am not actively moving..my HR is around 34...and pretty much stays there until I get up and move or get upset....something to raise it. It then stays at a good ra...

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Beta Blockers

Why would the doctor put you on beta blockers so that you will pace more....I thought the idea was to let your heart do what it can on it's own. I was just reading that and am confused.

Holly

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Thank You Smitty and Tracey

I appreciate your responses. I know no two of us are the same...but we are still going through similar experiences.
I don't think that I would say I don't trust my doctor....It's just that before I listen to him tell me what it feels like...and what it doesn't..I would think someone who has one would know better than someone without one.
And I agree about the dual chamber....I don't know why he would want to give me meds instead of placing two leads to begin with.

I do NOT...

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Another question, and thanks

I wanted to know if anyone of you had your heart working only 15%, and if there is a way to make it work harder or higher.
Do the meds fix that. I was told that it can, was just wondering. Thank you all, you have already made me wiser to this new problem that I am going through. Thanks again

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Airport Screening

Anybody know if the new body scanners (like the millimeter wave scanners at O'Hare) are safe for pacemaker patients?? I looked at the TSA website but couldn't find any info on precautions or contraindications.
Thanks.
-- Jenn

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memory

greetings all:
i had my medtronics dual lead ADDR01 pacemaker implanted in 12/07 and have relatively few real concerns (okay, more just after the implant!). but all has been well. i had it implanted for sick sinus syndrome and take florinef to increase my blood pressure as it is usually very low. recently, maybe 3-4 months, i seem to be having some memory problems-shortterm recall mostly. i have always been very sharp, excellent with numbers, you know, math calculations in my head were no p...

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PM 2 weeks & tired

Hello everyone, I am a 53 year old and I live in Finland. I got my pace maker two weeks ago. My healt has been quite good. But I have been tired during the last 6 months. During one morning I had three blackouts. The last one was a 15 sec heart stop (which was recorded by ambulance people). I also had a strange pain in stomach area which dissapeared soon. Doctors diagnosed FA paroxysmalis & sick sinus syndrome.

There has not been found any special reason for this occasion. The corona...

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