Most Recent Messages in General Posting

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What not to say to your EP

I could use some help finding a Doctor who specializes in removing a foot from one's mouth..would that be a podiatrist or a dentist???
I researched about my EP study before having it done, the worst it said could happen was death and those odds were 1 in a thousand, So after all the I-V's are in and I'm feeling good my Ep Doctor walks in, and I asked him if I am # 998 or #999, He didn't get it till I explained...I was # 1,000.
Then the foot jumped in my mouth again at my first ICD fol...

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abc

come to chat?

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Just checking in...

Hello pm family!

Just wanted to tell ya that I'm on the mend and doing okay from the gallbladder surgery. I'm a little more sore than I expected and not up and around as much as I hoped by now, but I'm hopeful! :) Some of you gave me some great advice about how to sleep and other things to expect, so I appreciate it immensely. It has all helped! Now I can't wait to eat some real food next week!

Happy pacing...
ela-girl

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Getting a Pacemaker & Life

Hello all,
I am new. I do not even have my Pacemaker yet. It will be in July as lomg as symptoms do not get worse.
I have a few questions.

1. will I have trouble if I try and get new health insurance?

2. Is it true..you can't even have a few beers with freinds? Someone just told me that one. Said you can't have alcohol!

3. Does each doctor just use whatever type of pacemaker they are use..or do diff. pts. get different ones? I know there are different k...

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DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THOSE WITH A PM/ICD

I don't know what the California laws, or any state or federal laws are regarding people having pacemakers and/or defibrillators may be. But any law or rule that places a penalty restriction on people with a heart assist device is unfair and asinine. All that any of us that have these heart assist devices have done is learned that we have a medical problem and that problem has been corrected or helped by a man-made device. Getting that manmade device has not made us a higher risk for any activit...

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Medtronic Rep Madison, WI

Like many posts I've read on here I've been having problems getting my PM programmed correctly. I have been to the PM clinic several times complaining about PVCs (lots of them) and other symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue. They kind of implied that I really wasn't having PM problems because the PM wasn't recording any episodes.

For the last 10 days (I've only had my PM a month) the problem kept getting worse until I nearly ended up in the ER and then they finally began to...

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For Fred in Seattle

Come and chat, Fred. Wannabe

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Baby Can I Drive My Car? (with an ICD?)

So, next week on June 18th I have my Guidant 1290 pacemaker replaced with a St. Judes CRT/ICD.

What's the situation with driving?

Are there state regulations (Californina here) for people with ICD's? Do EP's generally allow patients to drive? Do ICD's give any pre-defibrillating warning before firing? This already seems to be a high anxiety situation knowing that at any moment one can get zapped, and if on the road, this certainly could present a problem.

As L...

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What Does It Feel Like???

I will not be getting my pm untill July. I am Really nervous.
What does it feel like? Can I feel when it is pacing? Does it feel like palpitations? That seems like it would feel uncomfortable.
I realize it will take some getting use to.

For instance...someone said when they have a few beers..it makes the pacer kick in and they don't feel well. Would it not pace often....or everytime your hr drops? Does it make you feel funny?
Can i ask the doctor to set it low..It was n...

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Thanks!

I just wanted to thank you all for the encouraging comments you guys posted about my graduation... I am at school today waiting to be called down. I love you guys!

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KNOWLEDGE

ElectricFrank is really knowlegeable and claims that he understands the electronics in his pacemaker and spends a lot of time studying medical documents. I also have noticed that some doctors do not like it if you educate yourself and are able to make informed decisions about what and what not should be done. If I had not made a study of electrophysiology , I would not be in the good health that I now find myself in. Hospitals often "use" patients to speak to worried patients about their concern...

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Treasure hunting with Metal Detector...

I wanted to know if anyone has a metal detector for treasure hunting. I'm getting a metal detector tomorrow for Father's Day. I'm so excited, but, I just wanted to know if it's okay to use with a pacemaker. If you have any information to share with me, I would be happy to hear it. May you all your blessings come to pass.
What a treasure it was to find this web site. I'm happy to report that I'm hanging in there and things are looking up. I hope everyone finds a peace of treasure in their h...

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PMclub site quotes

Hello again. I'm sure you all are aware of my quote mission, and was hoping it would be okay if I created section in my book for those quirky You're Wired When quotes as long as I gave the site credit. Thanks a bunch!

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what do i do...

if i hate my doctor's assistant?

michael, the assistant to my CEP, is the biggest jerk i have ever had the displeasure of meeting. he is condescending and patronizing, disorganized and disrespectful. every time i speak to him (which has only been three times) he puts on these airs that are supposed to make me feel like the biggest moron to walk the planet. i question him about something, and he gets offended and begins speaking to me as though i'm two.

thing is, i'm pretty...

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World Heart Rhythm Day 2008

Arrhythmia Alliance, in partnership with the International Cardiac Pacing & Electrophysiology Society, is pleased to announce that the forthcoming Arrhythmia Awareness Week 2008 will be held from 9th-15th June, with World Heart Rhythm Awareness Day falling on 13th June.

Organisations, such as Pacemaker Club, and individuals from across the globe help raise awareness of heart rhythm disorders and sudden cardiac death.

To learn more visit www.aaaw.org

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Big day tomorrow!!!

Hey all! The day is almost here... TOMORROW I GRADUATE MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only 4 more years of torture and then I can go to MED SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!

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moved and looking for a new Dr.

I just moved from Oklahom to Charlotte, NC and have been very hesitant to deciding on a new Dr to manage my pacemaker. I am only 43 and have had my pacemaker for almost 2 years. I went in for an ablation and my AV node was inadvertently ablated requiring a pacemaker. Then my lung was punctured when they put in the pacemaker. 2 weeks later I developed pericarditis.

To make matters worse, my doctor wasn't really interested in helping me return to my active lifestyle after it was all...

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physiotherapy

can anyone tell me if they have had any physiotherapy treatments with a pm in place. i am suffering strain and tension in my neck and shoulders which is causing severe pain now and getting worse. ive been to physio in the past for same problem but they said they cant do any of the treatments because of the pm. ive had acupuncture three times the first two sessions helped a lot but the latest session did nothing. a course of steroid and anti inflammatories did nothing either. i am having my pm re...

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I am a TRASYLOL victim!

(If you haven't seen it, first click on, or c&p the link below to view the "60 Minutes" piece from February 2008 exposing the dangers and destruction caused by the now FDA-pulled surgical drug, TRASYLOL.)

http://tinyurl.com/6ydt3w

TRASYLOL, a drug made by BAYER AG, has been off the market for less than a year. It was used solely during open heart surgery to control bleeding. It cost $1,200~$1,500 a dose, vs its strongest competitor that cost just $50 a dose and was equa...

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Uggh, summer!

Hello again. K, I have a question for the drivers out there: do you have to have a thing on your license saying that you have a PM or ICD? Just wondering. Oh my gosh!!! I went on a band trip to Splash Down on Saturday and got burnt sooo bad despite the fact I lathered on sun block 3 friggn times!!! UGGG!

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You know you're wired when...

The meaning of personal computer is taken a step further.

Member Quotes

99% of the time, I totally forget I even have this device.