Most Recent Messages in Complications

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burning/stinging sensations

My husband had a pacemaker implanted in early March, 2011. He also had a stent one week later. He has frequent burning/stinging sensations below the PM and above near the collarbone. They last about the length of 3 heartbeats. The area remains sore for a time after. He has little energy and says he doesn't feel any better now than he did before the PM. His heart rate was very low, hence the PM. It is set to keep his heart rate at 50 or above and seldom gets up into the 60s. He is 73 and...

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Questions

Hi All,
It's been ten days since I had the PM surgery. Everything has been going well. I no longer have the internal earthquake with every heart beat. The pain and discomfort was no way near what I thought it woud be. That alone is a celebration. However, I feel like the shortness of breath is trying to return. I think the PM adjusts the heart and it doesn't become full blown but it is making me cautious. I have my follow up in four days. Is there a way to adjust the PM in the office so th...

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pacemaker location hurts

I have put on some weight since a replacement pacemaker was implanted for a year ago and I get pains where it was placed, specially early in the morning; these awake me and I have to get up to relieve the pain.

In my imagination I can visualize my weight causing this problem because the leads are being stretched by additional weight and pulling on the device.

Does that make sense? Do I need to worry and go on a crash diet? Do I need to contact my cardiologist?

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New Pacemaker

Hi All,
Just had a new PM and 2nd lead implanted, and thought I would be a new person when I came out of the Cath Lab. So much for that thought! I'm very disappointed with how this has turned out. I'm still having bouts of palpitations, the shortness of breath and the heavy feeling in my chest is better. I told my Dr. about it, but he just gave me this look like he thought I was making it all up and ignored it! Maybe I need a new Dr. too! Huh!
Have any of you had this problem when you...

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heart failure

I have had my pacemaker for 6 years and now have heart failure.  I would like to know if anyone else has this problem. 

I have had a coronary angiogram and have no heart diseases. My heart fraction rate is 35%.  My biggest problem is fatigue and shortness of breath.  Can anyone help with ways to get better?  The doctor just says to see what the drugs will do, but I want to get better now.

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pacemaker=cardiomyopathy always?

I have had tachycardia's in 360's and as low as 30 since at least my teens. Began ablations 20 years ago and had AV nodal ablation for multifocal atrial tach, fib and flutter in 93 with dual pacing and Sotalol. My EJ fx a yr. later was 50. Now with lots of symptoms and v-tach, junctional tach, and lots of asynchrony they say my cardiomyopathy is significant but is due to dyskinesia of a pacemaker. They indicate that pacing always causes this. My ejection fx is in the 40's. My exercise tole...

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pacemaker=cardiomyopathy always?

I have had tachycardia's in 360's and as low as 30 since at least my teens. Began ablations 20 years ago and had AV nodal ablation for multifocal atrial tach, fib and flutter in 93 with dual pacing and Sotalol. My EJ fx a yr. later was 50. Now with lots of symptoms and v-tach, junctional tach, and lots of asynchrony they say my cardiomyopathy is significant but is due to dyskinesia of a pacemaker. They indicate that pacing always causes this. My ejection fx is in the 40's. My exercise tole...

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Just say no, Don't do it

Feb 2005 Medtronics three wire implant due to low ejection fraction. i havnt slept or nap since, did not have this problem till that day. coud not workout by 2008 worked my body into total physical fatigue by 2009 and had to quit working at 55.

ive posted before, i know all you lucky people that the icd did not cause sleep problems will post up thats great dont waist my time., also all you people that say work with your pacer tech, i have and they do a great job.

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Moving PM

Does anyone else have this annoyance? My PM is on the left side. When I lay on my right side the PM stands up on its side. I am afraid that I will accidentally, during my sleep, turn it so the wires will pull out? Anyone else?

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pain in left arm when picking up about twenty poun

I can barely pick up twenty five pounds with my left arm because the pain is so great in the upper arm and if I move the left arm real fast the pain is terriable. as you know I had my pacer installed a year ago today. is there any one on here having the same problem if their is i would love to hear from you because every time that i question my heart dr about it he will say well it has nothing to do with installing you pace maker
so I will visit me a pain dr shortly and see if he can figure...

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left arm losing circulation

i got a ICD one month ago on may 2nd and i was cleared to start swimming again this week on may 30th. my practices are really intense and i am worried i may be stressing the muscles around the defibrillator too much. my arm starts to tingle after about 100 yards. if i keep swimming and ignore the tingling feeling, my arm goes numb and swells up. i talked to a cardiologist and he said it was probably only a coincidence because there is a nerve in the armpit that could cause tingling down the arm...

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Dropped Beats

Hi -

Does anyone with High Grade AV Block experience dropped beats? Within the last few monhts, my HR will drop unexpectedly once in a while. It happens when I'm sedentary, as well as when I'm training (biking and running usually, but it's happened while swimming, too). It drops within my device range so my device doesn't pace but it's really weird feeling. Any ideas, comments or suggestions? Should I just ignore it or is something going on? I called the cardio, his nurse said I shoul...

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Worried!

Hello all,

My battery life for my pacemaker has 11 months and I have an issue; my pacemaker is on stand by and I don’t use it much. This is the thing; my ventricle lead is very sensitive and it actually hurts when they pace it when testing the leads. My pacemaker is a Medtronic Kappa 700 DR so it’s programmed to go direct once the battery gets too low, it should pace direct at 65 bpm only pacing the ventricle lead, with me being so sensitive I’m afraid I won&rsqu...

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post pacemaker

Recently had a defibrillator (CRT-D) fitted in Feb 11. Recovery good;but recently experiencing out of breath,low appetite, and experiencing discomfort in stomach. Sugar level has risen, so metaformin 500mg x1.Heart rate 116/65 pulse 70; no indication of fluid build up visible in legs. Furosemide 40mg x1:bisoprolo 1.25mg.Is out of breath due to sugar level/diabetes?
Due to have CRT-D checked in the 2 weeks time; any suggestions?





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endocarditis

Has anyone had a pacemaker removed due to a staph infection that led to endocarditis then had another pacemaker implanted? My pacemaker became infected after a generator change which was removed and later I had open heart surgery for endocarditis. It has been 3 years since it was removed and my new Dr. is suggesting I have it reimplanted. I would like to hear someone else’s experience with this before I make up my mind.
Kind Regards,
~Carolyn

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Metal build up in the blood

Does anyone know if a pacemaker can cause high levels of metal in the blood and what would be the appropriate blood test to take for finding this out? Thanks for your help.

Brother James

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MRI

Hi everyone,
Please is there someone out there thats been in the same boat as me. There has to be, I don't think I'm that special.
I have a bad knee. A few years ago I had a torn meniscus. The pain was bad. Well low and behold I am now experiencing the same pain in the other knee and now that I have the pacemaker they can't do an MRI so anyone have this happen to them? They can't make a determination without it. They are going to treat it conservativly for now. Pt and injectio...

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Pacer pain 6 years later

I have had my pacer for 6 years now and I have had some pain with it since I have had it but it has been tolerable and I haven't thought much of it. However, the pain I am experiencing now is more than I can handle and the entire area surrounding the device is turning black (like a terrible bruise). I feel like I'm being stabbed in the chest and then mind numbing, aching pain goes through my entire shoulder, up my neck and down my left arm. The pain is constant now and I am having other symptoms...

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icd scar raised like a blister

Hi I am new to this site but hope for some advice ..I had my 5th icd implant in 2009 but on another old scar I have developed what appears to be a blister .GP says its keloid but today I had a tiny bit of discharge from it ..I have seen a doctor and have been given antibiotics..I am now not sure if it is keloid or the start of erosion the corner of mt device is very close to this area..I will call my cardiology nurse monday after the weekend ..Any ides ??

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Migraine and Pacemakers

Yes I have been to a neurologist, several in fact and I have tried almost every migraine prevention drug there is: beta blockers, calcium channel blockers anti depressants, anti seizure, anti this and that drugs . . . but still migraines. I now get a small dose of botox in my hairline and across forehead and around left eye (not enough to give me a cosmetic effect -- darn!) and they bring my migraine down to about 8 or 9 a month, and weaker, more easily controlled migraine. I am convinced how...

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