Most Recent Messages in Success Stories

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For the newcomers….

My first post was back in 2012...I needed a pacemaker and was FREAKING OUT! I thought it was the end!  Well, fast forward 10 years, and I usually forget I have one 😂.

Just thought about the group today and how much it helped me...wanted to do the same for anyone who is just starting out and scared to death.  I'm telling you, the anxiety is way worse than the actual surgery, and life with a pacemaker is just as fun as it was before. I travel, I'm active, I work in IT ar...

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Palpitations and anxiety

Hey fellow pacers, I have always had palpitations, skipped beats, and thumps. I've had a dual chamber pacemaker for three years. I'm 72 years old. I thought the pm would get rid of the skips, but no, it just keeps the beat going. Even though I have always had them, sometimes not for months, sometimes for hours, they still make me extremely anxious. Two weeks ago I had an hours woth, which is a little unusual. Sent a transmission to my clinic and everything is fine. So I took it u...

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Hallelujah!

posted this to some friends...
 

So had a major tweak on my pacer last week or so ago.    

Upper HR had been set to 140


When I would hit that upper limit, the device auto drops my HR to around 80.   

Imagine going along on a ride or a weight workout and all in a sudden you body starts pumping out half the blood it was 

Yeah it’s that dramatic.  

So we talked at the doc about what I do etc.  

220...

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I am Blessed

I had a pacemaker implanted in June of 2008

I have had no issues infact I know it saved my life 

I was lucky enough to have a great surgeon and everything went well when they replaced the battery 

My current cardiologist is amazing it makes life so much easier when your surrounded by competent medical people 

I never even think about it 

 

 

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3 Years Pacing and All is Well

It's been a while since I've even been on the forum which says a lot about how little the PM has affected my life the past couple of years.  Had some initial difficulties with rate response on my Biotronic Edora.  It was eventually turned off and I have had no issues since.  I forget that I even have the PM.  Just wanted to thank everyone here for the good advice in year 1 and encourage others to keep advocating for yourselves.  This forum is a great resource!...

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Beyond the Moon!

After a long discussion with my Cardiologit at my 12 week check-up, we agreed to get a follow-up Echo this month to see if any progress was being made towards an improved EF and to check my lipids to see how they responded now that I've been off the Beta Blocker for about 10 weeks.  Quick recap, I ended up with a Conduction System Pacing set-up on May 1 in that the original plan for a bi-ventricular PM was derailed during the procedure when they discovered a Persistant Left-side...

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Late 2013: Diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy

November 2013 I was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. This didn't look good, as my heart was severely weakened . I had severe shortness of breath, and congestive heart failure. My heart's EF was only 15% at the time. An angiogram showed no obstructions. The left  ventricle was dilated and the mitral valve was re-regurgitating. I spent 3 days in the hospital under observation. Given Lisinopril and Carvedilol even though my blood pressure was normal.

Mo...

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Update on thread dated 2009-05-18 (!)

I am re-posting a new comment left by member “tuck3lin” yesterday on his old post from 2009, ref:   BY TUCK3LIN 2009-05-18  01:05:58 EXERCISE & SPORTS 1532 VIEWS 5 COMMENTS

It is good to hear from you tuck3lin. Congratulations on the arrival of your first grandchild.  Glad you are doing so well.  Gemita

by tuck3lin - 2024-06-23 21:38:32

It's 15 years later, and I thought I would loo...

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Sinus pauses=pacemaker choice

Hi,

I am 55 and haveng a paceaker 7/10.  I am wondering if anyone is/was in a smilar situation?

I was diagnosed with Bradycardia 4 years ago-no symptoms.  Wearing a monitor noticed sinus pauses of 3 seconds, not sytmptoms. Has continued for a few years, then pauses recently went to 5 seconds, and have a loop recoarder. All puases in day-and I have no symptoms. Recent puase was 3 seconds, 2 beat, then 5 seconds. still did not notice. Since times are gradually increasing m...

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30 years paced

Today marks 30 years since I got my first pacer!  I live a full, active life and don't plan on slowing down any time soon. There have been a few challenges and bumps in the road, but overall it's been nothing but a blessing. Technology is so amazing.

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PM

I went on a birding trip to Thailand Jan 5th this year. During the third week of our trip I had trouble walking up hills, steps, giddiness and breathlessness. Then on one particular day I couldn't even walk up 4 steps. Our friends, who were Thai, took us to a hospital where I was diagnosed with Bradycardia, pneumonia and a stomach infection. My heart rate was under 38 and down to 20 at one stage. BP extremely low and also dropped lower at one s...

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One year update

Assuming you can read my earlier messages, you'll know I was implanted a year ago in March, and had my AV node ablated in June. All this the result of a long term paroxysmal afib condition which had decided to no longer spontaneously self correct within a 30 hour period. This required 6 cardioversions in a 9 month period. 
 

Since June of '23 post AV node ablation, the world has looked VERY much better. Complete stability of my heart rate and as promised, whi...

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Persistence pays

Hi all, 

I received a dual lead PM almost 4 years ago.   It has taken until just a few months ago to get the settings just right for me.  I was blessed to have a technician team that takes genuine interest in her patients and their health.  Shout out to Rebecca and Erin if you're on here 🙌.   I'm also benefiting from remote monitoring (thanks again Rebecca).  My recent phone check up revealed that my 'numbers are 1000% better than befo...

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8 months after implant

I'm a 62 year old male, I'm 8 months in since my implant . I was asymptamatic when I received my implant. I feel  the same as I did  before I got my dual chambered device. No issues  what so ever. I am a welder and still welding with no issues. I did speak with a tech from Boston Scientific 1st before returning to welding. I have returned to doing cardio , somtimes getting my rate up to 160 .I was told to go ahead by my cardiologist.  If anyone has any questions pl...

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Pulse Oximeter Update

I have previously mentioned my low pulse readings from my Finger Oximeter. The explanation was the  PVC’s were giving false readings for my pulse. I was advised not to use this device, fair enough. My EP and his Tech both proved my pacemaker was working properly with the minimum setting of 60 bpm. 

At my last visit I was given a prescription for Flecainide to calm down the PVC’s, this works by blocking Sodium Channels and slowing down the electricity. I have been o...

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quarterly transmission

My quartely transmission was on Dec 19,2023.  Here is the summary. There were 229 atrial high rate episodes detected.  Most were at rest only 6 while active and on Nov 25, which was day i cooked for 5 of us.  The longest lasted 0:00:54:52 in duration.  There was a 1.8% cumulative atrial arrtyhthia burden which was much less the last quarter of 11%.  Review of EGMS shows AT/AF. 1 ventricular high rate episode detected.  Review   of EGM show nsVT13 b...

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How many of us are happy with our PMs?

I was just wondering what percentage of PM recipients might be more or less happy with the way their particular device performs?

This Club is a massively helpful hub for us all, especially those with tricky heart problems and those with issues with their PMs. The level of knowledgeable technical and emotional support on offer is superb.

One understandable consequence of this is that postings tend to be dominated by those with serious questions to ask about their own health, or the...

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Long off the club but…..I’m Back!

Hey, y'all! I am back after long hiatus from the club. Not many will remember me but that's what happens. 
Had first pacemaker installed 2013. All was well for many years but the pacemaker was getting low on juice, a bit early since I am 100% paced, so got a new generator installed  March 2021 rated for 13 years this go round! 
In the the meantime, started having chest pains, thought it was reflux, but endoscope said no. Had already planned it with cardiology...

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New to club

Hi, I have recovered well from the surgery implant five weeks ago and swam 50 laps this morning. I am so pleased and privileged to have my device, I live in USA and am on Medicare, so this is at very little cost to me. 

I am 75-year-old Mechanical Engineer, who has windsurfed for 22 years. I have had two years of gradual reduced energy and strength. For my age I am considered very fit, I eat well don’t smoke or drink and exercise regularly, I weigh 160lbs. For the last two ye...

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Life post pacemaker

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum and I've had my pacemaker since March 2023. I'm 34 and adjusting to life with a PM and more surgeries to replace the battery going forward.

I jwant to share my story. I was quite fit in my 20's but I always felt like I had something wrong with my heart. There were times when I couldn't control my heart rate with breathing and at other times I had strange feelings and 'auras' where I felt unwell, like a general feeling of doom...

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Thank you technology! My life is much improved.