Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

Post Message!

Automatic mode switching (AMS) in atrial fibrillation

In Feb. 2022, I had a checkup and my AMS rate was 9 events.  In July 2022, I had a software update for my PM and my AMS events were 565.  I know this is mostly for dual-chamber pacemakers like mine by Abbot that is pacing me 100% of the time.  Can someone put in layman's terms what AMS events are telling me?  My home monitor sent an alert to the hospital over the events, so is this something I should be concerned with?

Read More...

Question about settings

It's been a while since I've posted, now 2 in one day! Another post reminded me of a question that I have had in the back of my mind, so here goes: A lot of people discuss having settings adjusted or "tweeked", usually because initial settings are not quite right or they feel they need a change. Most recently I learned that settings may be different while leads settle in & need to be dialed down later. Well, as far as I know, my setting have been the same since day...

Read More...

Anxiety / feeling off

Hello,

 

I am a 43yo female, I got my pacemaker on May 11 for an AV heart block. The doctor has me coming back in August because as they described it it's like there's fog lights on but the fog has cleared so they have to adjust settings possibly.

I do feel that I am experiencing stress in a heightened state. So in a situation that would previously have caused me some stress is causing me to express myself and appear more agitated than I am used to. I was taking...

Read More...

Medicare finally billed

Could not beleive my email this morning 8/10/2022 a statement from Medicare with the charges for my remote transmissions and stress test for the past year along with the one for this year so far. The charges from June 2021 remote transmission and the stress test July 22,2021 were denied as they were filed to late.  Paid and accepted were Dec. 21,2021, March 22,2022.

new to pace

Read More...

Pacemaker literature

Having recently had a pace and ablate procedure I find that I've been hit by a bout of anxiety. Part of this is because I don't fully understand how mine works. All the new language is hard to understand and learn. A CRT-P device seems to be highly complex in its different functions which nobody has explained to me probably because it's too much to explain in a short appointment. The settings such VVI or DDD obviously mean something.

So my question, is does anyone have any o...

Read More...

Device adjustment

Had atrial stenosis and AF for years, was given the Edward's valve on July 22, 2022 at the Cleveland Clinic, OH, USA. All appeared to be in good order, and was discharged after overnight stay in hospital. On July 26th I presented at my local primary care provider in acute heart failure, with very low heart rate and very high BP. Had a St. Jude Medical Assurity MRI PM2272 DDDR installed within an hour and a half. Since then recovery has been slow, with bouts of dizzyness and gene...

Read More...

Medtronic Consulta CRT-p replacement

My CRT-p was implanted in 2013 and is coming to the end of it life, will need to be replaced next year. My question is do they still make them or is there a new and improved model to change to.  I have heart failure and afib and am currently 100% paced with this machine. I frequently have problems with walking hills & stairs and they have never found a program to solve the issue.
Does anyone have a crt-p that works for someone with an active lifestyle..

Thanks for any inpu...

Read More...

What factor(s) determine where the pacemaker pulse rate is set ?

On my second pacemaker now for about 2 years. First one was set to keep me@ 60 PR, and second one was set also @ 60 PR. However, I developed AFib about a year ago and have more symptoms with feeling out of breath and tiredness in my legs with light to moderate exertion. I am on Xarelto for the AFib, and about 2 months ago my cardiologist decided to "tweak" my pacemaker to give me a better quality of life. He had the Tech increase my PR to 70, and initially I thought things were some...

Read More...

Cls settings - lower rate limit

Hi can anyone with experience with biotronik cls explain how their lower rate limit was decided on?

My medical team are not experienced with CLS, they do not usually activate it, and I am always the most knowledgeable person in the room at my clinic visits, which is very disconcerting.

I am due to have another trial of CLS after initially begging for it to be disabled after one night on my first attempt due to being pounded with a ridiculously high heart rate all night in bed.

...

Read More...

First Medtronics check up

I had my first appointment with Medtronics this morning. I am 3.5 weeks post pacemaker implant surgery. He estimates 14 years on the battery and everything looked good. I asked if it had actually kicked in. He looked and said I was thinking pacing at 30% which was relatively low. My view is it's high enough that getting the pacemaker was my only decision but low enough that it's not the only think keepine me upright. 

Any thoughts from those who have been in the club longer...

Read More...

Irregular beats

I have a dual chamber Medtronic pacemaker and am now experiencing frequent pvc's . They are showing up as an irregular rhythm on the home blood pressure machine. I was recently having multiple rate drop episodes and they changed the settings . Has anyone ever heard of this occurring? Thanks for your help.

Read More...

Base rate

Hi there,

Yesterday I had my CRT-P pacemaker turned on for the first time since I had it put in on 9th May. I'd been having a lot of discomfort after the procedure as they has trouble getting the 3rd lead into place so it was decided to turn it off until everything had settled down. My AV node ablation is in 3weeks.

So I heard them say that my base rate is 60. 

My question is : do base rates vary? Because I've noticed when I sit down or when I lay down in bed la...

Read More...

ERI and voltage

My pacemaker is 11, almost twelve, years old. We've been doing more frequent checks for about a year. At the most recent in-office check a couple of weeks ago, I was told my pacemaker is now in ERI because the voltage is at 2.6v, although the estimated battery still reads 2-3 months. 

Although I've noticed voltage increasing in the last year or so, I'd never thought to question its significance to ERI. But now I'm curious. What is voltage telling...

Read More...

ablations

This is an update to my previous question about ablations.  The summary from my last quartely remote transmission on June 20,2022.

  States the Heath trends do not demonstrate significant abnormality.  There fore will  not look into doing anything further for the moment..  

thanks to everyone for their comments on my previous message.

new to pace

Read More...

Pacemaker settings

Had a check up today said my lower chamber was pacing at 100% and lower chamber at 84% going back in a couple of days to change settings on pacemaker because Dr said 100% was to high.....has anyone else experienced this ....I have had my pacemaker for almost 3 years

Read More...

White noise

I got my 3rd pacemaker may 21. The last 2 check ups nurse mention white noise on reading. Nurse stated leads should have been changed. My next appt I asked doctor he said they are ok. My leads are 21 years old. Anyone hear of white noise?

Read More...

Settings

Can someone explain the settings for AV block please. The EP was going to set mine to atrial only but when I explained my symptoms she set it to atrial and ventricular pacing at 60bpm. Not sure what this means and why? It certainly has got rid of all my previous symptoms so must be working. 

Read More...

Speaking of monitoring

I was on a once every 6 months schedule, but now that my pacemaker's battery has less than 6 months to ERI, I'm being asked to send transmissions more often.

I have the old style Merlin@Home transmitter which requires I sit down, put the donut over my pacemaker and press START. As the tranmission progresses, different icons light up with a series of beeping tones. It's done when the star icon lights up and I hear a rising C-chord of beeps. Takes about 5 minutes.

Y...

Read More...

Using the pacemaker as diagnostic tool

I need to take both medications: anticoagulant (have Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation) and antiplatelet (advanced CAD with 6 cardiac stents)

However, because of the high bleeding risk, this is not allowed to take both for long time.

I also have a pacemaker Medtronic Azure S with Bluetooth capability.

My question is:

Anybody having experience for using the pacemaker as diagnostic tool that allows the anticoagulant Eliquis to be taken as pill in the pocket? (only when...

Read More...

Pacemaker Home monitoring

I promised to do a post on this subject.  Some members have expressed a wish to know how many of us receive pacemaker home monitoring and the frequency?   I see Tracey_E has kindly set up a Poll for all pacemaker/ICD members.  You will need to log on to see the Poll and to cast your vote.  

I am in the UK.  I have home monitoring but my husband does not.  I therefore took the opportunity today of asking the cardiac technician during my husband’s pacem...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

Your electric tooth brush interferes with your device.

Member Quotes

You now get to start a new life it's like being reborn.