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Checkup and Settings

I just had my pacemaker checked remotely. The title said "abnormal." Then I downloaded the 2 tests. I'm 84 years old, and I have total heart block. Two months ago I had a heart attack with 90% blockage in one artery. The others were clear. My problem:

1. i contacted the physician but I doubt I'll hearing from anyone in their office in the near future.

2. I cannot read the test and I can't tell what is abnormal.

3. My question: Is it normal to be "a...

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Can the doctor adjust my pacemaker for this?

With regular activities and work, etc, I feel great with more energy etc. My pulse range was 40-60 and now it is 60-80. 

My issue is that if I quickly pick up my pace walking in a hurry, or climb steps, or lift something with my other side arm like a suitcase and carry it that I get winded to the point that others notice and comment. 

Sometimes it seems if I get anxiety that it impacts my breathing too a little. 

After being winded, it goes back to normal if I...

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Heartbeat in armpit

I just had a new PM put in after 10 years as my battery life ran out. I have a Medtroic Azure XT and I bascally pace 90+ % of the time in the atrium but at my first check up I was pacing 25% of the time in my ventricle so they made a slight change to my settings. I am pacing a little fast but I feel my heartbeat in my armpit , not always , but enough to be annoying and with no rhyme or reason. Originally I thought it was happeneing mostly when I woke up but now it seems to be more random any...

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Biotronik Episode Code 13

Does anyone know what kind of "episode" is Biotronik Episode Code 13? I can't find an online resource that lists the codes.

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Boston Scientific Accolade Exercise Settings

I  enquired ( by e-mail)  from my hospital pacemaker physiologists  whether I could get  some relief from breathlessness on exercise initiation, which remains a problem for stairs, lifting, and the start of length swimming etc. Her kind response is the following:

"I am more than happy to look at your rate response again .I am aware of the Boston literature; however my personal experience is that the main benefit is in patients whose only form of exerci...

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Pacemaker

Had ECG today just reading my discharge paperwork ,says his ECG showed complete heart block with pacing spikes noted on V4 V6  ,does heart block have anything to do with the ablation I had ? 

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ICD CHECK UP

After being unwell for a while with irregular heart rhythms, high heart rate and BP (see my previous post), I had a three month check up yesterday and I thought I'd share it with you.

My first question was had I had any AF or arrhythmia since last time as I can feel an irregular pulse when when my HR rises to 90 to 102. I was told I had not been in AF and not had arrhythmia.

I asked about Rate Response. I was told the setting was what I needed but when I explained how my heart...

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I had a helpful pacemaker check today . . .

They were training so there were two technicians present.  I told them about a few near fainting spells I have been having recently as well as some breathlessness and they confirmed non sustained VT episodes had been recorded.

We discussed the possibility of a second lead to the left ventricle, since I only have a single lead to the Right Ventricle at the moment which is now dilated, as are my two upper chambers.  They have requested another echocardiogram and are referri...

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Help on CRT-D report comment

I see my EP every 3 months and my appt was last week.  They did some adjusting, but no ventricular arrhythmias.

They uploaded my report to my portal....a first!  They mentioned I am have tachycardia and pvcs, which I'm aware of between symptoms and my Apple watch.  

I have an Abbott CRT-D.  There is an alert saying "V Sense Amplitude below 4.0 mV.  

Can anybody explain the alert to me?  It actually says 2 alerts on the report but it onl...

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Pacemaker settings and underlying rhythm

Since my PM implant in July I've been back several times at various places for device changes. The process I've experienced is:

- the device tech connects to the PM (in my case a Boston Scientific)

- changes/adjustments are made either based on my input or on an exercise stress test

- the device is programmed with the new settings

A visit report is produced. There's a lot of data there including the changes made and current settings. There's also quite...

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Questions for my Cardioligist

Pacemaker Questions for “Docky” and “Tim the Tech”.      Feb 5th 2024. 

DDD-CLS -                   Take Thumb drive.

Hi everyone, I am hoping to get an appointment before Christmas to get my very first adjustment, I do not want to wait till February. Are these questions phrased correctly? I am new to all the terminology. Any comment...

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PM service

Morning All

I've bemoaned the quality of my local cardiology service before but I think it's hit a new low.

In 18 years, it's gone from local hospital 6 monthly face to face clinics to annual "virtual device clinics" i.e a download and a phone call.

A recent letter now says that I will only get a return phone call if the numbers don't look right.

So you could go years without even speaking to someone.

It's worrying when combined with...

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Algorithms to Reduce Ventricular Pacing

Further to a conversation with another forum member, I’ve been taking a fresh look at VP (ventricular pacing) prevention algorithms - in particular the VIP algorithm (Ventricular Instrinsic Preference) which is programmed on my Abbott pacemaker.

I try to keep an open mind, and to this end I’d like to even up some of the posts I have made on this forum which have related my experiences with this algorithm and PMT (pacem...

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Different recommendations on each visit still cannot get it right.

Hello

I have recently returned from toronto where I was checked before receiving my remote monitor.  I was hoping for better help with my PM as after 5 months and 6 pror appointments, they still cannot agree on settings.  All but one one left me SOB and exhausted and set me back on my exercise program to almost post op.  Another symptom which is really problematic for me is brain fog or confusion, memory and focusing issues.  So on the 6th I was with the cardiologist...

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'Your Pacemaker is Working Normally'

Many people on this forum receive the message that their pacemaker is working normally when they report symptoms and unexpected rhythms.  This can be really frustrating as we are often unable to provide a reasoned argument in response which ensures that our concerns are default in certain circumstances.

This article explains some of the things which may be happening and which may be worth discussing with your techs if you cannot get to the bottom of symptoms when you are told that...

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PACs every other beat after pacemaker check

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum. I recently had a pacemaker placed for sinus node dysfunction. It's a single lead right atrial pacemaker, Medtronic Azure XT SR MRI. 

Last week I went for my first pacemaker check. My setting at implant were a rate of 70-120. During the device check they added a nighttime setting for 60-120. Before I could get home, I was having PACs every other beat. It didn't stop so they readjusted my rate to 85-120 to get ahead of the PACs. I...

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Tired all of the time

Hello all, 

I am 35, female and have a Medtronic pacemaker for complete heart block that was implanted in 2018. I just received a call from a tech from my doctors office that they need to see me in 2 days to check everything out. They said one of the leads that is supposed to be pacing 100% of the time was "offline" for about 3 seconds. I did not have any symptoms associated with this but they just want to double check. 
 

the reason I am here posting...

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pacemaker info

Recently had a six month check-up.  All is working as it should I guess. One thing was said ,but I didn't ask for an explanation, is "it's 15% for the top chamber and 25% for the lower chamber". Any explanation about that.  All I heard was "everyting is fine working the way it should"  and I was out of there.

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Boston Scientific Programmer

Hi!
Does anyone else have a Boston Scientific programmer??

 

Thx!  Nick

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Closed Loop Simulation (CLS)

Hi there.  I've read quite a few other posts on this subject but (as everyone always thinks ;-)) none quite match my situation.

I'm a pretty fit and active 62-y-o in England who walks lots and runs at least one and often 2 or more 5km runs each week.  

But I'd been really struggling since the Spring.  After tests, I was fitted with a pacemaker for total heart block in August.  It's a Bitronik.  Accoring to the certificate it's mode...

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You know you're wired when...

You have a dymo-powered bike.

Member Quotes

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.