Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

Post Message!

Minimum/Maximum temperature

Just out of curiosity:
do the PM's have a minimum / maximum operating temperature? I go the the mountains (near freezing) or out to the desert (110 degrees) often and I didn't want to "freak out" my new found friend. Also, regarding ARC welding: I can see the concern with 220 volts machines, but what about MIG welders with standard 110 volts? same concerns? or not?

Read More...

Stress Test, confused..

I had a nuclear stress test today. I have been experiencing fatigue, mild swelling in my feet, sob, and recently for the last several days long periods of intermittent chest pain. I had posted a week or so about my low hr while walking. I went to my EP on Friday and he turned my RR on in an effort to improve my hr during exercise and told me to continue taking the flecainide and the toporol which he put me on over a month ago. He ordered a stress test for today...

When we started...

Read More...

re: PVCs

Frank - sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. Been very busy. Just wanted you to know that last bit of info you gave me on "extra beats" was BINGO! You were absolutely correct. When I talked to the doctor about it he explained that the PM sounts 428.xxx miliseconds and if my heart doesn't beat, it fires. Well it seems I must have been fighting the PM casue my atrial works 100% on its own. Anyway - NO PVCs.
Had the PM upper level reset to 140 - no brakes - no extra beats but I...

Read More...

Is this normal?

Hello, I'm new here and have joined because of concerns about my Dad, who has a 3 wire defib pacemaker. He got it 1 1/2 yrs. ago and just now got a meditron monitor to send readings. We watched the video, which said to call in a first reading to the clinic. Clinic (in a nearby city) said no, don't call it in, we'll send a transmission letter which will come in a couple of weeks and you can make an appointment to come in. I am concerned about the time lapses here, and in the meantime, dad is gett...

Read More...

Hitting a WALL

Hi there all my PM friends! Recently I feel like while I'm exercising I am hitting a wall. Anyone ever feel like that? My rate response is set at 60 for the low and 160 for the high. I've noticed while I'm exercising that when my hr gets into the high 150's I feel like someone is sitting on my chest. Its hard to get a breath. I've been so proud of myself the past 4 months. I joined a gym and have lost about 8 pounds so far. I am 58 and the weight has been slowly creeping up. I weigh about...

Read More...

jolts

my mum sometimes gets jolts through her whole body they only last about a second but is this normal,she also recently got a new tv and when shes near it,it turns itself to another channel ? she also sometimes feels her heart flutter does every1 else feel this way ?

Read More...

Settings?

In an effort to start getting in shape again and try out my new settings and meds, I have started walking/running at night. Tonight was the first night I used my HR monitor and have a concern.

My settings are 60-135, RR off, sleep mode 50 which starts at 9:00 pm. Tonight I look a late walk 9:30 pm. When I first started my walk I was in the 60's and felt fine. I noticed as I started to run my HR would not reach above 75. Ok, dealing with that. I knew with my new settings and meds...

Read More...

Why 80 and why pauses?

Thanks Heidi, Inga, and Frank. I understand a lot better what my tech was trying to tell me.
I am so glad I found this site.
Mike (mam6818)

Read More...

Why 80 and why pauses?

This is my first post. I am 68.
I had a biventricular pacemaker (CRT-P) implanted last month because of persistent a-fibs. I would not risk a conventional ablation because I have two mechanical valves that could be compromised in the ablation process. So, I had a complete ablation of my AV node and now have no conductivity from that node. I am totally dependent on the device. Fine. No more symptoms and I feel great.
Just two question. How does the PM decide to keep me at 80? And why?...

Read More...

first check

I’ve just been sent a date for my first check and wondered what to expect, as it tells me to take suitable foot wear, am I likely to have an exercise ecg during the check?

Read More...

re: PVCs

Frank - I just came back from my check up with the St. Jude tech - very, very disappointing!
Fact 1. I have bipolar mode.
Fact 2 - Before Jan 2011 the sensor is off because I don't need it. Settings were 60-130. No problems. - EVER!
Fact 3. January 2011 tech decided on her own to set my upper level to 150 because of my activity level. Problems started immediately. PVCs? Little "stings" sproadically.
Fact 4. To see if problems would go away, level set back down...

Read More...

re:pvcs

Frank - thanks for the info on unipolar and bipolar modes. I never heard of this so I will question the tech tomorrow when I have the PM checkup. Very interesting info. I called St. Jude Medical and talked to a tech named Annie - she didn't seem to know much so I will call again and ask for a tech with more experience. Surely someone else has had these "jumps". I don't know if they are flutters, palpatations or what. Could it possibly be a loose connection into the PM itself? Strange it o...

Read More...

Mammogram

I am having my first mammo.after the pacemaker was implanted 10 months ago...is it safe to do the mammogram?
My concern is the pull and squeeze of the area and will it harm the pacemaker.
Also... Is it safe to have an ultrasound of the breasts?

ThNks

Read More...

checkup

Had my pacemaker checked today,this is my second one, the first lasted only 5 years, This one has been in since April 2004,I was told my pacemaker is working 60% and my heart is working 40%, then I was told I had 2 years left in this pacemaker, don't know whether to be pleased or not, but I'm still here, so I am grateful.

Read More...

Pacing percentage

I recently had a pacemaker checkup. They said that I was pacing 90% of the time in the top chamber. I have always run around 65% of the time. What does this mean? I was wonder if my hear was getting weaker. I've had my PC since Dec. 2006

Read More...

blood too think

I'm new with my PM. I've had 2 coumiden checks, 1 was 1.2 today was 1.5. They are slowly increasing my med (warfirin). What happens if I don't get it to where it should be? How soon do I need to get it to the right numbers? Thanks, Tues. will be the 2nd wk from surgery.

Read More...

PM check up

Hi, I haven't posted in a while. I had my 9 month checkup last week.I have never seen my PM Doc. only my Cardiologist who is in the same office as the PM Dr. I have had no episodes in 3 mths. He said doing great and I'm thinking maybe I didn't need PM after all. What does no episodes mean? I was pacing at 60% but haven't gotten results yet on this appt.I still don't understand all the lingo yet. All that matter is I'm feeling Great and back to work. Enjoying life and the Grandkids. God is Good....

Read More...

no juice

I have been short of breath (SOB) since january 2011. Had PM inplanted 7+ yrs. This week I went to my EP for routine check up. My EKG read 62 for my HR. Right away I know there was sometime wrong. My PM is set at 70-120 BPM. Sure enough, The nurse checked my pacemaker, the computer read out said ,I had a significant incident where most of my juice was depleted, on July 13 2011. That explaned my extreme SOB over the last 3 weeks. SOB and pacemaker were diffently related. I was relieved, b...

Read More...

pacemaker 1 yr. 3 month check

What questions would be important to ask at this important appointment with the dr. ?

Read More...

being scanned every night!

Just wondered how many of u are being scanned EVERY night while u sleep like I am. I used to just call in every 3 months. Now after my new dual chamber St Judes pacer I am beong monitored every night when I sleep. Kind of a good feeling I guess but I had never heard of that before.

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You’re a battery-operated lover.

Member Quotes

I feel so blessed to have this little gem implanted in me. When I think of the alternative it is quite overwhelming sometimes.