Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

OK what is this ?

I had a inhouse pacemaker clinic, the tech said that I had a 5 episodes in the a-fib. Tech said I had sensitivity with my pacemaker, something about a lead. So, what does that mean ? I had a new pacemaker put in 4/29, everything was ok. They tested leads before and during surgery. So whats up ? I am still sore around area and started 6 weeks after doing 3 pound biscep curls. But, didnt move arm above until 6 weeks after.

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after check up,

After my yearly check up today which went ok i am feeling a sort of pulse at the pacemaker site which i have never felt before. It only happens when i am walking around.
The technician tried to alter something to try and extend the battery life but after trying it came up saying it was not recommended so she couldn't do it. I have a St Judes pacemaker since 2004. Anybody have any ideas?

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For Active Person

Hi All,

I am pacemaker dependent following an AV node ablation and find that I am having a great deal of difficulty getting the correct settings for my pacemaker.

I am in my mid 50's and am trying to live an active lifestyle but have found that since the pacemaker I am having a great deal of difficulty breathing properly during exercise. If I keep pushing myself I can do the exercises but am exhausted afterwards sometimes to the point of feeling ill. I was on a treadmill t...

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heart block and pacers

First time I saw a cardio and the pacer was tested he bounced into the office saying I had a couple of heart blocks (why it was inserted) that the pacer had taken care of. Second time, same office but a tech said "oh, you can't tell whether you have a heart block now as the pacer takes care of it", third time an EP said no heart blocks. I asked him if we could take out the pacer, and he said probably not a good idea as it did do a little ventricular pacing (2%).

I sure wish people...

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Ventricular rate greater than Atrial

On my High Rate Episodes report they have the Atrial High Rate Episodes. They give the date, duration, then Max A, Max V, Avg V and Sensor.

The thing that struck me was the Max V was higher than the Max A for a number of the episodes. I had always understood that ventricular rate was less than atrial rate with the AV node filtering out a number of the spurious atrial impulses.

Does this change with a pacemaker?

Judy

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2nd follow-up due in August

Hello everyone
Well, I've just competed my first year with Pac-Man. Generally, things have gone well. I've had a few other issues over the past 12 months, but it turns out that, with minor exceptions (i.e. a brief bout of tachycardia attributable to SSS), they've been unrelated to my PM.
Just to refresh the memory of those who have seen my postings before, I am a 59 year-old male competitive swimmer who was given a pacemaker in May 2010. I had been diagnosed with type 2 AV heart bloc...

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going to pacemker lab..

tomorrow (6/17/11). Had a PM inserted 6/7/11 so I have had it 10 days. What do they do during these tests? Test to make sure it is working? Can they determine if leads have seated into heart tissue? Do they tweak adjustments? I feel generally ok but still have some light-headedness which was my most common symptom of brachacardia which is the reason I got the PM. I guess I won't see the cardiologist-- just asppointment at PM laboratory. Any advise you might give me would be most appreci...

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Good news!

I have some good news! :)

Today was my annual checkup with my Cardiologist and my EP. I have had more than a few medical test today. I had the Heart Echo, the Nuclear Stress test some other test I can't recall. The Awesome news is that I am pacing less than I have in years! I was able to talk with "Todd" the amazing EP about the St. Jude "Accent" dual pacemaker that I have and he shared some pretty incredible information with me about my pacemaker. It was a great visit.

...

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NOT the PM

Hi,

Just to let you know I am still SOB but palps not quite as noticable as yesterday, still got them though! so l phoned the PM tech who saw me on Friday to see if he had altered any settings but he said no & that l am set on auto mode so any setting changes would be made by the PM automatically???

He also said that it is usual to have palps after a check-up because the tests involve the heart & PM working against each other but they will settle down. As for my SOB,...

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Pm info

Hi
I have had my PM 12 months, and last December they switched on the Overdrive Pacing to stop AF. Since then I have had no AF that I know of, and for the first 4 months I had no problems and would not know I had a PM. For the last 2 months when I exert myself I get a sensation in my chest that last no more than 2 seconds and is like an ache that goes towards my throat. I see my EP in a week. Has anybody any idea what this could be and how I should handle it with my EP.
Cheers
Roy...

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coincidence ? ? ?

Hi,
Had my first PM check on Friday & everything went very well.The only (slight) concern was with my incision area which is still sore & red but they say it has been sewn too tightly but should sort itself out soon.
They seemed happy about the PM's performance & said it was kicking in 59% of the time & l dont go back for 12mths now. So l left the hospital feeling very pleased with myself & my PM. But since then l have noticed almost constant palpitations,l am in permanent Afib so that...

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Syncopal and pins and needles

I had my pace maker fitted due to syncopal black outs. I used to get lots of live with lots of symptons including a pins and needles sensation in my legs and round my lips. The pace maker has helped me so much, doing so much I couldn't do before but now and again I still get pins and needles. Has anyone else experienced this? Did feel like I was a bit of an experiment when having pace maker but at least it has turned out positive. Lots of things dr couldn't explain.

I need to go back...

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update.. lots of setting changes

Hello everyone! Been a while since I posted. Things have been going remotely well heart wise at least, until the past month or two. Things seem to be getting out of control for me again. I had my pacemaker interrogated two weeks ago which showed nothing out of the ordinary for me other than I had like 43 mode switches in about a month. Typically that indicates my atrial tach or the inappropriate sinus tach. So today I met with the EP doc. I vented my frustration about the fact that drugs are...

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Pacer Defaults & Mild Exercise

Hello all!

I had a Medtronics Revo pacer implanted on 22-APR. In a brief experiment I encountered something unfamiliar to me.

Background: Supraventricular tachycardia, sick sinus syndrome, severe bradycardia.

I got on a standard LifeCycle at the gym for a 15 minute test. Level 4, mid-cadence just to see how I'd feel since my recovery efforts are nearly of my own direction and education as unfortunate as it is. I maintained a 140-150 bpm HR until 6m 30s and then...

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Frank Analysis

Frank- this is primarily for you (but anyone else that can interpret the settings, feel free to comment). After getting my new ventricular lead 3 days ago, I mentioned that I was still feeling skips and that one reason I called with a problem was the large number I was having during exercise. Below are the changes made. Can you explain them and give me any idea of what to look for once I resume normal activity? I haven't noticed any skips since I've been home but do occasionally feel jumpy in th...

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New Member

Hello, all, I am new to the PaceMaker Club and have a St. Judel PM that was installed Jan. 06. My PM was installed due to bradycardia and electrical impulses not firing correctly in the lower changer, as what I recall what the cardiac surgeons told me. The doctors and tech told me that the battery life is usually five years from insertion. Therefore, I go to a tech monthly now to have it checked. The number she gives to me is 2.6, and my understanding is that it has to be at a 2.5 level befo...

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Advice please !!!

Hi,
Although l still haven't been for my 1st PM check-up yet (nearly 8wks!) l am expecting an appointment anyday. I have had a rough time with the incision area which is at last improving well,but because l have felt bad with this l haven't really been able to "test" the effect the PM is having on my heart. l can tell l dont get the very slow beats l used to get (which is why they gave me PM) but still get load of palpitations due to my A-fib l guess?
What l need to ask you wise people...

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time zones

I am a 10 day out of emergency surgery pacemaker receiver. This summer we are travelling back home to the maritimes, which has a 4 hour time zone change. My settings allow my heart rate to drop to 50 between 11 pm and 5:30 am BC time. Does the pacemaker somehow change time zones or is this going to be a problem for me?

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First checkup

Yesterday, my 76th birthday, I had my first check up and all went well. Settings are 60 and 140. I pace the upper chamber 39% of the time and the lower chamber 57% of the time. Does this sound reasonable?

I feel ever so much better and one of the nurses thought that I was in my mid 50’s, of course I was flattered, but took it with a grain of salt.

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Periodic Check-ups in Australia

Have read with interest the practice with post PM insertion checkups in other countries, particularly the USA.

It seems that practices differ beteween countries and even within the same country.

I thought I would share my experience here in Melbourne, Australia.

I had a pacemaker inserted 22 months ago by a local cardiologist/electrophysiologist who is a Professor at a major university and attached to one of our major hospitals. He is a recognised authority here...

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You know you're wired when...

You have a 25 year mortgage on your device.

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