Most Recent Messages in Conditions, Meds & Tests

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Pacemaker

In 2003 I had a Medtronic pacemaker implanted with two leads. A couple years later they had to add a third late. Everything was going okay until I moved to Tallahassee Florida and of course had to get a new EP. Changed pacemaker in 2014 to Boston Scientific but still used the same leads. Unfortunately I got stuck with an issue even after that pacemaker was recalled and they had to put a new one in so that was number three. The issue was after the second pacemaker I have been stuck with an awf...

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Afraid to leave the house

Just found this group totally by accident. I'm a. 78 year old woman that went into afib when I was 32. It was permanent. I never felt anything until I was 72. That's a nice long run of excellent health and no complication from my heart. I started getting short of breath about 4 years ago and long story short, I ended up with a micra pacemaker. It's a small pacemaker that is placed right in your heart. That little thing caused one side of my ventrical to enlarge SIGNIFICANTLY causi...

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2026 list of Medicare Price Negotiated Drugs

Because this topic was recently visited on this forum, I thought I'd post an update on the first 10 drugs that have been price negotiated by Medicare here in the US, effective 2026.  Several of the drugs are related to heart failure.  All are amongst the most commonly prescribed drugs for medicare (aka older or those on permanent disability) recipients.  A step in the right direction.  Also, please note that the prices listed are for those with Part D (Medicare Drug) C...

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ELIQUIS & Jardiance

Hi all,.

I was recently prescribed these two outrageously expensive meds. Can anyone recommend a legitimate, reliable Canadian (or other) mail order pharmacy?

I have Medicare and a supplemental, and an Rx plan, but copay is still Sky high. 

The TAVR, pacemaker and Stent didn't Cost a dime, but, the meds-wow. 

Many thanks, 

Fred 

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Medtronic my care link

Is anyone familiar with how to get info about transmissions?

 

I am trying to figure out the dates for all my transmissions I sent this year and also what hospital the transmissions were sent to...

I am dealing with insurance (and filing an appeal) as a certain hospital is saying they got my transmissions and charged me a lot for them (yet the transmissions should not have been sent to the clinic/hospital) as I switched doctors and hospitals this year.

&...

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How did you find out you had a problem?

So this one is out of sheer curiosity...

I frequently read about people who have had heart attacks with no prior warning - in fact a friend of my wife has just lost her husband in that way.

But I'm beginning to understand that there are symptoms but we are either ignoring them or are too stupid to do anything about it - and guess which heading I came under??

There was literally just one tiny thing that almost didn't happen that made me think I ought to go and see a d...

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Update on angiogram procedure yesterday

Yesterday I was admitted to hospital to have an angiogram to look for coronary artery disease because I have been getting severe chest pain.  This time they gained catheter access by going through the Radial artery in the wrist which was less traumatic than going through the Femoral artery in the groin some years ago.  I have only mild swelling, bruising and pain at the moment.

During my angiogram yesterday, my doctors confirmed I had evidence of vasospastic angina.  My c...

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Back to the H. Pylori Discussion

So apparently it was Norovirus that gave me stomach bloating and cramps for a few days. That's gone.

Now because my primary decided to check me for numerous bacteria's via stool test... I have H. Pylori which I posted on another post.

I saw my primary dr today and he wants me to take 3 medicines (antibiotics included) for 14 days. This is insane. 
I try my best to eat healthy and I feel fine but I have complete heart block sooo I'm afraid of having really bad...

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Any Natural Treatments

It's been an interesting 2 weeks for me and I'm wondering if anyone knows about natural treatments for H. Pylori. 
I started last week with some bloating.. some cramping on and off. So I went to the dr. and I got checked for stomach bacteria. 
Now I am sure I will be told on Monday that antibiotics will be the next step and I am researching for natural treatments out there.. 

My question is... has anyone experienced this and does antibiotics even work be...

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Cardio Sarcoidosis

Hello Fellow Pacers

A recent PET scan has revealed that I have myocarditis in a very localised area, where the Cardiologist thinks Sarcoid is present but not visible. This is the suspected cause of my Complete Heart Block, which required a pacemaker surgery. I was fitted with with a CRT P pacemaker in August last year. I had an RVL lead replacement in May this year. The cause has been unclear. I have previously been diagnosed with RBBB back in 2011. After the results of the PET scan, I...

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New Blood Pressure & Cholesterol Guidelines - Edited*

I came across this website https://thennt.com/ which was recommended by a cardiologist. 

The NNT (Number Needed to Treat) came about because doctors and patients are often provided with benefit / risk probabilities for commonly prescribed drugs in a way which may not be completely clear. Some physicians wanted to cut through this and provide something which showed doctors and patients the risks / benefits much more clearly. 

If you read the ‘About’ section,th...

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Impact from resting position

Sleeping 2-3 hours is fine, then I wake up "feeling bad". Somtimes some kind of palpitaion wakes me, mostly I don't know the reason.

Sometimes I feel like my body hasn't been "rinsed" properly. (And we are NOT talking 'bout hangovers ...)

The best cure seems to be "getting up for real" and walk around for 30 minutes.

I also feel fine after being up 20-40 minutes in the morning.  Seems my body works best when not in "lowest...

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Pacemaker and dental work

Hello all,

So I've been a pacemaker dependent for about 35 years... third degree heart block. I use to have braces and got those removed a while ago..I'm really good with caring my teeth. Brushing twice a day, flossing, mouth wash... yada yada...

now I am very much afraid of the dentist...  I think I'm more afraid of the antibiotics and the affects of my pacemaker... even though I never had issues before. My cardiologist suggested I take antibiotics for teeth...

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Sotalol vs metoprolol

Thanks to all who posted about these medicines. I learned enough that I feel comfortable asking my doctor to put me back on metoprolol.

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Sotalol vs metoprolol

I had been on metoprolol since My afib diagnosis about three years ago. Since my heart started stopping for seconds at a time, I had a pacemaker implant about two years ago.  I felt I was doing fine, and so did my cardiologist. About six months ago, my cardiologist left, and I can't get in with a new one until December.  An electrophysiologist in the same practice called me about three months ago and said he was switching me from metoprolol to Sotalol. Since then, I have ha...

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Pacs

I was wondering if anyone else has had issues with pacs.  This is the first time I've had them and I'm not sure what started them, but I sure wish they would go away.  Hate the erratic, skipped beats feelings that they cause.  I had been feeling very dizzy, sob and light headed, so my dr had me wear a holter and it showed a very frequent amount of pacs.  He had said that I may need to go on medicine for them.  Anyone know if you can get rid of them with progra...

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Cardiovascular Risk Assessments

I wanted to open up a discussion about the Risk Assessment Calculation tool that doctors use to ascertain our risk of cardiovascular disease or suffering a cardiac event.  

In the UK your GP / General Doctor will put data into an online assessment tool including BMI, Blood Pressure, Age, Other Conditions, Cholesterol levels etc. and the tool will then pump out a number which indicates your risk of a cardiovascular event / disease.  A discussion then takes place regar...

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MRI

Who has had an MRI since pacemaker implantation and what was your experience ? I understand that a technician adjusts the pacemaker before going into the MRI and then adjusts it back to original settings afterwards.

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Dofetilide, the hospital, and me

I've just returned from 3 1/2 days in the hospital. Wasn't fun because I felt perfectly fine, but was tied to the bed 24 hours/day due to the constant monitoring. The results weren't great (hopefully someone here will tell me I'm wrong about that :). They started me on 250mcg. Dofetilide is given to you twice a day with lots of EKGs and blood draws in-between, night and day, in addition to the 24 hr/day monitor leads constantly attached. They took me to 500mcg, but soon r...

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Some news

Hello everyone, I finally got a telephone call from my cardiologist/EP this morning confirming that my stress echo test carried out on the 29th May showed that parts of my heart were not getting enough oxygen.  

It would appear to be ischaemia, but I will need an angiogram to confirm the diagnosis and extent of any disease.  Because of my difficult symptoms during the dobutamine stress echo which was positive for ischaemia in only 2 LV segments, they cannot rule out micro...

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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.