Most Recent Messages in Conditions, Meds & Tests

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Medical System Risks

Taken from a Journal of the American Medical Association (2000) article

• 5% 12,000 deaths per year due to unnecessary surgery

• 3% 7000 deaths per year due to medication errors in hospitals

• 9% 20,000 deaths per year due to other errors in hospitals

• 36% 80,000 deaths per year due to infections in hospitals

• 47% 106,000 deaths per year due to negative effects of drugs

Total 225,000 deaths per year

Thus, America'...

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What does this mean?

Hi all. Latest from me & my dizziness! I had my 3 month post ablation exercise/treadmill test today & the results are NOT normal! My 4 week post op one was normal so I'm very shocked & upset.

Basically my BP was 123/85 at the start. During the test the top no, should increase but the bottom one should stay the same. At 2 mins my top no. was 153. After 4 mins it suddenly dropped to 126 & the technicians were quite concerned. After 6 mins it was back to 156 but the 4 minute reading WAS...

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Life expectancy for young PM recipients

I had a pacemaker installed in late August this year, because of an AV Block III and a low heartbeat in the mid 30s to mid 40s. I have no other problems with my heart and was never on any heart medication.

As I am 32 years old, I was wondering if there are any articles out there which deal with the life expectancy when you are young (or should I say relatively young)?

I keep finding articles about older people and that they have a better life expectancy when they get a pa...

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tired of Warfarin aka Devils Medicine

I was diagnosed with afib since 2003 and have been on warfarin for that length of time. I take 4 mgs. 6 days and 3 mgs. one day. My pts and irs must stay in 2 to 3 range which has been happening. I have been cardioverted ( lasted two weks) but my heart beats too fast for adlation. It is awful that the meds Praxa can't be given because of the cost. My heart rate is more in afib than out and for thr most is uncomfortable. However I did not realize it was so easy to have a stroke from it. A p...

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extra heart beat when coughing

I have had an ICD for 5 years to try to reduce my gradiant caused by HCM. Today when I went it for a routine interrogation some random events were showing up for the last month or so. This had never happened before and the Tech had concerns about what was going on. While talking to him I coughed and he determined I was having an extra heart beat when I coughed. The Cardiologist came in and had me cough several times to confirm what was happening.

I have been having...

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Holter Monitor

Good Morning Everyone,
A question: I have a PM and ablation (since June 2010) my Cardiologist just switched my Metoprolo to Sotolol, trying to get my A-fib more under control, and for some reason wants me to wear a 24H monitor (scheduled for December). Wouldn't a PM inquiry give the same information as a Holter monitor?? Just wondering...

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What is the tilt table test?

I've been reading about this and think I might know what it attempts to measure, because at the beauty shop last week, she tilted my chair back to rinse my hair, and I felt so faint! When she righted the chair again, I looked in the mirror and even without my glasses, I could see that my face was one, blanched white blob in the mirror! I know the upper chamber of my heart floods with blood, meaning the bottom chamber can't pump it out fast enough upon exertion. Is that what the tilt table is...

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Has anyone had a heart cath?

Hi. The recent, upward revisions of my pm settings have not taken care of the breathlessness. Purposely yesterday, I went for a long, fast walk; knowing I was having a pm checkup today. The tech asked, "What happened yesterday"? Since he was asking about the hours that my friend & I were out for a walk & had to practically run home to avoid rain & thunder, I knew that was the problem. Top chamber of my heart was flooded with blood. Several times I had to stop & catch my breath. My doctor's next...

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Pacemaker and sotalol

My mother, aged 87, has just had a pacemaker fitted. She had an irregular heartbeat, but the sotalol dose she needed to correct it was causing her pulse to drop (to 50) and also lowered her blood pressure. Now that she has her pacemaker we're puzzled why she's still being prescribed sotalol. We haven't yet had chance to quizz the consultant or her GP and wonder of anyone can explain to us why she still needs beta-blockers.

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24 hour ECG monitor (results)

Hi All
I had my 24 hour ECG monitor put on yesterday & returned it to the hospital today. Wait for this...I had over 60 episodes of dizziness in that time!! I filled in 3 full pages on the ECG diary you have to keep while on the monitor.

In the diary I had to keep while on the monitor, I found I was having a dizzy spell every 2 minutes while walking!! Each dizzy spell only lasted a few seconds but I got them every 2 minutes while on a walk yesterday & walking to the hospital...

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Had Tilt Test Today....results

Hi all. I've just got back from having the Tilt Test at the hospital. I'm a bit confused! The test was negative....I had no dizziness at all during the test. They said my BP was 100/60 to start & responded well to the test (ie did not drop etc). They said my dizziness is nothing to do with any blood pressure problems.

That is great news but I'm just confused as to what it could be causing it. I'm now wired up on the 24 hour ECG monitor & already had 4 dizzy episodes since I got home a...

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Tomorrow........

Hi all. The day is almost here! Tomorrow I am finally having my Tilt Test & 24 hour ECG monitor.....& hopefully my Dr's might find the cause of this terrible dizziness (lightheadedness) I've had since my ablation 11 weeks ago. I really hope they do find out what is causing it & that they can do something about it.

I'll keep you posted...

Best wishes
Janey

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new pm

Hi

I was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome. I had my pm implant three weeks ago and would like to know if the pm makes a difference immediately? As I still get shortness of breath. 27 yrs old.

Olive

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new to pacemaker

I am having a pacemaker procedure on No 05,2010. I am looking for any information that you would like to share with me on what to expect during and after the procedure.

Thank You

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Ultram

Went to the doctor today for pain in PM site from last surgery in May. Not getting used to this thing in my abdomen instead of my collarbone area at all! Area is very tender, painful and also having pain from thoracotomy (too many complications last time!). Dr prescribed Ultram every 6 hours and said for next 2-3 weeks I am to do no lifting, pulling, pushing etc... (sorry honey can't make the bed) basically I have to take it easy for a few weeks and go back in.
On a good note the PM is wor...

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what does this mean ?

could anyone tell me what the following means,pan systolic murmur at lse heard and no signs of cctga or primum asd on chest x.thanks so much for any help.

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Chapters 2 & 3 of Nerve Contuction test

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I had to have a nerve conduction test because my toes on my right foot are numb. So last week I go for my appt. and the tech and & missed our connection, so my drs. office rescheduled it for today. I show up for the test and as she was swabbing my feet and calves with alcohol she asks if they explained the test to me. When I replied that they had not she started to explain it to me when she stated that as long as I didn't have a pacemaker I would be fine...

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check up etc

hey guys, i know i'm not around much. we are in the last week of building our home before you move in...need i say more LOL

ok couple questions. about 5 years ago diagnosed with tachycardia (no treatment because med had more side effects then condition) , then in april diagnosed with neurocardiogenic syncope (cardio inhibitory 2B) and had a PM placed in june.

I have been having what i thought was my PM going nuts and then just a couple week ago i had a very high rapid HB (m...

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Mammograms & pacemakers

Hi just an update on my experience. I went and had my squishing today and all I can say is Oh My Gosh!!! what a totally different experience. this time I went to a place who only do mammograms and it was pleasent. this time it only took 25minutes. last time i went through the local hospital that was where the problem lies

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Why do I need Meds?

Hi All

I was diagnosed with LBBB after a routine ECG at the doctors with no symtoms before the ECG.

Since having the Biventricular pacemaker fitted to re-synchronize my L & R ventricles I have been put on a low dose ACE inhibitor and a low dose Beta blocker, 2.5mg of each.

The Angiogram showed my heart was good in all other aspects so I'm a bit puzzled as to why I need the drugs.

I will be asking at my next visit with the Cardiologist but wondered if...

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You know you're wired when...

You have a high-tech ticker.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker since 2002 and ever since then my life has been a total blessing.