Most Recent Messages in Conditions, Meds & Tests

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shortness of breath

Is it normal to be short of breath after having a pacemaker/defib
implanted.

I have trouble climbing stairs in particular but am now having shortness walking fairly short distances.

This is very troubling

Douglas B

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Pacemaker numero deux

Hi all. Chippy here, I think I am glad to say that my current pm is going to be replaced by a bells and whistles upgrade; i currently have the skoda model! lol. My proceedure is booked for the 9th of march. After knocking my ep for lack of communication we had a great chat about pm syndrome... she drew pictures which helped!!. The way she described pacemaker syndrome: The signal to beat comes from the sinus node at the top of the heart, i think that signal then travels down to the bottom chamber...

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Rythem Changes

Curious. Anyone out there notice your heart rythems have changed since you got your PM? I feel like now I have PAC's, PVC's, skips, tiny pauses and I don't think I had these before.

I understand that it could entirely be possible that I am just in tune to it now and I never noticed them before....but some of these "different" beats I feel like I would notice.

Every halter turns out normal, every interrogation says nothing happened...but I feel things. And I don't think I w...

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Reading from the PM

I have been in dialogue with Medtronic, about the need for a reader from my PM, like a pulse watch. I had a PM installed 14th December, and have much more A-fib than expected. I had my 3rd meeting with the doctor today, and changed my PM setting to minimum 70 bpm, to see if it reduces the number and length of A-fib episodes. But the best thing would be to know immediately, when an episode starts, and when it stops. The physicians really have no idea why the A-fib episodes start, and whay they st...

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Palpitations after PM implant

Still having palpitations at night that wakes me up.. Then it goes away for most of the day without any problems.

Doctor said just to monitor it, but it is scary... Any feedback would be welcomed!

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i felt it again

two days before, i had a nightmare. then i woke up suddenly. i felt pain on my chest on the left side for a few seconds. today, i had slight chest discomfort. before this i felt it too. should i see my doc? i have final exam right now.
is there's a possibility sumeone with a pm got heart attack?

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Heart beat in your gut

This morning I woke up to a pounding heartbeat with a fast rhythem. I'm pretty sure I had a bad dream. But what was different this time is that I could feel the strong hard beats right in my solar-plex. It was right wear my ribs meet but up higher. Almost like my stomach had a heart beat.

My heart beat slowed down on it's own but am wondering if that's normal...does it happen to anyone else? Am I supposed to be having beats there?

Thanks,
W

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AMIODARONE, RAMIPRIL and CARVEDILOL

I am supposed to take AMIODARONE (400mg twice a day), RAMIPRIL (2.5mg twice a day, ALTACE Subs.) and CARVEDILOL (3.125mg twice a day, COREG Subs.). Every day I have been having very serious short ness of breath. Can move around 10 ft and have to stop and even talking on phone my breathing is heavy. I started taking once a day only and reduced AMIODARONE from 400mg to 200mg. In my last visit and during hospital stay I showed all these symptoms and once Cardiologist was called due to my conditio...

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Update multaq

hi just going to start taking multaq,nurse said to not take it with atenolol has anyone on this med take it all @once,or we split it up.the reason why i need atenolol,is for my fast hear rate ,

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multaq

hi just going to start taking multaq,nurse said to not take it with atenololhas anyone on this med take it all @once,or we split it up.

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congestive heart failure

I was diagnosed with chf, 3rd stage block and a 2 lead pacemaker was installed becuase my heart rate was down to 30. I don't understand why my pulmonologist keeps adding breathing stuff like spiriva and the lastest to add to that, advair. the advair is contraindicated as it may cause asthma, severe reactions, even death. pacer has worked fine for 3 1/2 years. does anyone else use these?

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Ectopic heartbeat

i have had my pacemaker for 7years it was implanted for complete heart block but shortly afterwards was put into a 'sleep' mode and set to come on if heart rate falls below 50. Over the last year I have benn working hard to increase my fitness levels whcih has resulted in my resting heart beat lowering. Recently when I lie down I have been having spells of ectopic heartbeats. Could his be my pacemaker trying to keep my heartrate up when it naturally falls below fifty? Is it anything to worry abo...

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Pacemaker syndrome

Hi all,
Been very up and down physically this week. Cardiologist said today that best way forward is to implant new dual lead pm as he thinks i have pm syndrome....i was in tears, he has left the decision up to me.....what is it?.....can it get worse?.......is it better to try and live with the symptoms when they occur rather than go through another op at 34......your thoughts people please...xx

Single lead medtronic pm

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Coumadin

Hi all. So I had my pre-op blood draw today. The woman drawing my blood said to me (after she found out I was going to have a pm put in) "so I guess I'll be seeing you for your coumadin blood tests from now on" Does this mean I'm going to be on coumadin from now on? What kind of meds will I have to take after my implant and will it be forever?

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Ringing Ears

I'm on my second pm in less than 6 months. (First was a single lead - second was a dual lead.) Anyhow, I never had any ringing in my ears prior to the pm being implanted, but it seems that ever since; I frequently get ringing in my ears. I've had them cleaned out by a ENT doctor, but still get the ringing. I also take 40mg of diovan/day for my ejection fraction. The question is, has anyone else ever had ringing in the ears due to the pm? Could it be the diovan? (Although that is not a known...

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alternative to mri

I had been scheduled for a follow up mri this year but since i had my pacemaker inplanted this past October I know that can't be done.
Any other options? It's for a head/brain scan.
Thanks Finn

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Atenolol

Does anyone have any experience with accidentally missing a 25mg dose? It says not to stop taking abrupty...but I've only been on it for 3 days....I forgot a day.

Should be fine I think.....thought I'd ask!
Thanks

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Should I Take Aspirin With A Pacemaker?

A doctor recently told me that she wouldn't advise taking aspirin with a pacemaker. I never got around to asking "why not?" Does anyone have any info about aspirin and pacemakers?

Thanks!

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From Amiodarone to Dronedarone (Multaq)

Hi there,

I posted a week or so ago about Amiodarone damaging my lungs. I had the test repeated, and it confirmed that my diffusion capacity has decreased round about 40% in eight months; some other parameters have worsened, too. So, I'm getting off the med now, and will be starting Dronedarone instead in two weeks. I was wondering if anyone here has switched from Amiodarone to Dronedarone, and if so, how did you do it. I have the feeling that the EPs don't are not sure how long a pat...

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Blood platelets dropping

I just got back from the Hematologist and my platelets have dropped in half in two days. Monday I have to get bone marrow test..ouch. The Hematologist said that it looks like ITP. He gave me prednisone and said start it right away. Tuesday they will re-test my platelets and if they have not increased we will do a blood transfusion to do the pacemaker surgery wednesday. Its so much going on...:(

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You know you're wired when...

You need to be re-booted each morning.

Member Quotes

Yesterday was my first day mountain biking after my implant. I wiped out several times and everything is fine. There are sports after pacemakers!