Most Recent Messages in Conditions, Meds & Tests

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High Blood Pressure

I am new to this group and I appreciate the information and advice.
Had my PM for a month. Is anyone's blood pressure higher than usual? 

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Atrial fibrillation

Hi,

I am a 44 year-old women and I have had a dual chamber pacemaker for almost 3 years to treat my 3rd degree heart block.   I just went in for a device check and it was discovered that I now have Afib.  I have an appointment with my EP cardiologist in a few days to talk about everything.   Has anyone else developed Afib after getting a pacemaker?  This is my 3rd diagnosed electrical heart issue and feeling a little frustrated.  I feel like I get...

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Maybe a Dumb Question, But I was Wondering

Is it possible for the rate response feature in a pacemaker to overcome the chronotropic incompetence caused by ( or is contributed to) medications such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers in a patient with sick sinus syndrome who takes those medications?

That's me. I've taken metoprolol for over 19 years, and diltiazem for most of those 19 years, to control atrial tachycardia and hypertension. Side effects from these drugs only lasted a couple months when I first took...

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Just Found out I have AFib and going on Eliquis

My EP called me into the office today to report that my latest bedside monitor upload from my Medtronic ICD showed 3 to 4 episodes of AFib in the last three months, two that lasted over 3 hours! I didn't feel anything during these events and the doctor informed that about 50 % of people don't feel these episodes. She recommended that I go off generic Plavix and start taking Eliquis and stay on the baby aspirin to reduce the stroke possibility.

I've had a few vertig...

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Why Am I Nauseas

I am concerned that I am again getting some old symptoms back again.  
Last August I had my 18 month old pacemaker replaced with a CRT-P, which was a big improvement for me.  I was scheduled for 6 month checkup this past April - I had been looking forward to it to find out what EF was at, and I had started getting that nauseas feeling again and wanted to ask about that.  Unfortunately appointment was cancelled because of Co-vid, but I was able to get my echo done loca...

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Breathless on exertion

Hi just an update. 

 Thank you for your welcome previous advice on my problem. I went to my GP as advised who immediately referred me to my cardiologist with symptoms of fatigue and severe breathlessness on exertion. 

I then had a series of tests, i.e. blood tests a 24-hour monitor and an echocardiogram.  The results surprised me. The blood tests were okay except that they showed that I had iron deficiency but not anaemia.  The echocardiogram showed I...

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Heart rate

Hello

Just had results of 24hr Holter monitoring. Range 31 to 59 beats per minute, mean heart rate of 44 beats per minute. (Don't know  for how long levels are sustained.)

Could anyone help me to understand what this actually means, please.

Thank you.

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Sick Sinus Syndrome

Hi, I am new, and while I do not have a pacemaker, I have had sick sinus syndrome for nearly 6 years. Everything looks great with testing and EF, the only new finding was a 3.7 second pause in the middle of the night once during the 14 day monitor. EP says no pacemaker yet, as my average heart rate is 60 and i can increase heart rate with exertion to 85 to 90 percent. I am 55 and had an asd closed 6 years ago with a Maze ablation, which could have caused the sick sinus syndrome.&nbs...

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Bisoprolol

Hi

I started taking Bisoprolol around 3 weeks ago due to recently discovered SVT. How long does it take to work/relieve symptoms.

I am still getting terrible palpitations, breathlessness and my heart rate spikes doing simple things such as slowly walking up the stairs.

I cannot say I am experiencing any side effects so far although I am feeling quite tired the last few days. 

Just want to feel normal (whatever that is)

Thank you :)

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Ventricular pacing while sleeping

Hey all!  I have had my pm since 12/19. Had some ups and downs during that time, mostly problems with shortness of breath and feeling exhaustion and palpitations when doing resistance work, especially when it is hot out... no heat tolerance at all... but the reason for my message.....I had a 24 hour holter a few weeks which showed that my ventricle was pacing during sleep where it had been only pacing at 0.4% in my prior interrogation. I am going for a sleep study but I had one done...

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Pain on left side of chest

Still pretty new to the PM club...my St Jude 2 lead PM is right at 2 months old.  The last couple days I’ve noticed a burning type pain in my left chest area, below my collar bone.  My PM is on the right side.  I’ve noticed by keeping a check on my BP that when I get to feeling these pains and kinda sick at my stomach my heart rate is at the set minimum of 60.  Before the PM resting HR was more often in the 40’s and 50’s.  Does the fact th...

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Afib

I've had my pacemaker a couple months.  Lately I have been in and out of afib.  I thought the pacemaker kept the heart rate normal--in perfect rhythm.  I seem to go into afib if I get overtired or anxious.  Anybody else have afib issues.

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the 5th week after implantation

This is my 5th wk. after implantation of PM.PM was necessary because of a  ' sick Sinus ' e.g. 3rd degree AV block (Bradycardie).

Pump & valves 100%.

No medication not now and never in the past!

My first checkup was after 2wks. - nothing worth mentioning except that the PM technician altered the settings on my instigation. 45 >> 175bpm.

Have been cycling for over 50years on a high level...

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Nuclear Stress Test Treadmill

If you are pacemaker dependent, active, and able to get heart rate high up on treadmill test, can you choose to do treadmill test as opposed to the chemical injected? 

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Palpitations with AV Node Ablation

Hi all.

my question is what your heartbeat feels like after an av node ablation and PM insertion , 

I've had AFib since 2014 which has been managed over the years by 2 ablations, one hybrid ablation, and a lot of cardio versions.  I've been on amiodorone and tikosyn.  I had a good 2 years of sinus rhythm until last December, when the afib returned. When I'm in AFib I feel like a fish flopping in my chest, where a regular heartbeat should be.  I...

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AgentX86

Thanks for the quick response-- went out cycling again today and encounted the same dizziness and palpations as before.In the 140-155 bpm (settings 50-175 bpm)the legs refused to pedal.Slacken the pace a little and all is well again.The RR sounds reasonable suggestion to look into- this thing they tell you in leaflets etc. not to excersise the first wks. ( this is my 4th wk. after implantation pm) would that have any influence on above mentioned?It's a real bummer after all my life having...

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Possible Pericarditis

Earlier this week I went to my EP on the first day the office opened to patients since the Covid lockdown.  My EKG revealed changes that concerned him, comparing it to the last EKG Feb 21, before discharge from the hospital.  I have an ICD and am paced in the atrium 99% due to SSS and paced in the ventricle 30%.  I had an ablation Feb 20 for atrial tachycardia and atrial flutter (over 110 areas ablated) and was doing fairly well, but it changed around March 23, texting&nbs...

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NO CHECKUP

HI THERE. I WAS DUE A PACING CHECK AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL. I DID NOT GET ONE. I PHONED THE HOSPITAL AND THE SAID THEY WOULD GIVE ME AN APPOINTMENT IN 3 WEEKS TIME. THEY NEVER SENT ME ONE. I WAITED A FEW WEEKS AND PHONED AGAIN.

THEY ARE NOW SAYING THEY WILL GIVE ME ONE IN THREE MONTHS TIME. CAN I TRUST THEM?

 

 

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Replacement PM and new 3rd wire

Last year I started getting fluid buildup but was focused on issues my Mom was having so pretty much ignored my symptoms, shortness of breath.  Anyway Mom died in Jan and I finally got my symptoms looked at.  Turns out by then I was in heart failure, left EF down to 10%.  

I've had my current 2 wire Medtronic PM since 2013, due to total AV block.  Also got arrhythmia about a year ago.  

My Dr put me on Entresto and a couple of other heart meds, did an...

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MRI and risk

Hi ,

I have an MRI compatible pacemaker since 5 years. 34% atrial and no other complications.

I have X Ray with no bone changes. My doc suggested an MRI for meniscal tear. I am liitle concerned about MRI risks with the pacemaker though it is compatible.

Did anybody get the MRI done under supervision of PM technician?

Any suggestions on alternate tests?

 

Thanks,

Venkat

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