Most Recent Messages in Coping

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Coping with the heat

Hey Ya'll

It 6:00p.m. in south Texas. It is 100 degrees out right now. I have tried to stay in as much as I can because the heat is really pushing my heart rate up. It is usually between 74-84bpm. For about the last week or so with this heat I have been running between 98 & 128bpm No exertion involved. It is just too hot (it's only May). Any advice from anyone on what I can do to get my heart rate down?
Mona

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Any suggestions

Hey Guys:
I was wondering if any of you with HF may have any suggestions. We ended up moving about 15 months ago from Altitude to sea level due to all the issues I have been having. One thing I am noticing is that as the weather warms up my fluid retention builds up. I am taking 40mg of lasix BID, Aldactione 50mg a day, coreg and tykosin. My doc says that it isn't uncommon to have increase in fluid . . Have any of you mastered a plan that may reduce the sx that you might suggest? I h...

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Hello Everyone

I am new to this site. I am glad I found this site it is nice to have someone to talk to and see I am not the only young person going through this as well.I was born with a hole in my heart and it closed up on its on.Then I was diagnosed w/ Mitral Valve Prolapse. Then SVT, IST, & SVT.I am 33. In Nov 08 I had an IST ablation on my sinus node for fast heart rate. Then in Feb 09 had to have a pm put in for my heart pauing to much. I am still having wierd flutters all dayw/lightheaded,sweating,tired...

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Here we go again

Went into a-fib yesterday morning, finally went back to normal 22 hours just a couple hours after telling the docs and them asking me to come in for a cardioversion (went back to normal before that). Now, was out of a-fib for about 8 hours and went back into a-fib and have been for about 2 hours now. Chest is killing me and having trouble breathing. I now have a new appt with my EP next week to talk about trying an ablation. Nurse said they would probably put me on warfarin in preparation to...

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Shortness of breath

I have had my PM for four weeks and am experiencing shortness of breath. I feel as if I have run three miles instead of simply walking up the stairs or doing yard work. I also get this feeling at times when I get up or when I am bending dow to pick something up. I was told that I would feel so much better after getting my PM and so far I do not feel better; I have less energy than before and this shortness of breath is bothersome. Has anyone had similiar feelings? Am I just impatient?

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New Here...

I should have searched for this group earlier...I'm STILL trying to come to grips with the fact that, at age 44 (implant at 43) I have a defibrillator/pacemaker. I'm not dealing with it very well. Many issues to deal with, PM/DF just one small part...

But just wanted to pop on and say hello. I hope to find support here that I've not found anywhere else....

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What am I to do

I am 50 YO male and a father of two beautiful girls 2 and 4. I was diagnosed with Bradycardia on 1/31/09. I was having light headed episodes while driving and thought it was neurological or my high stress job. Episodes were due to toprol xl, a beta blocker that I was taking because I had slightly elevated BP (>130). Off meds, had cath work done, heart and pipes are clean. Have worn several HOLTER monitors and event recorders. BPM decent during the day ( >50) while sitting at work, higher...

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trying..

hi. im pretty new with this. i've had heart issues my whole life. born with hole in heart. it was repaired when i was 1. about 5 years ago found out the patch is starting to come off a bit, i have another hole in my heart, and a leaky valve. then my current stuff started about 3 yrs. ago. i was contantly dizzy, lightheaded, chest pain, running into walls, falling, fainting, passing out for more time than i should have. no one believed me it was my heart. i kept going to the er and they told i wa...

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still pain when i move my arm

Well,I went to the doctor Again, told them about the pain in my arm that seems worse now after 4 months of having the PM implanted. They said have no ideal and it was not coming from the PM,I know it is ,I can move my arm up and forward but not straight out or back,and the pain nearly makes me pass out if I reach out for something.It was placed on the right side,I am a lefty.I have a boston scientific with two leads,have both fast&slow heart beats.They tested my PM and said leads were still in p...

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pace maker Dependent

I hope someone can answer a question for me. My son was pace maker dependent and had to AV node ablation. He passed away suddenly two weeks ago. How could his heart just stop beating if the pace maker was doing the beating for it. he was fine and suddenly couldn't breath and was gone within an hour.
If anyone could help me understand this I would appreciate it so much. I was in to much shock at the time to ask the ER dr and now I can't seem to find him.
Thank You for any help you may h...

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Disappointed - but encouraged

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read my message and share your thoughts and experiences. I feel a lot more optimistic about the future now and am so glad I found this club.

I am going back to the hospital next Monday for another check and to see if any more adjustments can be made. I will try to get a copy of the programming reports.


Pete

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Troubled Heart, Cluttered Mind

Hello to all, My name is Lmo and Im 30 yrs of age.
All my life Ive known that I would eventually need a Pacemaker, I have a Complete Conginital heart block and Murmur. Recently my Doc told me 'its time'! Im not really scared of the Pacer- but the after math of it all.
I have several questions and am hoping someone can offer some advise. So, Whats changes? Will it be the clothes I wear? I like tube tops and halters, you know the girlier side of things. How will my sleep be affected? mo...

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Disappointed

Hi - I am a new member and had a dual chamber Boston Scientific pacemaker implant last Friday (17 April). I am 53 years old and was reasonably fit for my age - played squash, football, running, hill walking etc.

My pulse has always been lowish at around 55 resting sometimes dropping to low 40's. Started with palpatations 9 years ago and told I had 1st degree AV block. Had a period of dizziness in May 2008 and rate wouldnt budge from low 40's for a week. Ended up wearing a 6 day event...

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looking for lost pacemaker friend

Hi Friends,

This question is for Blake or anyone else who knows.

I met a wonderful pacemaker friend when I joined. She posted under the name of Gellia. Gellia was a Godsend to me with many words of wisdom.

I have been searching for her for months. Does anyone know what happened to Gellia? She was a regular, who answered almost daily to anyone who posted. Gellia was from New Jersey.

I'm hoping that she is well and someone in this club has heard fro...

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marks from cardiac arrest

Hi, they had to shock me 8 times after I went into cardiac arrest. I now have these lovely marks on my chest. It has been about 2 months. Anybody know of any way to get rid of them? thanks for the help

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I'm surprisingly better

Someone left me a message a couple of weeks ago responding to my question about fatigue. I lost the website and could not log back in (I'm a little clueless when it comes to technology) I wanted to say thank you. Your insightful suggestion that depression could be contributing to the constant and numbing fatigue made me think about it. I stopped feeling sorry for myself as being hard done in by life, fate, my family etc. Almost immediately I felt better, got out of my bed of self suffering a...

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I was wondering if anyone had been shocked by defib

I was wondering if anyone had been shocked more than 38 times by their defibulator, and if so how are they coping with the fear (if any) of being shocked again.

Kind Regards,

Simon

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panicing over sumat silly

hi everyone well yep its me again well as you all no already huby has a merchanical mitral valve and a pm ,had pm about 6 months and valve 9 months i seem to panic over every little detial when he is not feeling well as we all probly do ,just me being silly i guess ,well just wanted to ask he not feeling to good he put it down to the flu coming ,acheing upper back ,neck,shoulder ,slight sore throat ,and sakes ,his one side of his face last night went like ice cold ,i was just woundering if this...

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Thank you my dear friends

Hi to all my pacer friends who replied to my travel anxiety last week. You guys are absolutely wonderful!

My trip to Florida over Easter was very relaxing. I am a worrier so I do imagine things happening with my pacermaker while traveling. However, all of your kinds thougths helped me with my anxiety.

This is such a great site. I'm thankful for all of my pacer friends!

Hugs,
Donna

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New to all this...

Hello all! I am new to the club...just got my pacemaker installed yesterday, so needless to say, in a bit of pain and quite uncomfortable at the moment, but looking forward to feeling better. I only just started this journey in January - blacked out while driving and then started all kinds of neuro testing. Thank God for my Neurologist who looked at my EKG from the ER and thought something looked wanky. She set me up to see a Cardiologist and on the way, I had about 20 more episodes includin...

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You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker was installed in 1998 and I have not felt better. The mental part is the toughest.