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Great article on living with serious illness

This article about a young cancer survivor is incredibly insightful and I think offers a lot of great advice for anyone living with health challenges.

"You think of health as binary: You're either sick or well, whole or broken. I think that kind of binary thinking is flawed," Jaouad says. "Most of us live somewhere in the middle. And so not striving for some perfect state of wellness is liberating. And learning to make a home in the wilderness of that in-between...

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recently told to quit any type of workout

i have had a ICD for 20+ years and have managed to stay fairly active within  my limits (not pushing too hard), as of two weeks ago was doing 60 miles on bike and regular swimming. On a recent echo cardiogram they saw that the right ventrical has become severly dilated and its systolic ability has severly declined. I am told to stop excersing until further notice. the condition is now being labeled as ARVC (Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy) , i previously was diagnosed wit...

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What happened and why??

Hey everyone, I'm 28 next month and I've had my pacemaker for 4 years. Earlier I was cooking dinner on the stove. I was stirring Mac-n-cheese with a metal spoon in a metal pan and all of a sudden when holding the spoon it felt like my hand was cramping up. I tried touching it a couple more times before I realized that the spoon was actually shocking me! I thought maybe it was just a quick static shock but it did it a couple more times when I touched it again. It wasn't just o...

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Moving 1st PM Subcutaneous to Intra/Sub Pectoral

I just had my 1st PM implanted on 3/19/21 for AVB 2nd.  I had asked the surgeon a couple of times before surgery how would it look and more importantly would it be safe around my two very active Boxer Dogs.  He said just a "small bump," and "no problem" with the dogs.

However in reality, and I am feeling a great deal of concern and looking like Frankenstein(wife's word).  The device (Medtronic AsureXT) is significantly raised above the surroun...

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Low Heart Rate

Past problems 
October 2016 – Implantation of Reveal device
Postural hypotension
Paroxysmal run of narrow complex tachycardia, possibly atrial fibrillation – longest episode was only 28 beats
No absolute indication for anticoagulation
August 2017 – Ventricular standstill (16 seconds pause) August 2017 – Implantation of dual chamber Pacemaker 

Hi I'm three and a half years post pacemaker. Recently had a remote pacemaker check...

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Amiodarone

I have had my PM for 7 years. My AF is increasing. I am totally asymtomatic. My Cardiologist took me off Propafenone because it wasn't working.  Now he is talking about Amiodarone . Is anyone on this drug? I understand there are a lot of side effects.

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Covid-19 vaccine effect to pacemaker operated like us

Just going to have vaccine of this covid-19 pandemic supplied by our agency. I do not have the idea of what brand we will have but I am worried if there is any complications to those with heart problem especially that I am a dextrocardia with a heart block. My heart rate without the pace maker ranges from 0-28 only and from time to time my heart stops beating without the aid. 

With this, I am worried of the side effect if ever we will get vaccinated soon. I can't contact my doc...

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PVC's and salt crackers

Last week and today I felt little bit of light headedness and funny beats in my heart. I had a PM to ICD upgrade last month.When I called my doctors office they said its PVC's happening @ 8 per hour and its not denagerous and some people feel it and some dont. I never felt them when I had my PM and at that time the average was 3 per hour.They told me to drink enough water and cut down on coffee/alcohol to 1 beverage per day.They also said eating salty stuff like crackers help too. Just wo...

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Inquiring about pace maker surgery

Hi, I am 17 years old and after having an ablation that didnt work I am informed i would need to get a pacemaker fitted which I am extreemly scared about.I was wondering if anyone could tell me about how it feels after the surgery and if you can feel the pacemaker inside the body? Any advice would be good. Thanks in advance 

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Inquiring about pace maker surgery

Hi, I am 17 years old and after having an ablation that didnt work I am informed i would need to get a pacemaker fitted which I am extreemly scared about.I was wondering if anyone could tell me about how it feels after the surgery and if you can feel the pacemaker inside the body? Any advice would be good. Thanks in advance 

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Pacemaker moved?

I'm 2 weeks post op and my pacemaker seems to have moved! My surgeon told me he put it in the previous cavity (submammary) but now I feel it poking out my side. Is there a chance it will move back? Can I gently massage it back in? I don't really want to go in for another general anaesthesia to move it so was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences and what they did?

thank you in advance!

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Pacemaker movement question

I had my ICD implanted Nov 2020, and am adapting to it quite well. However, when I am lying down, it seems to pivot and ends up right against my collar bone. When I am upright, it sits about 2 1/2" below my collar bone, so it feels like it's not scarred in correctly. I am heavy-chested (G cup), and quite often feel a pull at the top of the PM. Is this something I should be concerned about? Would a breast reduction (with my cardiologist's blessing) help?

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Nighttime sling use?

Hello all!  I had my PM put in on April 1st. The dressing has been removed (yes it's like Frankenstein) and I've had the device check. Everything looks good and is on track.  The site is very sore and any clothes touching it is uncomfortable but from what I've read that will go away.  My question is about sleeping. I know that I constantly raise both of my arms over my head during the night. I am using my left arm during the day without the sling  fol...

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magnet in talking remote for tv

Hi just got a new remote for the TV that you talk to to along with a new cable converter box from Comcast/infinity.  Today held  the remote close to the pacemaker(was not thinking).  Got very dizzy.  Of course once i moved the remote away and closed my eyes was ok.  Thank goodness i was sitting down.  Did not have a problem with the other one as did not speak into that one.

Tried talking to the remote at arms length, could not hear me. 

&nbs...

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is this normal

just got an afib ablation last Tuesday (April 6) and a 2 lead pacemaker Wednesday.Days are definitely better in terms of mental acuity and physical capacity (aside from surgery trauma).  Had a couple of pretty good nights and then last night (Saturday) was the worst episode of bizarre symptoms I've had since my discomfort hit the "I'm in trouble" level last August. Felt like an energy storm inside my body, with tingling feet, pounding, massive ringing in the ears,...

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Beta blocker

I was put on a pacemaker three days ago. The same day that it was put in my heart rate went up so high they decided to put me on a beta blocker. Now my heart rate is lowered so much that it's constantly kicking in my pacemaker. I'm not feeling good with it and wondered if anyone else had problems with beta blockers and how to get them adjusted. It's making me foggy in the brain along with this morning I had to episodes where I stopped breathing and woke up gasping for air. I&...

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Electrophysiology Doc

I'm 100% paced and have had my pm since 2012.  I'm not satisfied with my current doc.  I live in 21044 zip in Columbia MD.  I'd appreciate a recommendation.

And, are there any improvements or innovations I should be looking for in my next pm? 
thanks, 
Liz

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TENS machine and Pacemaker

Hello,

I'm thinking of getting a TENS machine to help manage chronic lower back pain .  I would place the pads in the lower back.

I know the TENS sends small, minor pulses via battery to the affected area.

Am just wondering if safe for those with pacemakers or if contraindicated. I've had my pacemaker  for 7 years now. 
thanks for input

J

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Sinus node nicked

I see a lot of people have had their sinus node nicked during an ablation and now need a Pacemaker. Was that the surgeons mistake or is it just something that happens?

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Displaced Pacemaker

I wrote previously about my pacemaker moving closer to my underarm.  Well this may seem like a silly question but at my age I think I'm due a silly question ever so often.  Are all leads the same length and would they stretch when pm moved to new location? Thanks.

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You know you're wired when...

Born to be Wired is your theme song.

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I live an extremely normal life now and my device does NOT hinder me in any way.