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1st Pacemaker going in 23rd

Hello. My name is Jessi Way and I am 30 years old. I am a stay at home, home schooling Mom of 4 boys. I am having an EP study with a pacemaker implantation following on the 23rd of this month.

Here's my heart story:

After years of irregular heart rate, I was diagnosed with PSVT (Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia) when my Ob referred me to a cardiologist in August of 2000. I had an ablation after the delivery of my son in December of 2001. The ablation didn't go as pla...

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No sleep

Here at hospital, and cant sleep for anything. In a lot of pAin and perks not working. I am however keeping positive. The nurses are really nice. I hope im not getting sick iv been coughing a lot and it hurts my chest where i got my 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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awareness of pacemaker

Hi,

I had a pacemaker implanted 3 months back. I can feel the shape of pacemaker on my chest. Is it notmal or its normally placed under collar bones where you dont feel it.

thanks,
sr

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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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smoking

In October, on my way to the hospital to get a pacemaker, I slapped a 7mg nicotine patch on my arm with the intention of quitting smoking. The best I had been able to do was down to three to six each day. Well, it worked. After the hospital stay with a fresh nicotine patch each day, I came home "smoke free"
Now it is February 10 and the euphoria of being a non-smoker has worn thin.
I will NEVER light one up again. This is a triumph I never thought I would attain.
BUT (no pun...

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warfarin/soap

THANK YOU; INGA - CAROLYN,G - PATCH - POOKIE - and LENORA - i feel better already just knowing you're out there - and you took the time to share your info - BLESS YOU ALL
'still waiting for dermatologist appt. - web has too much info - ie.
aloe vera/warfarin/bad .... 'won't worry so much now -
............ HAPPY TRAILS
........................................... ruthy9

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Post-surgical use of weights?

I had my PM implanted on March 31st, and did not have a post-surgical weight placed on my chest. Is this a standard procedure or only used in certain placements of implants?

Thanks

DC

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back to the gym!

Had my first trip back to the gym with my new hardware! Two weeks and two days post op. I didn't do arms and didn't push it, but I got in 20 min on the elliptical and felt good.

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Pookie Is Home!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone.....

I am home. Everything went SO well. I worried and stressed and cried for nothing!!!!!!!!!! A bit sore, but nothing I can't handle.

I'm just still really really dopey, so I'm gonna go hit the sofa for awhile.

Thanks a million for all of your support.

Pookie

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CHD Awareness Week/ QoTW/ Late!!

Hey guys! Sorry i didn't the quote up on Monday; we are buried in over 30 inches of snow and it's still coming down. Been crazy over herrr...

As most of you know, it is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week!!!!! It runs through February 7- 14, but every day is really CHD Awareness Day. To learn more, visit www.childrensheartfoundation.org, www.itsmyheart.org, or just type congenital heart defects into any search engine. Some of us here (like me!) were born with one or more types of h...

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Good news!

Hi Everyone!
OK, I should have listened to all of you (including my family). The cardiologist finally phoned me today and said everything was fine. I saw my G.P who told me the same, but I have follow up with the cardiologist next week just to hear everything he has to say. Thanks to all of you for such wonderful support. Very relieved tonight and exhausted. Just wanted to share the good news.
Taryn

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Epicardial Lead placement Tomorrow

I am getting a little anxious about the surgery scheduled for tomorrow. They will be removing one lead from inside my heart and putting one on the outside. I thought it was just one incision on my left side, but I'm wondering if they will have to open up my shoulder incision to attach the new lead to the pacemaker/defib. Does anyone know? Susan

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pregnant and results

Well I just got my results from my echo, and my heart is up to 45% now and the doctor said my hearts pretty much normal, and it will be okay to keep my baby. Thank you for all your support and prayers. My heart doctor told me to keep going to see the obgyn specialist and I prolly wont go back to that other ob doctor. Again thanks for all your help. Thanks Kelly

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PM Surgery

Well Im getting ready for my hospital stay. I have a lot of food allergies so I have to take plenty of food with me. I have to be there at 10 am and my PM surgery is at 1pm. I have to get there so early because they have to blood type me and give me a blood transfusion because my platelet count is so low. I should be getting my bone marrow aspiration results today; but not the biopsy for 2weeks. The hematologist said that the results today will confirm his diagnosis of ITP which is an autoimmune...

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Here at hospital

Here at the hospital. Chest hurts a lot but my spirits are up. It was not bad at all i dont remember much at all. I said all kinds funny stuff they said lol i was so out of it. I cant wait to get this weight off my chest 35 more mins:))

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You will get used to it

I have had mine now for over a year and because of other problems I fall quite a bit, always scared of something coming a loose, so far so good. I can truthfully say I have peace of mind now, as long as I am on my feet.

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pM surgery

My surgery went well 2 hrs i dont remember much and felt good coming out. My chest sore now from having to keep this 2 lb weight on it. Nuse said i have keep it on for 6 hrs. Im waiting to get into my room for the night. I cant believe how well it went :) thNk God. ThNk all of you for your prayers and support.

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first postop dr visit

I was really nervous yesterday about going to my first dr visit since my surgery a week ago, so I took a Xanax just to calm down a bit. I got my favorite nurse, which helped, and the cardiologist didn't seem to be in a rush (that helped too). I found out I have an AV node block (she said high grade so assume that is 3rd degree) that sometimes worked and sometimes didn't, but lately my heart rate readings were consistently low in the 30s and 40s. The setting on my PM is 50 to 120 and so far th...

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Pacemaker On 02-24-10

Hi All,

One week after the cardiologist called, I had a Boston Scientific dual-chamber pacemaker inserted for Sinus Pauses. That was last Thursday.

I have dealt with plenty of swelling around the incision and under the arm along with incision pain. I'm still very swollen and this Thursday, the nurse takes off the teri-strips and checks the incision. Inside are sutures, which will dissolve on their own.

I read this several times here, but for 24-years, I have...

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You know you're wired when...

“Batteries not included” takes on a new meaning.

Member Quotes

It's much better to live with a pacemaker than to risk your life without one.