Most Recent Messages

Post Message!

Still Helping Others

I was just sitting here feeling a little blue and I began to think well, isn't that something. It has been a rough year for me already. It's only Feb. 3rd and I have been hospitalized twice and feel like &*(%$! Poor little me.....

So I went to the member list and pulled up some messages from some very special people. DairyPrincess and Peter.Nash. I selected their last posting to read again. I found that even till the end they were positive and happy. They were encouraging and so thou...

Read More...

Time off

Hi All, this is my 1st post. Still in shock from my experience.
I have just had my pacemaker fitted on Monday, how long am I likely to be off work (office based).
I only went to the doctors last Thursday with a chest infection and mentioned I had been having headache's, when he took my pulse he found it to be very slow (45bpm) and sent me for an ECG, they said ECG was very active and I needed to wear a trace monitor for 24 hrs, I returned this the next afternoon. At 4.45 had a phone ca...

Read More...

chinese food -msg

this may sound really stupid but i had chinese food on sat night an right after i had a bad panic attack does anyone think the msg trigger something off .or am i out of my mine . or should i just relize that panic attack come along with the program lol
Patsy

Read More...

Surgery this morning

Hey there, my surgery is this morning at 11am. I have to be to the hospital at 9am. I did not sleep at all last night and I am so tired. I may fall asleep before they give me the I.V of goodies; lol. I am definitely nervous but I am trying to stay positive. I know will all be ok; still I am nervous as this is my first surgery. This no drinking or eating after midnight is no fun; I am so thirsty; I'm a big water drinker. I understand why no food, but I do not get the no water because water passes...

Read More...

surgery post-poned

The hematologist took a bunch of blood and tomorrow i have to get spleen pancreas and liver checked through some radioactive test. He gave me some type steroids and supplement type stuff for Mal nutrition in order to help boost platelets. I go Friday back to the hospital to review all tests and have another blood test and if platelets still down I'll have to get blood transfusion in order to do my PM surgery.

Read More...

confused

I'm about to agree to a pacemaker implant. Terrified I will have to give up my running which will make me a bear to get along with ..... But my resting rate of 38 and frequent several-day-long arrhythmias (a-fibs) have me nervous, as well. Glad to find a forum. Howard

Read More...

What should I ask before hand?

I did call today and they told me the brand is Metronic?? She also said that it hasnt been recalled lately??? She did not know whether it was a 2 or 3 wire. They did say it would go under the breast tissue and the scar will be almost in my armpit. She also said once I've done the 30 day interrigation, I can get a local hospital rep to start doing them.

I just still feel like I'm not asking the right questions. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks
Andrea

Read More...

Tomorrow's the Day

Well had my appointment with the specialist today and I definitely need the pacemaker. He didn't want me to wait too much longer since I have been feeling pretty awful the last few days. I am scheduled tomorrow at 1:30 and will actually take my first taxi ride in years to get there tomorrow morning.

My sister drove us home from the appointment today because the doc didn't want me behind the wheel of the car. My sister hasn't driven since her hip surgery in 2004. We were trying to thin...

Read More...

Need some input

My doctors visit today may have taken me 10 steps back! I thought I was threw with the nerves....but they are in full swing now.

I went back to the EP today. She checked my recordings. It said I was in the 140's from 10am-2pm. I felt fine! I was just running around at school etc. Then at 2 I rested in my daughter. The RHR went down. Then she said it went back up to the 140's from 3-4:30. Again, I was just running around getting the house ready for a babysitter etc.

Her gut...

Read More...

FRUSTRATING ~ ~

Hello all. After a frustrating & emotional time I had at my first 3 month PM check on 1/14/10, I had a scheduled trip to make the next day, and I just am coming back home. Been missing all of you. I tried to "Post" my frustrations here before I left, to no avail. My home at the other ranch does not have high tech "stuff", no phone, no computer, no TV, no etc. so I could not communicate with anyone while there.

A lil' of my history: I had the Boston Scientific PM ablation/implant...

Read More...

brr cold!!!

Went out yesterday and it was extremely cold, this seemed to affect my shoulder where my PM is! Is this usual or is it because it's a new thing to me, or is it me being super sensitive again??

Apart from that I am beginning to feel better in myself, still quite sore, but certainly not as washed out as I was!

Read More...

Complications at hospital

My cardiologist came in and said my platelet count is severly low and they can not cut me open to do surgery. He is having the hemotologist come in to run tests and view options. I mAy have to get blood transfusion before they can do PM surgery.

Read More...

Subpectoral device placement

Seriously, just trying to find out all I can about subpectoral placement. I've read all of the "keyword" searches, but am just wanting to know more.

Recovery time? How much longer and detailed the surgery is? Are battery replacements any more complicated? Problems? Issues? Regrets? People who have been through "standard" placement- how much more painful is it? What to expect? Restrictions?

I'm trying to plan an overseas trip (March 5th-14th), but the doctors also are demand...

Read More...

Merlin@home Cost?

Can anybody tell me what the St. Jude Medical RF Merlin@Home transmitter cost?. Does it work well?.

Read More...

pacing ???

Still not sure how "Gizmo" works. Again, prior to implantation, I had very few symptoms that most ppl have. Never fainted, no chest pain, only S.O.B when doing hills. But I did have bradycardia (50-60 BPM) and skipping beats. Oh and total left bundle branch block. My EP implanted the 3 wire Medtronic ICD. My heart rate now during resting is around 70 in the afternoon and low 80's at night. But I still have a very irregular beat... approx 5-7 skips every minute. So exactly what is the 3rd wire do...

Read More...

PAC's PVC's and pacing

I was wearing a 24 halter last week and got the results today. It seems that I my heart races at 7:30 am and about 10:30 am. Both of which I can easily explain..morning rush to get out of the house and mid morning rush to get to a different class. Finally an answer!! LOL
The lady told me my heart rate was going down after that on it's own and so that was good too.
One thing she did notice that left me a little confused was when I pace it seems I am pacing at night. Right after I pace I...

Read More...

Join me in wishing him well

Please join me in wishing PaulB the best of luck during his surgery tomorrow. He is getting a pacemaker for the first time. :-)

Best of luck Paul! You will be great!

Wendy

Read More...

Cardiac Monitoring

My new EP told me today that he does not do home cardiac monitoring. My old one did, but I have had many problems with my old EP. Is there anyone else that does not do home cardiac monitoring? He said that the pacemakers are so reliable that you do not need it between checkups. Anyway, I have been feeling so much better since they put in the 2 leads and a new pacemaker. I was so sick from the one I had placed last July. I got a copy of how my previous single lead pacemaker was dropping bea...

Read More...

Almost new to the club!

  • by AndiC
  • 2010-02-02 08:02:33
  • ICDs
  • 1662 views
  • 3 comments

Hi there...my name is Andrea and I go for my "Shocker" surgery next Monday, Feb 8th. I will have a defibrillator put in due to VT.

I've been a heart patient my whole life. Born w/ tetrollogy of fallot, but had a total repair when I was 4 by Dr. Denton Cooley at Texas Heart Inst. I've always had right side enlargement and mvp, but issues started increasing. I ofcourse always said..."I'm FINE." In November, some of my coworkers noticed my blue hands and nervous attitude and sent me...

Read More...

Frustration

OK,
so today did not go exactly as planned (OK not at all as planned). I was supposed to see my EP this afternoon to hear what he had to say about the Event Recorder and I don't know who or where things got screwed up, but they did. They called me at around 10 this morning to tell me that they are cancelling the appointment because from his point of view there is no reason for me to see him. When I asked why, they couldn't tell me. I then called my Mom since she took the day off to be there...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You have a shocking personality.

Member Quotes

My cardiologist is brilliant and after lots of trial and error got me running. I finished this years London Marathon in 3hrs 38 minutes.