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Enjoy the ride. There is no return ticket.


George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions.

'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.
'Ho...

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Goooood Monday Morning!

If I had virtual coffee to give you all, I would. But here is you QOTW instead!

"Most people learn by observation, and there are the few who learn by experimentation. And then there are those who actually TOUCH the fire to see if it's really hot."
- Anonymous

I must admit being guilty of the last... But aren't we all? Anyway, I have some TERRIFIC news!!!! I got a B in P.E.!!!!!!!!!!!! My semester average was an...

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CardioRhythm and CardioCare

Has anybody tried this product and were there any changes or was it a waste of money. It would be nice to find some natural substance or over the counter product for Atrial Fibulation instead of going broke from using the way too expensive prescription medication.

CardioRhythm
http://www.vrp.com/ProductPage.aspx?ProdID=1950

CardioCare
http://www.vrp.com/ProductPage.aspx?ProdID=1460

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In denial?

As some of you may know from my previous posts that I'm going to meet with a arrythmia specialist on wednesday after my cardiologist told me I need a pm for my heart block. I have no symptoms at all. But my cardiologist seems to think the slowness will start ruining my heart over time. Has anyone ever had a pm put in for heart block with no symptoms, and if so, is there any difference in how you feel now? I have this "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude. I think I'm just in denial.

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Scared!

I'm 27 years old and found out Friday that have a pacemaker put in April 1st. While I know it will help me it's very scary! It started when my heart would start racing and I would get very dizzy. I have to grab onto things when the dizziness starts. I used to pass out a lot. My cardiologist found that my hemoglobin was down to 5.1 and I received 3 blood transfusions. I am on almost 15 pills a day to regulate low heart beat and low blood pressure. They have run a tilt table test, holter mo...

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discharge instructions

I finally read all my discharge instructions, aren't you impressed? LOL Some are standard, some are quite different from what I've heard from others here so I thought I'd share my doctor's take on follow up care...

1. Wound care- keep dry for 4 days. Shower ok after 4 days but no swimming or bathing until wound has been evaluated at follow up appointment

2. Activity
-no driving 1st month (I am soooooo discussing this one with him!)
-do not raise arm above head fo...

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Mydaughter not me

My daughter who is 56 years old and in great shape (she thought) is a yoga gal, pilates gal, a runner and walks her 2 dogs twice a day all of a sudden felt weird, out of breath, heart palipitations, fluttering of heart -it was getting worse so one night last week when she went to bed about 40 minutes later she shot up in bed and the whole room seemed dark and darker. She woke her husband and said she needed to get to the ER right away - he took her to a hospital near home that specializes only i...

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wireless service and pacemaker

I am scheduled to get wireless service throughout my house. I have a pacemaker, do any of you know if this is safe?

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panic attacks

can anyone please tell me why we get panics attacks boy did i have a doozy one last i was sitting watching tv with my husband an bamm i felt it coming on try to use some breathing steps an took some meds but meds werent working fast enough for me why does this happen an how can we provent it help......Patsy

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futsal?

can i play futsal (street soccer) without a protective pad? i don't think it is as dangerous as soccer..especially when girls are playing it.

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new to me

Hi, Just had my pacemaker fitted, and i feel lost, was only diagnosed in december, i thought pacemakers were for old people. It seems to be so routine with the hospital, but i'm just floundering around trying to make sense of it all. Will i still be able to feel it when it has healed in 6 weeks? will i just carry on as if it is not there? the staff say life should be normal, would like to hear from other people who have been where i am.

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Newbie

Hi - I'm the proud new owner of a pacemaker. On Friday January 15th I had an appointment with my GP that I started to cancel. I'd been battling a weird 'cold' since the week before Christmas and just didn't have the energy to drive across town for my appointment. Decided to go. The nurse tried to take my blood pressure and her equipment wouldn't work, so we went into an examination room so she could use the cuff there. Then she took my pulse. The doctor came in very soon after that and he t...

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THANK YOU ALL

I first posted in coping about three weeks ago when I found out from my cardiologist that I have Bradycardia and 2nd degree av block, probably type II. I was a nervous wreck not knowing how this would affect my life and my health.

Thanks to reading your responses to my post and also postings of everyone who belongs to the club I think that my appointment with the pacemaker specialist on February 3rd will go much more smoothly.

The only thing I am wondering about is what is...

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What is an EP?

I hear a lot of people mention about an EP. Can anyone tell me what an EP is and what they do, and what is the difference between an EP and a cardiologist? Thanks.

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ha!

Where there's a will there's a way! I just washed my hair two handed without breaking any rules LOL. If I tilt my head to the left and get my elbow up even with my shoulder, I can wash my hair pretty easily. Yay. I didn't want to keep pestering my hairdresser for a shampoo every other day indefinitely.

(happily sitting here with wet hair wrapped in a towel)

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Interrogations???

I keep reading here about them What are they? How often are they done & does everyone with a PM/ICD get them. And lastly.... can you feel them?? I have my 1st "wound check" on Feb. 3 with my EP. Will it happen then? Thanks!

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New To me

Hi, I suppose you classify me as old 73!!!!! but I had an emergency pacemaker fitted for complete block. Believe me I am so grateful because now I have resumed all my previous activities.
I play tennis 5 days a week. Walk extensively etc, which previously I couldn't understand why my body could not cope with anything anymore.
Mine was implanted in November 2007 and now i forget it is in place. If you have a good E.P. they will do all the adjustments to make life easier. I have m...

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discomfort

sometimes i feel discomfort on the apex i think. below the breast on the left side .it's pressing a bit. it's just for a while and it's not painful. and sometimes it's below the place where my pacemaker is implanted which is on the right side. should i see the doctor?

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panic attack

I am on my second pacemaker in nine years. Medtronic is the best.When I had my heart attack the next day I went in Sudden Cardiac Arrest. After five jolts of juice & luckly to be in Cardiac Care Unit when it occured. I lost a little oxygen & since I have panic or anxity spells. I do not like large stores,lot of selections of items or speak in public. This one was odd to experience since I am a Librarian & spoke at schools, historical clubs etc.
I forget what I am talking about at times al...

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Is over 200 bpm normal?

My daughter is 11 yrs old and has a pacemaker, she had it placed 12/26/08 for 3rd degree heart block which came on very sudden... she is an avid basketball player and plays on a traveling AAU team... everything had been going good except the last two interogations they have showed a few times each month her heart is beating over 200 times per minute, this does not seem normal to me... and ideas if this will cause any damage or if it is ok!?!
Also does anybody know where I can find somethin...

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You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

Member Quotes

I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.