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heart palpatations

i need some feedback ive had a pacemaker for 3 yrs and really not sure if i needed one.i was having what felt like heart values popping i have been told it was heart palpatations.the doctor told me i had bradicardia and said if i had a pacemaker installed that it would stop but it did not stop.if anything it has gotten worse now im not sure what to do.i had no other symptoms from bradicadia except it took me longer than normal to get going in the mornings

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Update from M.D's

Hi everyone,
Just got home from a long day at the hospital with the M.D's and I thought I might get some answers today about the types of rhythms or rates I was in since I went to return the event recorder. The doctor read the EKG's I sent in and basically told me that he couldn't tell me anything except that it is nothing critical. I'm back on the event recorder for another 2 weeks now to see if we can catch anything else and yes I will use it more this time. The doctor did give me the old...

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At The End Of My Rope

Hi Everyone.

I really really really don't wanna be a "debbie downer", but I've decided that after today I am not going to be emailing anyone any more or posting here with my medical dilemmas. Because I'm 100% certain people are getting sick of it. Sure it gets it off of my chest momentarily, but I have to try & find other things to keep my mind & body occupied. The last 5 yrs of my life I've been physically & mentally spinning in medical circles. All my life has become is Medical,...

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From Georgia

I wanted to allow anyone with a PM to find me on Facebook for questions, just to be a friend, or to send messages to and from. Look me up by email with repwork@gmail.com.....

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Running

I just got my new pacemaker, "Sparky", and even as I'm recovering here I'm trying to figure out how to get back into training. Before everything went crazy with my neurocardiogenic syncope - a technical way to say "passes out", I was working towards a blue belt in kempo, working out at the gym three times a week and training for a 10K with an eye towards my first half marathon this year.

Soooo...question is - what is the likelihood of continuing to do some or all of the above in si...

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Puls at 80+

Hi everyone,

I am a femal, 53 years old and got my pacemaker on December 8, 2009. For the last 5 weeks i have checked my blood pressure and my puls daily. The puls is always over 80. Is that normal or do i have to ask them to change my settings. I wake up several times during the night and have a hard time going back to sleep.

Any input is appreciated.

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How can you tell if a lead has issues?

Hi everyone,

I have an old lead which is the lead responsible for all the pacing - I am not pacer dependant in the other chamber.

It is 18 years old and my doctor thinks I should leave it next change which could be in 6 months.

Every time I exercise in the past 2 weeks I have been feeling a twinge - or pull under the pacer - the leads I suspect are above that (site was on top of breast area).

I would love to hear from others:

1. With old lea...

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Oesophageal spasm

Just thought it might be worth mentioning here, as I have read lots of postings about chest pain and choking feelings, experienced by many on the site. This has been my experience.
I had a dual chamber Medronic inserted just over 12 months ago, for sick sinus syndrome, but 8 weeks post surgery, started to get chest pain.
After a couple of hospital admissions, I saw a gastroenterologist, who suggested it may be oesophageal spasm, due to acid refux. I was sceptical, as I had central crus...

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rewired and recharged

I am home with my fresh new generator, a new lower lead and a cleaned up pocket! I was supposed to have a venogram yesterday to see if there was room to leave everything on the left then do the surgery some time later this week or next week, but I was admitted on Sunday for something else. Since I was already there, we decided to git er done. My new EP was great. He brought in a plastic surgeon to clean up the pocket. I had plenty of room on the left so they were able to use the same pocket. It'...

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pacemaker wires need extraction

Im 40 and ive had seven pacemakers and have had problems with all of them. at this time i have five broken wires left inside me Im 100% dependent on the pacer. and my wires are attached to the outside of my heart and the wires are layed in between my my ribbs down to generrator in my abdomom. all of the non working wires are stabbing me and no doctors will even take me as a case because of drs neglect.im looking for a doctor to extract these wires does anybody no anyone. and allso need a pacemak...

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Woo Hoo! Had my first checkup!

Today was the big day...my first office visit since my Medtronic implant 8 days ago. I feel 100% better after being told that I am doing great! Got many of my questions answered and then some! I had been having some "wierd sensations" which is about the only way I can describe them and during my visit had another one. Seems like I must be one of the sensitive ones (my words) who can tell when my PM self tests. What a relief. Sure wish I would have been told that several days ago. Brought me mu...

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Telephone monitoring,,,,????

It is hard to believe I have had my PM for 1 week today. Woo Hoo!!! For those of you who have given such wonderful information...a BIG THANK YOU....AND you were right....I am feeling better. A little concerned about the steri-strips I think they are permantly adhered...gonna be a big "OUCH" coming from Texas in the morning for my first checkup! I would like to know the concensus on this telephone monitoring option. I am feeling like I only want to be checked by a live person with a doctor near b...

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Much to say

Before I get into all my Thank Yous, I have to give you guys the quote.

"The trouble with trouble is, it starts out as fun."
- Naomi Judd

Ok, so THANK YOU to everyone who responded to my post about dealing with difficult people. If there is actually an "F" on my next report card, we will have to have a talk with the teachers. Thanks for the chocolate, Tracy!!! It was yummy! LOL. And you made perfect sen...

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Resting Heart Rate

I went to bed last night with a resting heart rate of about 114. This is high for me. I'm usually in the 60's.

Woke up this morning and was in the same range. Sometimes even in the 120's. No pain, just panic and fear setting in becuase the RHR was so high.

I came to school and ended up having stomach issues and a full blown panic attack due to the fear. Think I'm ok now, but RHR still in the 80's.

Any ideas???? And at what RHR does it become dangerous slash hear...

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Allergic reactions

I am having a hard time after my surgery on Tues. I had developed a horrible allergic reaction. That I still have the rash like hives.
It has been a pain dealing with them. For a while they took my pain off my chest pain that I was having and then now I have been feeling the pain that comes from that. I sometimes feel like I am being a baby about these surgeries and the pain.
I was curious how many have had allergic reactions to medications and what you have done besides the ste...

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Follow Up

I woke up this morning with a RHR of somewhere in the 114's -120's. Went to the Dr. and he said he had no explanation. That he wasn't sure what it could have been.

I had taken Xanax to calm me down in case it was panic but that didn't work. I told him that.

He is sending me back to the EP to get a second opinion and to see if there is something they missed...then I am scheduled to be put on another halter this Wednesday. My RHR at the office was 67!!!! I swear it's like wh...

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Weird Situation

Has anyone who ever had a pacer that gets stuck in cycles and after 3 mins show signs of vtach? This is the second time in a month that this has happend since I had my pacer installed almost a year ago. My Local ER just acted like okay you can go home now and totally miscommunicated everything I said and really agrravated me to no end. So they acted like I was making it up and sent me home. This had been going on all day yesterday and now it's occurring again. 2 weeks ago a St. Jude Rep cam...

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Lead Extraction

Anyone in Florida had a lead extraction? I have 4 leads (2 active/2inactive) and need to make room for more.

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I went

Hi Everyone,
Ok I went to the ER this morning and they were great at the ER. They did all the standard tests and everything turned out fine. The doctor said that there were no signs of angina or anything like that. As an aside, my CK was high, but they didn't say anything about that. I only saw it after I left from the copies of the test results they gave me and I wish I had known sooner. The first time I was there (yes you heard right) that's what I was told and didn't even see a cardiolog...

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Just a request for your thoughts

Hi Pacers

I thought things were smoothing out when Brian collapsed again on Saturday morning. I had to get the ambulance and they tookehim to emergency and admitted him. He is low on sodium again. Does anyone know about this problem?

I think he had a very long absence siezure and as the signs of low sodium is also confusion I am having problems to get through to the docs that I definitely think it was his epilepsy and not just vagueness and confusion from low sodium.

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You know you're wired when...

The meaning of personal computer is taken a step further.

Member Quotes

I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.