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heart rate

My heart rythm will not exceed 80 without my being ill. I feel awful when I exert myself. The doctor and pacer rep tweaked the rate response mechanism, but that hasn't helped. The last time I pushed myself (I lifted a little weight and pushed my rythmn up) I had little shocks for 10 hours after. Lying down and resting helps eventually. I am fine now. Any suggestions?

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CT Scan

Wow, I went innocently to the hospital for a "routine" CT Scan of my head. I keep getting dizzy and i'm left after each "episode" feeling a bit confused. Ughhhhhh!
Anyway, I was lying there in they what I call the huge donut and I began to shake! Then I started to itch! Then my tongue began to swell and I couldn't speak! I was having a reaction to the iodine that they had just injected in to my right arm. Needless to say I was scared, my heart rate went into the 170s and was getting fasted...

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implanted loop recorder...actually worked

I've had the thing in since september 17th, but early this morning I finally had symptoms that I recorded with the patient assist device. After calling the office and finally finding someone who knew what I was talking about (people kept saying "are you sure you have an implanted loop recorder?"...um, duh?) I went in and had it interrogated in the PM clinic. The clinic person went and got the EP from lunch to come and look at the recording...it was that good.
So, now the recommendation is...

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Prayers

Hey everyone I know you all are awesome with Prayers and right now my good friend Dan needs some for his son Michael who is only 14. Today he was hit by a car while crossing the street to catch the bus to school. He is in serious but stable condition and doctors say there is some serious head trauma so he is still not out of the woods yet. He is being seen by all kinds of specialist and is having surgery in the morning so if you all could please pray for them I would Appreciate it. I know this...

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Idaho/Nevada/Utah

Anybody here from Idaho, Nevada, or Utah? Or know of any support groups... or camps for kids with pacemakers.

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1st shock received

Hi.. any advise, thoughts on when you get have your first shock?? Kind of mixed about the whole thing, gratefull to have good doctors, be alive and that it worked perfectly. Unsettled at the relization that it really went off. Having it go off kind of ripps away my core confidence that I am strong and healthy.
Thanks! Janiejane..

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ECHO report

So last week I had an ECHO to determine my heart function to determine whether I could start my antiarrhythmic at home. Nothing was really very surprising to me with the results (I have come to just expect the worst now a days). One thing that did catch me off that I have not heard before was states "left ventricular systolic function is low end of normal with ejection fraction of 50-55% with paradoxical septal motion from pacing." What exactly is paradoxical septal motion????

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ages...=?

hey just wondering....like my last posting....what age are u ppl when u got ur pm's and stuff and what ages u now...?
thanks....=]
im 16 with a pm since i was born so im wondering if anyone else is my age....=]
thanks as usual...=P
ballerine-nm

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change of sides!

heyy...=D
i've had like loads of pacemakers (4 -5) but my next operation is next year and my doc. said that he might change the pacemakere from my left side to my right!
Hw serious is this operation does anyone no and what difference doea it make!!
thanks this has been a great help!
next appointment on the 1st....=P

oh and hw soon does emergancy suregy happen??
just for the future!!
ballerine nm!

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charged

Hello everyone! I just had my PM placed on 11/11. (I was alamb before, but for some reason, I can't open up my account. So,... now I am alamb2.) I got a St. Jude dual chamber unit. It was placed under the muscle (longer recovery) and secured with about 9 staples so the only restriction I got was no sudden or jerky, jostiling movments and to let the pain be my guide. I was given six to eight weeks for full recovery.

I wanted to thank everyone who have given me feed back. If it...

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*** Patch Disclosure ***

Patch is our resident clown. Look at his photo in the gallery. He's even got green hair. He's been around forever, but some of you new folks might not know him or recognize his humor.

Although he's a man of amazing stories, some true, some not, if you're ever in doubt look to your left and click on the "JOKES" column. If you see his post listed there, than it's a safe bet to assume that he's kidding and as us old timers refer to it "Pulling another Patch"

Enjoy his humor, y...

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How Long to Take Plavix

(The last post I saw on this was dated in 2006).

Standard operating procedure today (USA) seems to be if you put in a DES (drug eluding stent), the patient is on Plavix for at least a year. I have one EP telling me that since I've been on Plavix 18 months and still take coumadin and aspirin, I should stop the Plavix. Not good for my blood. I've had a CHF specialist tell me I should stay on Plavix just about forever. I've had a GP tell me there are no studies to support the benefits of...

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ablation

i go for my first ablation,for my fast heart rate,what to expect,and how long is recovery.i do have a icd in me,is abaltion,like a cazeration

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Just a Thank you to everyone out there for suuport

I posted a few weeks ago, about getting my pace maker, I survived. Had my pacemaker on Oct.15th 2009, and had major rhinoplasty (sphenoid sinus) surgery on Monday Oct. 19th, 2009. Everything went great, recovering quite well with my black eyes. Still few issues here and there with pain in the site but all has been checked, I am just slow diabetic healer. But shout outs to all of you that commented on my post. This is a truely awesome group. Thanks Again..

Mustangblue2@yahoo.com(P...

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Interrogation.....I'll say

That lady / dictator had me running up stairs this morning, and I'm sick.....out of all days. I tried to tell her that first I needed to change into my work-out clothes, but she wasn't buying it. LOL.

After telling me that I was "deconditioned" which is another way of saying "lazy", she almost stood her ground and didn't change a thing.

Now look who wears the pants lady? I told her I'm out of shape because I've been scared of pulling another lead loose and haven't done any...

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San Antonio Area

If there is anyone out there wanting to help me start a support group in this area, please email me at mustangblue2@yahoo.com, directly because I dont check this site every day as I do my email. I would love to start a support group and help others that will or may have walked in our shoes.

Patty

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Stitches

I'm five weeks post-op and everything was going well till I noticed one area of the incision on the end wasn't quite healing. Instead of getting smaller, it was getting a little larger. Then a white loop appeared, then what looks like a knot. I called my Dr. He said that sometimes the internal stitch does not disolve completely. Has anyone else experienced this?

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Told I need a Pacemaker this week

Hi,

I am a 27 year old female who was told this week I need a pacemaker after suffering dizzy spells since I was 13. Had always gone to dr to investigate when they got bad, however it was always put down to hormones and since the age of 21 my occasional bouts of anxiety. However recently saw a Neurologist who thought I had epilepsy, but tests showed my heart stopping for 8 seconds during one of my spells, and now here I am with what cardiologist suspects is sinus arrest or av block. I...

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Allergic

I am a 49 year old male and had a pacemaker put in 2 weeks ago, i have been getting a blotchy rash and hives which come and go, does anyone know if you can have an allergic reaction to pm or leads? Rash occurs on chest front part of shoulders and arms. I am not on any medication, Cardiologist discounts possibility.
Thanks

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First Check Up coming in Early January

I had a PM installed in late August 2009; Type 2 Buddle Block / Dual Lead, Medtronic ADDRL1. I am now due for my first hospital checkup in early January.

I realize today how little I knew about PM's before one was attached to me for life. For an engineer with a graduate degree I am embarassed to admit this.

Since August I have learned a few things, but could some of you put forward a few ideas, questions, that I should ask? Anything thoughts or suggestions from your exper...

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You know you're wired when...

You can shop longer than the Energizer Bunny.

Member Quotes

I have a well tuned pacer. I hardly know I have it. I am 76 year old, hike and camp alone in the desert. I have more energy than I have had in a long time. The only problem is my wife wants to have a knob installed so she can turn the pacer down.