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Short of Breath

After suffering from very shortness of breath climbing the 3 stories to my condo I recently changed Cardio Doctors. New clinic nurse told me to slap my chest 4 or 5 times as I was approaching the stairs. She said it would alert defib/pace I was upper body exercising?

Anyway ir seems to work. I get to the condo without feeling like I just crossed the finish line of a marathon.

Anybody else ever heard of this?

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Horseback Riding

I was told by the Medtronics call in line that to ride on a rollercoaster was a big time "NO". Anyone had a similar response or issues with this? Also I want to go horseback riding and wonder if the jolts from a full out gallop is too much bumping for the pacer area?

Again thanks and much appreciated for the time to answer.

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1st time

Hey everybody, I am 26 and got this "car battery" implanted yesterday. I am a Marine, I do know of at least 2 other Marines that have heart monitors and still on active duty.
I am a little nervous about the things I love doing. I was just wondering if anyone has any perspective on: exercising to include pushups and hard impact running like sprints, scuba diving, and last roller coasters? Again, I am 26, I dont want to stop doing the things that I love to do.
They said my pa...

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Randy's Nagging Question

Hello everyone.....can’t even begin to tell yall how great it is to have a spot to hear some real life folks to converse with about our shared "battery operated aliens". Sometimes I just look at my chest and say "good morning Master, don’t fail me now"...lol.

Just seems like there are days when the chest area just "hurts" for no good reason. I am on my second PM and the first one never hurt every day like this one.  I have told sever...

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BP PM type implant

I have just been contact regarding a new implantable device that is similar to a PM but it is used to bring down BP in those that are not having any luck with BP meds.

I have had my PM for about 3 years, and am now on 4 BP meds a day which still are not bringing my BP down to an acceptable level. My question is this - has anyone in our PM Club, with an implanted PM, received one of these new devices?

The thought of one more thing implanted in me is not something I'd like...

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question!

Can someone tell me where the pacing leads are please? Are they left by my armpit or central behind the breasbone?

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arrhythmias, pacemaker and oral contraceptives

I was diagnosed with arrhythmias at age 11. Now I am 25. I've had 5 ablations and got a pacemaker 4 months ago. I've been taking oral contraceptives for about 2 years but recently went to another Ob-Gyn who said that I was crazy for doing that! My former doctor said that my cardiac issues had nothing to do with birth control, but this one said that I simply can't use anything with hormones. Because of the arrhythmias and the pacemaker. When I asked about other options, he said that the only one...

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WHATEVER NEXT

Medtronic are reseaching and developing a "GASTRIC PACEMAKER" to be fitted to patients who cant keep their appetites in check. It "PACES" your stomach to make you feel sated. Apparently 15 patients have already been fitted with the device as a medical trial. If they get too thin will they be able to sue? Most likely they will be programmable to adjust your weight to whatever you want. Just think they could be linked to pick up Sat Nav and make you feel sated every time you pass McDonalds. As...

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Update

As you know from my previous postings, I received a St Jude's Atlas CRT-D on June 22. Everything went well, surgery was a breeze, recuperation was going very well. Then last Monday at midnight, had some unusual sensations in my chest, which felt like huge hiccups or finger thumps. Not really a zap....but was feeling kind of off center. Then....BUZZZZZ BUZZZZZZ the patient notifier started in. My husband told me I was very pale and shakey so he called 911. I checked out just fine and finally...

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Pookie's Update

Hi Everyone.

First, thank you to all my friends who sent me messages after seeing me featured in the Newsletter. It was a true honor to be nominated by Peter Nash before he died, may God bless him.

Just a quick update: I finally got to see a Gastroentologist for a 2nd opinion. The appointment was today and both Lloyd & I were very pleased. I will be having another colonoscopy and an endoscopy sometime in August. Then perhaps the doctor can figure out why I'm in so much...

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Hello

Just wanted to introduce myself. I got a pacemaker on 7/8/09, after battling with low pulse and exhaustion for a few months. I also was found out to have persistent left superior vena cava, which was not detected before the surgery. So my lead was put in differently than most other patients. But I just wanted to introduce myself. Hope to make some new friends on here.

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Metal Detectors

So I went through the whole pat-down thing at airports for years but got tired of all the hassle and eventually just tried going through the metal detector without mentioning my pacemaker. It didn't beep, so I asked my doctor about it at my next visit and he said that it wasn't a problem. He simply noted that it only faced interference during the moment you pass through, but afterward it was not affected in any way. That said, I have gone through the metal detectors every time at airports, co...

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Thank You!

My mom's first post surgery appointment is today. I want to say thank you to everyone here for giving us your feedback. It's reassuring to know that my mom isn't the only one who has gone through this. She is slowly learning to trust that her pacemaker will do its job. Since her situation presented itself suddenly it's something that we are all trying to adjust to. It's so helpful to read other people's journeys.

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tired and worried

Hi, everyone. i was just diagnosed with severe emphysema, and was told i have also suffered a silent heart attack, left damage on the tip of my heart. have had a pacemaker for 23 years, on my 4th battery. i am 65 years old and just wonder how much time i might have left.
thanks for any reply i might recieve, nelson

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Magnetic Badges

Some of my PM friends may find this helpful. I usually wear scrubs to work because I work for a Dr. and he likes to be able to pick me out of the crowd when the room is full and some other reasons. Well, we have hired a new person (cool) to help out and she suggested that we wear street clothes and a "work" top over. So I will be changing now into dressier clothes.
This is the interesting part.... They want to have us wear the magnetic badges with our names on them. Well, before I got my p...

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track intervals

Ran a strong track workout yesterday, 20 X 400 with a 200 rest in between. Did almost all of them in 80 seconds (except for the 19th which I did in 76 seconds). I've run 39 miles this week, though I took Sunday off.
I had my Medtronic Adapta PM installed in August '08. I am 46. Stay fit. No excuses.

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Yeah!!!

Ok, I JUST finished a *sample* CHD brochure that I plan to perfect and give out EVERYWHERE I go. And, I've even incorporated a bookmark detailing my journey w/ heart disease!!!! YEAH!!!!!!!!!! Oh, I have a meeting @ the Daily Grind w/ my March of Dimes chapter today. I was invited last time, but I ended up @ the wrong coffee house! :( Anyway, I know where I'm going today and so hopefully, I will get to discuss congenital heart defect research and the importance of it.

hugs!!!!

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DVT after surgery?

Question: Has anyone thrown a DVT in their subclavical vein after surgery? Just wondering because I am being sent in in the morning for an ultrasound to rule out a DVT due to the pain I have been having around my collar bone and lower neck that started about a week and a half/two weeks after surgery. Docs still have no other ideas of cause but want to rule out a DVT since the pain would be a symptom of that although I don't have any other symptoms (such as swelling of the left arm, chest pain...

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acupuncture with electric current

I've begun treatment with a chiropractor who also uses an electric stimulus device on acupressure points on my earlobes to reduce pain from a pinched nerve. He uses the device on one earlobe at a time. I am concerned about possible interference to my medtronic dual-lead pacemaker and wondered if anyone has information that might be helpful. I appreciate your help.

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Martial arts training

Hi All

I have had a two lead PM for two years and am 100% paced.

During my years of undiagnosed AV blockage and subsequent years of worring about walking around on life support I have managed to put on an extra 30 pounds or so.

It seems like it's time to get back to working out. I have taken an interest in Chen Style Taijiquan (Shaolin Kung Fu lite). I recently spoke to a local coach about training. We both agreed that we could structure workouts to avoid hit...

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