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pm removed

Has anyone had their pm removed? I had my first pm for 12 years it recorded use of less than <1%. During the interigation it always shows things are fine. I received a new one 5 years ago and still not using it, the dr has decided it would be ok to remove it. Have you ever heard of this before?

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Pulse Newsletter

Just wanted to give a very worthy ShOuT OuT to Blake for the Pulse Newsletter. Nice Job.

Also, I still think it's very wonderful of you to include all of us in the Heartbeat International Event as a way to meet each other. Looking forward to meeting you, and other "Battery Operated" people.

This site is a great place and helps a lot of people. So thanks to Blake and to EVERY ONE who makes this place possible.


always tickin',
Angelie

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One week after surgery - OW!!!!

I am a week after surgery and for the last two days the area around my pacemaker has gotten very sore and if anything my energy level is plummeting. I went back to work yesterday (desk job) but the energy level started dropping over the weekend. Now this morning when I woke up the area around my PM hurts like hell. I don't see any sign of infection, have no fever but what it feels like from my lower neck to my shoulder whenever I move is like someone is tearing the muscles around my PM. I ex...

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AV node ablation

Hi

I'm a recent member of the club.Hope to find some answers to a few questions I have.
I'm considering having an AV ablation because medication isn't working properly and I'm having problems with them (kidney problems etc.)
Has anyone any first-hand experiences on how the pacemaker (Dddr) works after the ablation has been done? In exercise for example. Does it take time to react to the required heartbeat switches? How long does it take to get back to normal? What is the qu...

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Another running update

Tonight I competed in my local men's championship mile, I came in 3rd place with a 5:16. I have a Medtronic Adapta which was installed in August, 2008. I am 46 years old. My doctor is a runner and he sees no reason why I can't keep improving. I will.

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New & Itchy!

Hello fellow pacers!
I received my PM just this past Friday, and several hours after the procedure, I started to develop a rash on my chest. They gave me Benedril, which seemed to help...I guess. By Sunday morning my rash had spread to my neck and jaw line, and is very red and itchy. I went to see the doctor (his PA, actually) on Monday, and she felt is was a reaction to the paper tape on the bandage covering my incision site. It has been removed and I am taking Benedril orally and usin...

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Bummed...I was bumped today!

Today was my implant day but was bumped at the very last minute, gowned, iv'd, on the stretcher....RN gently told me about an emergent patient needed my slot and would hope to get me in Thursday...sigh.... but understand.

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CPAP

Okay, I go next month to be "fitted" for my CPAP machine. I am really dreading it. My doctor keeps telling me how good I will feel, but I feel good now! Is it really going to be that wonderful?
What exactly (other than better sleep) is going to change for me?

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Alarm System Two

I had to go to the doctors today and they read my pacemaker numbers. They have to call my other heart doctor to schedule my out patient surgery. My voltage is down to 2.62. That is why my alarm is going to go off every morning at 10:30 a.m. I get a new one very soon. It just bothers me when it goes off. Thanks for letting me vent. Your encouragement is beyond discription. God Bless

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LOOPY LOU

Lou, have you news of Arabella? I haven't heard from her in ages and am very anxious about her. If you telephone her would you ask her to either ring me or e-mail me. I think she can't have received my latest message posted on the Private Messages here. Hope you continue well. I never seem to catch you when I look into the Club. All love, Sheila.

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recovery

I have a pacemaker and difibulator, which I received March 2009. My question is that the area where i was cut on my upper chest is still painfull, I can't wear a bra trap on that side, even a shirt hurts over it, is there anyone else that has this problem or had. I would really like to hear form you. I am also getting shocked frequentlyby my device. I am a 40 years old and a female.

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occasional tachycardia with exertion

Hello everyone. I have a dual chamber pacemaker for over 2 years now. Only one episode of complete AV block with no other heart issues except a very slight thickening of muscle in right ventricle. This does not result in any restriction of blood flow. All tests and checkups show only 3-4% PM usage. So really not relying on it at all. I do have these occasional runs of tachycardia with sometimes only slight exertion. I sometimes even notice it when I experience really hot weather or hot wa...

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a slightly lower "floor" (bpm) might help

I have had a pacemaker since 1998. A dual lead Kappa, its battery "ran down" in 2006, so since there is no provision for replacement of batteries, I got a second pacemaker in 2006.

Both times the PM was installed, I found that to avoid feeling "flushed" all the time, I worked better by having a 50 bpm "floor". It does not look like I will get the same 8 years out of this new PM battery since it "is working more of the time".

From my limited personal experience, I would re...

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September Event in Tampa

Hi all, I have had my St Jude ICD since 2005. I joined the group but never participated, and I'm sorry about that. This club could really help me, so since I live in Tampa I have registered for the event in September. If anyone has any questions about the area please let me know. I have had cardiomyopathy since 2002 and am stable due to the ICD and meds. God bless. Bev

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when the battery dies??

Just a silly question but has anyone got to keep their old pacemaker when the battery dies and they get a new one??

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Battery on Tap

Ya know, I got to talking to a friend of mine the other day and while I was talking to him my cell phone beeped to let me know that the battery was low. It was then that the thought occurred to me. I think when it is time to have my PM replaced, that I will have them install an external port. That way when my cell phone starts to run low, I can just plug it into my PM and give it a recharge. After all, the PM is covered by my insurance, so everytime they replace it, I would have a fresh trul...

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Connecting wire pain

Anyone having issues with regards to their connecting wires?

Two years ago, I was DX with breast cancer. My pacemaker had to be relocated from the left to the right side so it would be out of the way for post-surgery rads Surprise, following surgery I was informed I would no longer need radiology but of course, I now had a pile of extra wires in my chest.

I have have been experiencing a lot of pain in the area of the connecting wires. I returned to work, now teaching, and w...

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great weekend

well we had a family camping trip this weekend and it was great. I was a little nervous since this was my first trip since my implant. All went great I floated down the river, rode the gocart and rode the roope swing into the river. woke up this morning with no aches or pains except for sunburn. So I guess I am back to normal.

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Pacemakers are wonderful things!

I've had my pacemaker for about 4 years now, it's a dual lead and I'm 100% dependant on it. I can honestly say my life has been better, I keep all of my appointments and have heard from some of the techs that some people don't come back for their checkups because they don't like the feeling of the testing. I admit when they shut mine down just for those few seconds I paniked at first, but they always pop it back up to full charge and I'm fine. It doesn't bother me at all anymore. It sure bea...

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Ugh... MONDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

No worries. Here *hopefully* is a QOTW that will make your Monday better!!!!

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked."
- Bernard Meltzer

Yup. PACEMAKERCLUB!!! And in relpy to pacergirl's shout I read at my right, I will dedicate today to thanking God for all those wonderful people who we have lost and those who, fortunately, are still...

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You know you're wired when...

You can feel your fingers and toes again.

Member Quotes

I have earned my Black Belt. I now teach class!