Most Recent Messages

Post Message!

Hilarious video, you have to see this!!

I found this on YouTube the other day, it's absolutely brilliant! The original song is Sexy Back by Justin Timberlake, but some med students made their own version, called Diagnosis Wenckebach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVxJJ2DBPiQ

Read More...

Karate Chest Protector

Hi Everybody,
I was training in Shito-Ryu Karate before having my pacemaker implanted, and I am hoping to resume my training once I get the go ahead from the doctor. I had my pacemaker placed under the collar bone and kind of off to the side/shoulder area of my chest due to a chest muscle that didn't develop correctly. My doctor did tell me that I would need a chest protector when I started to train again to avoid any direct hits to the pacemaker. Does anybody else train in martial arts...

Read More...

1st time

hi there
i go into hospital tomorrow morning to have a pacemaker fitted for the 1st time. i am apprehensive and a little scared. i am told it is 60 - 90 mims proceedure and to stay in hospital over night. i was diagnosed with a slow heart rate, this was discovered after being cardioverted twice for af. i went straight back into af even when the 2nd time i was given flecanide to keep my heart rate in rythem
could anyone tell me the recovery time as i am due to start looking after my fr...

Read More...

My mom has to have her pacemaker replaced!!

My mom is going to be 70 this year, she has had a pacemaker for almost 10 yrs. Yesterday she found out she has to have it replaced, it has some kind of electrical malfunction. She is seeing her doctor tomorrow morning. We are nervous!

If anyone could tell me about the procedure, how long surgery is, how long she could be in the hospital, healing, complications....I was very young when she got the pacemaker and I don't really know what to expect. I currently live w my mom in NC b...

Read More...

To all the wonderful heart.

I want to thank everyone that sent me messages and explained a lot of things to me. My appointment is tomorrow in Pittsburgh and I am ready for whatever is to come. I will let everyone know how it goes. I am not afraid now sooooo a big thank you to all.

Read More...

The ONE

No one my age understands me. My health, regardless of my age, places me in a older age bracket. I recently was chatting with an older couple whose daughter I went to highschool with. Since they both have pacemakers, we had a lot in common and tons to talk about. I joked that we should hang out more often. They are in their 70's !!!

I AM TIRED of being the ONLY ONE.

In my entire city, I am the only patient in their 30's with a pacemaker. I am also the only one, reagrdless...

Read More...

PHANTOM SHOCK.

Has anyone experienced "phantom shocks"? I have had my ICD for 3 1/2 years now and it fired once going off 6 times consecutively. But recently i have been woken up with a jolt that practically lifts me off my bed. When I have the device interrogated it shows nothing, no treatment no episode nothing!! Am I losing my mind, has anyone else experienced this? I am a fairly healthy 28 yr old male originally diagnosed with Viral cardiomyopathy. I have enough issues worrying about my heart, now I feel I...

Read More...

Disconnected Feeling

Hello,
I'm wondering if anyone has had this experience: A feeling of being disconnected, walking on air, medicine head? I do have some anxiety at times, but when I feel this medicine head feeling I'm just walking along minding my own business and thinking that I'm feeling fine. I'm taking 25mg Topril 2xdaily and 10mg Paxil and 5mg Norvasc and 500mg Metformin. I also take a variety of vitamins. My dx was for bradycardia/2nd and 3rd degree av block so I'm about 97% dependent.
Than...

Read More...

great av block explanation

I thought this was very nicely explained. It tells how the heart beats and what the different types of av block are in plain english
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4611

Read More...

coping somewhat

It is gardening season and I love to be outdoors. I have had my PM for about 3 months. I have been having shortness of breath since by PM and it mostly happens when I am doing something more strenuous than normal, in the morning and at bedtime. Today, I was trimming shrubs and raking and I got really short of breath and started sweating. It causes my breathing to increase and I have to stop what I am doing. The same thing happened last evening when I was on my treadmill. I was only at spee...

Read More...

scaredycat

Thank you to those who posted replies. They have made me feel a lot better about having a PM and the procedure itself.
I think that the main reason my cardiologist wants me to have one is so I can take some medication for AF. My pulse is slow averaging 54 and when I take AF med it goes too slow and I feel terrible.
We want to travel in outback Australia, so it is a preventative measure. I perform really well on a stress test (except for my knees :-), have trouble getting the pulse rat...

Read More...

Social Weekend Event

You and a guest are cordially invited to attend our first official social event. It’s a great opportunity to meet other members, have some fun, learn more about your device and support Heartbeat International. 

Location: Sheraton Riverwalk Hotel, Tampa, Florida
Date: September 25, 26 & 27 2009

To learn more about this exciting event, please visit Read More...

Pacemaker with high threshold

My son got his pacemaker replaced last year but need to replaced again this year, the new PM will only last less than a year because the threshold is needed to be on set as high as 6, 2 months after the operation, the doctor said that reason can be a wrong location of lead in the heart when the replacement was made last year. This is very disappointing situation and thinking to sue the doctors. Doctors even said that replacing the lead and batteries will not make sure that a low threshold can be...

Read More...

scaredy cat

Hi, I'm getting a PM next week. Slow pulse, at times very slow, and feeling faint. Othertimes very very fast with atrial fibrillation. Anyone like this in the club?
I'm very nervous about the procedure and feel quite spooked about having a foreign body inside me for the rest of my life. I'm just not sure I need one.
Lizzie

Read More...

Clip on pedometers

Do clip on pedometers with a lithium battery affect the PM? I have a Sportline 350 step counter and wonder if it is safe...If unsafe how do they affect a PM?

Read More...

Thanks for being there

I got up this morning after a good nights sleep. I had been having a hard time sleeping as I did not want to take the pain medicine and was not. Yesterday a friend that knows me well told me to take what the doctor ordered before I went to bed. This I did and had a good nights sleep and woke up rested and in good spirits. To get on the computor this morning and find all your support was also a God sent. Your suggestions were so good. As suggested I have read many of the messages, which I h...

Read More...

Help me!

It's been almost a year since getting my dual lead pace maker and for the most part it has been a good year. Only recently have the PVC"s really kicked it up a notch and also the tachy/brady syndrome that I was diagnosed with. I'm getting the old anxiety feelings again and not coping well. I will be getting a holter monitor on Monday to make sure all is well. I just don't know how to do this again. I'm crying and worrying now that there is something else wrong again. I could just use some moral...

Read More...

Another great cruise!!!

To those of you newbies that are experiencing anxiety and doubts, life with a pacemaker does not have to be that different than before. Well in my case it has been different. I always thought I could not afford to do things I have always wanted to do because there were bills and obligations. I was wrong, I have found that with planning and great Internet shopping you can do what you have always wanted to do, and still meet your obligations. I always wanted to try a cruise I never thought in a mi...

Read More...

Happy Father's Day!!!

Happy Dad's Day to all of the fathers out there! I wish our weather would be a little warmer than the forecast predicts... Iplan on going swimming w/ the church today! :( Oh well, hopefully everyone will be enjoying grilled meat today (or veggies if you're vegan); can't wait myself! Anyway, know that you dads are appreciated (sometimes more than you think) and have a great day!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. - What do you think about an 18 pack of toilet paper for my daddy? :) LOL!

Read More...

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all you guys out there. I would bet that all of your children are grateful for the devices that kept you around. Hope it is the best of days for all of you.

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

Member Quotes

Thank you technology! My life is much improved.