Most Recent Messages

exercise heart rate monitors

Hi: i would like to purchase an exercise heart rate monitor to wear during exercise; however, i am not sure if or how the device would interfer with my pm. i’m an avid gym rate and do cardio at least 4-6 times per week. In the past, pre-pm- i’ve relied on the monitors attached to the cardio equipment: treadmill; eliptical; or life cycle. And if adviseable, any suggestion with regard to product or brand?

Read More...

Interrogations

I waited outside until my name was called. I was thrown into a dimly lit room and sat there stone faced, lost, and confused. After looking around the room, I tried to see through the window but only saw my reflection. I thought, "what is this, some kind of trick?"
The man wrapped a cord half way around my neck and forced me to talk. I tried to keep quiet but the facts just kept coming- out of no where it seemed.
He didn’t even offer me any coffee or a smoke. I said,...

Read More...

Moving it


Hi Tracey E
Thanks for the info. The only reson they are willing to do it now is it’s sitting on a nerve and causing me so much pain with the burning cold shoulder and when the PM is touched I get the shooting pain up my neck and shoulder. Talked to the PM nurse this AM and she told me they are looking for a open time to re do it. The Doctor told me if it wasn’t for the PM on the nerve they would’nt do anything about it.I’m gald to get feed back it makes yo...

Read More...

Is my deoderant not working?

I must smell or something, I have noticed when I arrive into the site if a couple of people are here when I come in they leave as if the plague entered the room, I sure hope I havent offended anyone in here.
Patch do I smell???????????

dave

Read More...

Chat question

I don’t know how many times I have mentioned this in posts and replies, but I’ve never got an answer or suggestion from anyone. Maybe this ya’ll’s way of keeping me OUT of the chat room. Ah.....the conspiracy.

I log into the chat room. I can see what people typed BEFORE I entered the chat room, but cannot ever see "live" what people are typing.
I can see what I type, but I can’t see what they do, nor do I know if they can see me. Wha...

Read More...

Infection

Hi Everyone

I have a question,I have had my pacemaker since 2005 . i have had a infection in my left breast since 2006 it has been needle aspirated sevral times over the years i have had biopsys numerous times and on antibiotics several times until recently the infection got so bad i ended up in the emergency room at which time thy called in a surgeon and within a couple of hours i was in the operating room having this very large abcess drained spent 3 days in th hosp on IV antibi...

Read More...

Confused.

I have no idea what to do.
I don't want to wear a bikini because of all my scars , but I want to wear one so badly at the same time.

I asked my mom if I could ever have plastic surgery to fix this problem and she said of course I could , when I stopped growing. Anything to make me feel confident and beautiful about myself. ( just no dying my hair).

I honestly am so confused about the whole thing I don't know what to do.
On one hand I would love to go to the beach...

Read More...

digital signals

im trying to find out if anyone has ever heard of digital signals penetrating pacemaker leads and having adverse affects on a heart

Read More...

Grateful for Pacemaker Club and members

My mom got a PM in 2003, which was replaced with an ICD in Sept 2007. Less than a month later, I got my PM in Oct 2007. At the time, I thought of PMs as things older people with "heart trouble" got. Soon after getting my PM, I found this site, from which I have gained a wealth of infomation, emotional support, and new friends.

I have often come to this site when I was emotionally upset, sometimes using it as a sounding board for expressing my feelings. (This has been mu...

Read More...

Kind of at a loss

Hi. I got my PM in January of this year after going to the doctor for what he told me were palpitations-"nothing to worry about but we’ll do some tests to put your mind at ease"-that turned out to be heart block. I feel kind of adrift here because I thought my symptoms would go away after the surgery. When I went to my first checkup in Feb, I described my symptoms and they told me that women just have palpitations oh yeah "did they tell you you have atrial fib?" Well, n...

Read More...

Up Date Cold shoulder after Pacemaker Surgery


Hi I just back from seeing the PM nurse and she got the on call Doctor. Ok they said the Pm moved up side ways out of the pocket and thats the lump I have but the burning cold shoulder and when the PM is touched I get the shooting pain up my neck and shoulder, they said might be the PM is sitting on a nerve.Ok I was sent for xrays to see if it did move. I was told they don’t redo if the PM came out of the pocket only if it is causing a problem, ok I have a problem here I’m in...

Read More...

Using Arm After 6 Weeks

I am getting close to my 6 weeks post surgery. I know that they say you shouldn’t lift your arm over 90 degress or lift more than 10 lbs for the first 6 weeks. After the 6 weeks how gradual do you have to ease into using your arm again? Is there a general guide line as to how much you should do for the first while, etc? Thanks.

Read More...

Chest Pain

Okay, the sharp pains in my heart have now gotten worse and I am going into a-fib off and on all day. Seems like about 3/4 or the day I am in a-fib now with sharp pains in my heart every 30 minutes or so that last at times for around 5 minutes. I will be calling my doctor’s office tomorrow to see what they want to do. I will let everyone know what they say.

Read More...

Having it in the morning

I’m having my PM/ Difbulater put in in the morning and I’m scared, infact I can’t sleep. Was wondering what should I excpect to feel after it’s all done? Will I be able to sleep and any other thing you can tell me I might expect in the beginning?

Read More...

Caroyl

Good Morning. I wonder if anyone can help me? I would like to take horseback riding lessons and am concerned if I can do that with a pacemaker. Also what about all the rides at Disney World, last time I took my grandchildren I stayed off all the ones that said if you have a cardiac problem, do not ride.

Read More...

From 18 to 65%

I had a new pacemaker implanted 3 weeks ago.On the old pacer I was pacing 18% of the time.Now on the new pacer I'm pacing 65% of the time.Why would there be such a difference?
Also Since Friday I have been having times of real bad dizzy spells.Went in to the doctor this morning and rest lower limit from 60 to 70.Anyway just had another dizzy spell and do not understand what could be going on.When doctor checked the pm it did not show anything on history....but since old pacer was set at 70...

Read More...

PM Club has been a blessing

I have always been a pretty self sufficient person and able to keep myself on an even keel in life - that is up until the PM and I became best friends...

This site has been a blessing for me - the overwhelming depression started to lift once I started to read others’ stories and fears etc. I have not posted a great deal, but learned a lot and wanted to thank the group for having such a great place. It has helped me with my relationship with my wife and children as well.

Read More...

RRRRRRRR! Oh yeah, and QOTW

Ok, so I went to the cardiologist on Friday, and this time, it was the NURSE who I wanted to slap. She treats me like I'm 5 years old! Sorry, I'm a little stressed this morning. Anyway, after about the millionth time I told her about those slow, heavy beats she finally said, "I think you are having skipped beats. Most people don't feel them, but you do." And to which I said, "You mean PVCs. Yeah, I know what they are." Then she just looked at me like I had cursed at her (which I wasn't too far f...

Read More...

Cold shoulder after Pacemaker Surgery

HI All. On May 11th I had my pm changed and I’ve been having pain in My left shoulder and if I’m in a cold room My shoulder hurts so bad I can hardly stand it. The first PM could not be seen now I have a large lump and it all so is very sore and when I touch it a pain shots up my neck and down my shoulder. Called in and will see the PM nurse in the AM, told her all this and seems like it’s new to her.But did say the lump was the PM and would settle down with time but it’s...

Read More...

pacemaker sport protector

Hi pacers!
My name is Sharon and my daughter Zoie has had a pm since 3. I am the co-founder of PACEGUARD which has been designed specifically for pacers with active lifestyles. Please check out our website at www.paceguard.com. As some of you may know, we’ve been working on this for the past two years. I hope you find our product exactly what you were looking for. Our mission is simple: for pacers to havethe opportunity to live an active lifestyle. We welcome any questions or commen...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

The dog’s invisible fence prevents you from leaving the backyard.

Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.