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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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First Airplane Ride - by myself

Hi all - I got my pacemaker put in 2 1/2 months ago, and just took my first airplane trip - solo. I am a 60 year old woman, and was apprehensive about going through security, and also lugging my suitcase around by myself. The trip actually went off without a hitch, and here’s what I did:

I parked my car at a lot with a bus transfer, and the driver took my bag out of the car and loaded it on and off the bus for me, and I tipped him. The bag was easy to roll to the ticket line...

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Mederma

Have any of you used Mederma to help heal your incision? Tell me what you think please.

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struggling w pacemaker implant

I am a 32yr old female who had a dual pacemaker implanted on May 05, 2009. I have been struggling with this since it was done. I have had three heart procedures in the last two months, the last was to insert the pacemaker with a thoracotomy. My heart rate prior to the procedures were 160 to 200, now it is still in the 130’s. I am depressed and struggling. I have not been able to work since February. I am always tired, my blood pressure when I awake in the mornings is frequently 159/111. I...

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AED's

Ok I have a question I work in a place we have AED's everywhere and everyone is trained to use them. But we were never told what to do if some one has a pacemaker. Does anyone know if there is something different you need to do? Its funny the things you think about after getting an implant.

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A poll question regarding rates

Hi Everyone,

Would like to conduct a quick poll question please to find an average upper and lower limit rates for your PM-
What is your upper rate and lower rate?
Thanks!

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elevated heart rate & Toprolo XL

Hi Everyone,
Okay so here I go again only this time it's worse.
For the last week or two my heart rate has been elevated ranging between 103 & 125 with no exertion. I do have a few days where it is where it should be ( 70's & 80's) But what I can't figure out is that not only has it been elevated but it has been been accompanied I'm embarrassed to say by uncontrollable sweating. I don't even know if the two are related. It has been horrible.I have to shower 2 or 3 times a day.This h...

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Erm..... Spam?

I remember Spam to be a tinned, sort of meat back in the 60's - 70's!!

However, after reading a posting on here, yesterday I was armed with the knowledge about the problems with the aforementioned spam (computer not meat!!!).

I have received about 30 emails with.... "dont reply you have received a message from the Pacemaker Club... etc etc". I have deleted them without opening them.....

How? what? where? is happening?!! I am dreadful with this computer lar...

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Seat belts

The soft touch seat belt did not help me because of the location of my implant. The biggest problem I have had for almost two years now is because my lead is just under the skin with no fat in that area so the seat belt would cause pain and irritation quite often. Going by the Kragen Auto store today, I decided to just see if they had anything to help. That is where I found a sheepskin seat belt cover that is about ten or twelve inches long with a velcro strip to close it. It really works wonder...

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afib and diltiazem

I had an afib episode Thursday. I called my cardiologist's office, they sent me to the ER. They gave me diltiazem IV until they got my heart rate down, then prescribed oral diltiazem XR 300 mg to replace Diovan for HBP. Since then, I've had sensations in my chest that vary from pounding to fluttering. My pulse has ranged from 48-51 (pacemaker is set at 50), and my bp has ranged from 107/60 to 148/84 but just a little exertion (e.g. taking out the garbage) causes my chest to feel uncomfortable...

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first timer

Hello, this is my first posting, it is nice to see that someone was smart enough to allow all of us to chat like this,Thankyou.
I am a 39 year old male that has just come out of an ICD surgery in Mar.2/09,.In April9/09 I recieved my home monitor On May18/09 I was out for a liesure bike ride (no hills) when I started to feel light headed I pulled over and I went to sit down on the road infront of my bike when all of a sudden it hit me ZAPP or what I thought I heard was a BONG, no one can rea...

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Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl side effects

With all the advertising for Aricept the following might be worth knowing about. I've copied just the part that concerns HR and pacemaker implants as the article was rather long.

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Patients taking a class of medications for Alzheimer's disease and dementia are at greater risk of side effects than many doctors realize, a new study suggests.

The drugs - Aricept, Exelon and Reminyl - are known as cholinesterase inhibitors. As an uninte...

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Member Quotes

Do feel free to contact the manufacturer of your device. I have found them to be quite helpful when I have had questions and concerns.