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sleep for pacer

I was put to sleep for my implant seven years ago. I don't care what they do if I can sleep. I think its the best way to go. When I woke up then taken to a private room (got good insurence.) I was hungrey & they served me a nice turkey sandwich to hold me over until dinner. I stayed all night & before I went home the next day Medtronic rep came up & gave me a programmer & went over all instructions.
Be careful & take care of your arm for they anchor the leads in & I wore a sling for several...

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4 years & going strong!!

I have had my PM for 4 years now & forget I even have it, exept when I accidentally touch it. For all you with new ones, hang in there because it gets better. Now I hate to think of replacing it in a couple of years. But it is worth it!!!!!!!!!!!

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SALT !

Like a lot of you, I too have been given marching orders to put salt on everything If you've never had a salt bagel - you have try one - at least once. Tastes a lot like one of those big soft pretzels - but on steroids. My local bagel shop makes them really big. I know that in some places in the States they even sell them at DunkinDonuts.
It's funny to suddenly have permission to eat as much salt as I can. My family used to tease me and promised me to get one of those salt-lick things th...

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Neck and Shoulder Pain

Hi Everyone! and Happy New Year.

Question: I have read in the past where a lot of people here experience neck and/or shoulder pain (and sometimes collarbone pain) ... I was wondering if anyone ever got an answer.

I've been experiencing, on and off, for the past 4 years this needle like pain in my neck (where you take your pulse) and my complete shoulder and upper arm aches like I've been punched. It hurts!!

Just wondering what it could be. I've mentioned it n...

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chat

new to this anyone going to chat

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inr droped

hi everyone ill start with wishing everyone a happy new year well husband had a inr blood test on the 5 th jan his inr was 3.1 before this test and now its droped to 1.7 so they have increased the dosage ,ami right in thinking this mens that his blood is to thick and clotting quicker ? i alway get mixed up with this topic the lower the inr the thicker the blod the higher inr the thinner can somone please tell me am i correct thank you xxx

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chat.....

anyone want to chat! I'll hand around for a bit...cheers....Pookie you still here?

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Low Blood Pressure Treatment

For those of you who suffer from low blood pressure, what is your treatment?
I have NCS, among other things, that has caused me to have chronically low blood pressure. I take Florinef (Fludrocortisone) and Midodrine in order to keep my blood pressure stable. These meds. have worked well over the last year, but now I am having problems again. I drink plenty of water and gatorade, and I try to eat salty snacks and put extra salt on my food. Some days are good, and some are bad; but lately I h...

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new to this 27yr old

hello, I have had palps for 2 years I used to weigh 325 lbs now 230 lbs I play Ice hockey hard several days a week and work very hard, I have always had a low heart rate 45-55 at rest my bp was getting alittle high but is now under control 120-60 at rest its hard for me to get my heart rate much above 100/ Anyway I had a holter to make sure the palps were bning nowing they were as I have no symptoms and have terrible panic disorder, they found 3 five second pauses in my heart during the night I...

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pacemaker checks

I have written about having anxiety after having the pacemaker Dec.2nd. I found out a week later that one lead was not connected.The anxiety started after my first pacemaker check. I have had 2 othe checks and the anxiety seems to get worse3 after evry check. Has anyone had problems after pacemaker checks? Thanks Carmen

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What's up?

Hey guys! I emailed my ped. cardiologist about a possible spastic vessel, as metioned in a previous post. We have off today and I am sooo bored and kinda dreading finishing my science fair project. You could call it a self - inflicted gunshot wound; I'm testing the interference of iPod Nano and an Video iPod with my Teletrace system. I know I'm a nerd but if it wins me something that's great! Have a great day!! I may be back ... :)

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Dronedarone

Can anyone tell me if they have yet had any experience with Dronedarone. I have a long complicated history and have failed with many medications. I was on Tykosin at one point and had great success but it enhanced my arrhythmias after a short spell leading to Torsades de Pointes. My status is deteriorating and at one point the physician was recommending this medication if it comes available here in the US. I have read up on it but just wondering if anyone has yet used it with success,.

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Chat anyone

Ill wait in chat room for a while if anyone wants to talk.
dave

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Why?

Why are some doctors so hard to deal with?

I called my doctor's office today because I have been struggling with my blood pressure all weekend. I talked to one of the nurses who decided to page the doctor. I told her that my bp was unreadable this morning, but it had come up to 83/42 by the time I talked to her. I was feeling weak and slightly dizzy, but otherwise I was ok...I deal with my bp being low on a fairly regular basis.

When she called me back, she said the doctor...

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Pacemaker Implant

Dear Big-Piglet

Just do exactly what the Dr. says after the implant. I have had mine almost two years and I wore the arm sling religiously for 6 weeks even to bed at night The procedure itself is not bad at all. I was awake through the procedure. I had to have an ablation so mine was not just placement. You are worrying understandably so, but for nothing really. The psycholgical part is worse than the psysical. Good Luck DD.

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Got the phone call!

Well... I have been waiting since July 2008 and I finally got the call yesterday and I go in next Monday to get my pacemaker implanted. I felt upset when I found out I had to get one but now I just have a real anxious feeling. I guess just nervous about the unknown. I have started a list of questions I want to ask before or after my surgery because I know on the day I am going to be a nervous wreck. Do you guys have any last minute questions or concerns I should address with the surgeon befo...

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Pacing vs. sensing

Is sensing when the lead is just "observing" for arrhythmias?
Is pacing when the leads actually starts firing because while it was "sensing" it picked up an abnormal rhythm?

Does the pacemaker rep have all the answers to rate configurations, or should I try to call the company directly?

I want to know exactly WHAT rhythms and rates are recorded specifically by my pacemaker.
My high rate is 150, so will it record anything less than that?
Anything over a hundr...

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Caution - Electronic Body Fat Scales and Pacemakers

Something I was not aware of until recently when I was looking at purchasing some new electronic bathrooom scales:

Caution! Body fat monitors should not be used by anyone with a pacemaker or by pregnant women. The small electric current emitted to measure body fat could interfere with the functioning of pacemakers and may be harmful to pregnant women.

Apparently electronic body fat scales send some kind of electronice wave through your body that may disrupt the pacemaker. I...

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shoulder and neck pain

I had my pacemaker placed on dec 2nd. the first week i had left should pain that seemed to go away. Today I was doing deep breathing exercises and started getting shooting pains in my left shoulder and neck and even in my chest. It does not feel like muscle pain. Is it associated with the vagus nerve? Anyone else have this feeling?

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FLATLINE ?

This is a new term I have started to notice , but I am not sure I understand it. However a lot of members are using the term. Ive done a bit of research on the word FLATLINE AND FLATLINED and can only conclude you mean that the heart monitor showed a horizontal line with no beats and that you died and came back to life with a little help from the medics.
Can someone please confirm what the term means? Cheers Peter

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You know you're wired when...

You have a $50,000 chest.

Member Quotes

99% of the time, I totally forget I even have this device.