Most Recent Messages

Our Mug Shots - and how the heck do we put them on the Gallery??

Dear Admin! or indeed anyone else who has managed it......

Please share the secret of downloading our beautiful Mug Shots on the Members Gallery!?

Thanking you with a cheesy grin!! :))

Love, Loopy Lou xx

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Skipped Beats

Hello everyone!

It's been a while, so I will give you a recap. I had my pacemaker implanted in November for NCS and SSS, since then I have developed IST (inappropriate sinus tachycardia) and have had two SA node modifications. I was told after the last modification that I would have a hard time getting my heart rate above 80, but that sure hasn't been the case.
I am still experiancing episodes of tachy at rest where my heart rate will get up into the 160's. When my rate gets tha...

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swollen feet

since having my PM implanted about 5 months ago I have been experiencing swollen feet from time to time which may last up to one week or more. Does this mean my PM settings need to be tweaked a bit more or could it be a more serious problem, thanks for any thoughts on this :)

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swimming & lead wire

What have you been told about swimming & a single lead wire? My EP said that I could swim, and my cardiologist said the same. However, he did say I should be aware of the fact that swimming can cause wear and tear on the lead wire. Does anyone have any knowledge of this? I do swim a half hour straight about five days a week. Because I am 80, I don't "sprint", but do so enjoy the swim. Would like to know your thoughts and your doctor's advice. aldeer

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Lisinoprol reaction

I was golfing with a friend last week and after an hour or so, his lip started to swell. He thought it might have been an insect bite. By the end of the round, it really swelled up and even down to his cheek.
He went to the ER and they gave him a steroid shot and antihistomine. He went home but the next day, he felt trouble swallowing, so went back to the ER.
They surmised that the Lisinoprol he had been on for 4 years had reacted badly with him all of a sudden!!
Just thought I wo...

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Stinging sensation

Can someone please answer a question for me? I had my pacemaker implanted 4 weeks ago.

Several days ago I started experiencing a stinging sensation on the left side of it. The stinging increases when I move my arm up or if I extend it in front of me.

I can't prop up on this arm while lying down.

Is this normal or should I contact my doctor?

thank you, thes0wer

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complete heart block

I had joined this group last year. I don't remember the user name I used. I have been told I had complete heart block since I was 25. I'll be 37 this September. Last year I had an episode and was told by 1 cardiologist I needed a pacemaker then. I got a second opinion and opted not to get it. I had talked with a girl with the same situation who opted to get it and wondered how she was. I don't remember her name.

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UPDATED PICTURES OF ME ON MEMBER GALLERY ON THE VERY LAST PAGE !!!

Haha sorry guys but I am sooo excited that it finally worked !!!So I look different and I have contacts!!! Yesss !!! Ok That is enough hyperness for today !!! E-mail me !!!

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Good news for me.

Some of you who I have chatted with here knew I was going in for a prostate biopsy. Got it done last week. Not a very pleasant experience to say the least. My wife tells me you should try everything at least once. Trust me guy's you don't want to try this one. But if the Doc says you have to then you have to. This week I heard from the Doc. NO CANCER!
I didn't think there would be a problem because I felt that would be a very cruel trick to play on me. God, saving me almost 3 years ag...

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Pacemakers

Hi Everyone.

Haven't posted for ages but please can someone verify for me the concern I have with a pacemaker.

My pacemaker works when my pulse drops below 50 which is if I am sitting in the evening or asleep at night. Other than that my heart's own pacemaker works for me.

My question is does a pacemaker actually weaken your heart muscle over a period of time when it takes over your heart rhythm. I have asked my cardiologist here in France but as usual the answ...

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can the leads move?

Hi every one!!! Its me again..jeje. I just have this question. Every time i am in the shower washing my hair i feel like my heart is racing. I dont know if its because i have my arm way up so that i can wash my hair..or if its that i have it stretched too far for too long...but i feel funny and sometimes a little dizzy. Can the leads move if i do this for too long? I have had this pacemaker already for almost 2 years so i didnt think the leads would move out of place. But it is just weird that i...

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New website for LVNC patients

Hello everyone!

Looking for more patients that may have been diagnosed with Left Ventricular Non Compaction or Non Compaction Cardiomyopathy. There are 5 of us at this time and we would love to talk to more people and compare notes, etc.

We have a new website to try and pull patients together since there are so few of us. Check it out.......
http://groups.google.com/group/left-ventricle-non-compaction

Thanks-
Candi

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Dancing

I am 2 wks post op. Tired still. Stitches out yesterday. Is it too soon to attend a dance, family thing. I know not jiving. Just wonder if it is all too soon and should spend most of time resting for the 4 wks.?????I do a walk each day and regular hhouse stuff.

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Shoulder and arm pain after difib/pacemaker implant

Here we are four weeks down the line and my hubby is still experience shouder and arm pain and even after taking strong pain meds for two weeks (which are now finished) we are back to square one

We are going to the hopital this afternoon - please let them find out the cause of this and it is causing him so much discomfort

We have been told already that he should not have any pain in this area caused by the implant

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Olympics

Hi,
As I understand it, there is a woman US olympic swimmer who has had ablation and now has a pacemaker. Does anyone know her name? She apparently has done quite well.
Thanks for your help.

Richan

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How does a PM work?

I've still yet to understand how a PM works; the PM tech are not much help.
Can someone give a layman's version of how this thing works?
I went in for Atrial Fib ablation. After the ablation, my heart would not stabilize, sometimes goes very slow, pauses a few seconds then resumes. So, they put in a PM to correct that.
The PM is set at 70; from what I understand, if my heart rate goes to below 70, the PM kicks in. Now, does that mean the PM "takes over"? if so, what happened to th...

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Dull chest pain

2 wks post op. During surgery told dr I felt pain along breat bone in between breasts, right under bone. He said it was the artery where the leads were going. I still have dull ache some of the time. Is this normal? Will this go away.? I am sure if it was serious he would have told me??

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I GET MIXED MESSAGES FROM DRS

I like to do resistive training and weights, and need to to be able to return to work!. Big issue for me is building up my neck, shoulders and back (I also had Open Heart and lost 45 lbs).

Pacemaker,Defib 6/6/08 - all they said was no lifting left arm over shoulders for 6 weeks. I started machine training 2 weeks ago and NOW they tell me not to do Lat pulldowns or anything where I have to have my arms (left) over my shoulders because it can mess up the "pocket" or the wires??. BIG i...

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SOTALOL - IMPRESSIONS?

Had Boston Scientific Pacer and Defib put in 6/6/08. Immediately out on Sotalol. They never told me that the device also "paces" your heartbeat in middle of cycle (ie I thought the pacer worked if pulse when under 50 and the defib kicked in if pulse above 185 with Ventricular Decardia.

However, a week later I'm in bed and my pulse gets "locked in" at 105 and stays there all nights with "pounding" heart. I was NEVER told that the device paces in mid range. I was told next day that if y...

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Would you care?

Long story short...

I had my pacemaker device changed in late June.
I had a lead extraction done at the same time.
My cardiologist has never done a lead extraction so I went to another doctor in another city to have done. Research and references from docotor all highly reccomended.

In my check up with my doctor, found that there is a possibility that the leads are plugged into the wrong sides. So, they are into my heart in the correct side and place but into the d...

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You know you're wired when...

Friends call you the bionic man.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.