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Thank You

Today is the first birthday of my little buddy Violet(my PM).I am so thankful that I have her(without her I would not be here today to celebrate).

I know I would not have made the transition from mere mortal to bionic woman without the help of this web site and all of you. I have learned so much and it was a real comfort to know that so many of us share the same healing problems,feelings,pain etc.

Tonight when we go to dinner, we will say a toast for all of you...for a happ...

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Good News!!

Just wanted to share my good news esp. for members wondering what happens in the long run if you go with an Ablation & PM for Afib. In Jan. 1999 I went into permanent Afib with severe SOB & NO energy. After several cardioversions & trying all the meds to convert back to regular HB, I elected in late 2000 to go with an Ablation & a PM. Am now on second PM & went into see EP today (his call for a complete check-up) as in last year had two PM adjustments for slight SOB. So I did the Echo, PM check...

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husband has 3 leads and is in pain

My husband had his pacemaker/defibrillator about 2 weeks ago, and he still has radiating pain to his shoulder. My question is that does anyone know what he will feel if the pacemaker does anything, and also, what will he feel if the defirbrillator kicks in? He is still very sore, and really can't do much but sit around. Would like to talk to someone that has had this done. He has a refraction of 19 so he had to something, I hope the pacemaker makes him have more energy.

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weight loss

Had my PM implanted July 24th. My question, since heart rate is now at 60 plus vs my old 30-40 rate, does metabolism improve and shouldn't we lose weight. I remember when you smoke your heart rate increases and people stay somewhat thin. I have lost 9 lbs since the implant. I have been walking half hour a day and somewhat watch what I am eating but I think I am benefiting from improved metabolism. Anyone with thoughts.

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Magnet placed over Pacemaker??

I will be having surgery soon on my rotator cuff. It is the right side thank goodness....but I am only almost three weeks post op from the PM.
I had my PM implanted very deep in my under my breast. I still can not move my arm above my head for two reasons. Even though the doc says swing it around....I have seen on here all to often to try and get to that 4 week mark before using your arm above your shoulder. Also...I still have to much pain..I am still swollen and bruised. It's getting bett...

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sleep apnea

I want to thank all of you that responded to my sleep apnea posting. Most of you asked the symptoms well, snoring, extreme fatigue, waking gasping for air, stop breathing during sleep to mention a few. I would stop breathing an average of 11x an hr for 45sec to 1 min. They can tell you this after the sleep study is completed. I truely believe that the heart disease and sleep apnea are connected. I don't really know which one comes first but at this point it doesn't matter. Thanks again for...

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Smooth top stoves??

I was reading in the book they gave me about my ICD and it says to stay at least 2 feet from a smooth top stove.....I was wondering if anyone has ever had any problems with their ICD while cooking on one? Thanks.

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PM has moved....After over a year

I have noticed in the past week that my PM has moved or turned. It was put in June 11,2007. I called my doctors nurse and she said that it isn't unusual for this to happen but to keep an eye on it, just don't touch it. She said she would stop in and see me when I come to have my next stress test.

What could have caused this to hapen now? I haven't done anything unusual. Ths morning before I got up I was lying on my side and felt a bit of uncomfortable pain coming from the PM pocket.

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PM has moved....After over a year

I have noticed in the past week that my PM has moved or turned. It was put in June 11,2007. I called my doctors nurse and she said that it isn't unusual for this to happen but to keep an eye on it, just don't touch it. She said she would stop in and see me when I come to have my next stress test.

What could have caused this to hapen now? I haven't done anything unusual. Ths morning before I got up I was lying on my side and felt a bit of uncomfortable pain coming from the PM pocket.

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Thanks!

Thanks to all you lovely people who have sent private messages and replied to my last postings - without your on-going support I really don't know who I would cope with being a new pacemaker girl!

Hope to be in chat later tonight gmt!

AND ANOTHER THING ..... the british weather continues to do what it does best.................... rain, rain and did I say... RAIN!!

Hope you are all well and chat soon!

Loopy Lou xx

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What are we debating?

This seems as good a forum as any to state one more twist to this very important subject. To cut to the chase, we are talking about human lives and the right to live in health. If we are healthy, we can be productive participants in society. What happens to those of us who struggle to put food on the table let alone find the hundreds of dollars for insurance premiums?

Are certain people more entitled to health care than others? Although I can hear a resounding "no!", [I hope], then ta...

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Infection and ex-plant and new implant

Hello,

Over the past month I've been on 2 external pacemakers and have had 2 permanent ones implanted. I have a level 3 heart block as a result from a septal myomectomy and valve transplant. I then developed a staph infection on my first pacer and am being treated for endocarditis.

So, I am familiar with what the pacemakers should feel like. On the first 3 (1 permanent, one venous and one external through the chest), I was demand paced and kept a comfortable rhythm between...

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Thank You

I have been reading your postings for over a year now and I can not begin to tell you how many times you have come to my rescue. I have had a very long year and a half.

In early December 2006 I had severe back pain in the late evening, but, it went away. I thought it was from laughing to hard! Then the next morning I could not lift my left arm. I went to the Dr. the next day, took an EKG. From there I went for a stress test and was air lifted to a larger hospital. After being "sta...

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MaryAnne - HMO & Health Care

Hi MaryAnne,

In your reply to Verger on surgery and anesthesia you say "Now in Canada your surgery would be done high risk or not if it is determined you need the surgery. You see, we don't have HMO's that dictate whether you can have the surgery or not."

I wish to respond to that statement of as to me that may imply that in the USA the HMO helps the doctor make the decision on the level of care for a patient. We do not have HMO's that dictate the level of treatment for...

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I had my 6 month PM check today

Hi All,
I had my checkup today. I'm so fortunate. Mine paces about 50% in the upper chamber and so far none in my lower one.
I have had no EPISODES since I got the PM 3 years ago.
Just wanted to share with you and to say how thankful I am.

I, too, am so thankful for the wonderful people on this forum.
I've learned so much from you all during the past few months. I was able to ask intelligent questions today and got understandable answers.

The Medtron...

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Questions for the Cardiologist........

Hello everyone!

Hope you are all feeling good today! Well, another cold, windy day in Poole, Dorset UK!! Need to emigrate I think!!

Anyway to business......... I have an appointment on Thursday to see my Cardiologist and the Pacing Technician. Last time I saw the tech guy I forgot things to ask! Put me in a room with the doc and I always seem to go blank!!!

Anyway, I know I will go in with a list....(!) but need some hints as to what to ask.... This will be...

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Shoulder pain and live in Pittsburgh,PA

Hi I'm Stacey28
I had my ICD device put in last year on June 18th and I had no problems with the device or the settings. This year starting memorial day weekend I starting having shoulder pain and pain in where the device is and heat. I was wondering if there is anybody in the Pittsburgh Area that is on the site that may have had similar problems to mine. I need some help and I was wondering if there is anybody from Pittsburgh.

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Sleep Apnea

Has anyone with a PM ever been diagnoses with sleep apnea. I was diagnoses about 6yrs ago. When diagnoses the doctors said heart problems were associated with it. Since I didn't have any problems or symptoms of heart disease, I'm wondering if their connected now. The heart doc said studies are not completed to determine. A case of the chicken or the egg.

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Mammograms

Hi, does anyone know if you can have a mammogram done with a pm. I got my pm on July 3rd and I've been putting off having my mammogram for sometime now and was wondering once this pocket heals when I can get the mammogram done. Any thoughts? Thanks, Jean

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Printout

Does anyone know how to interpret the printout we get. I had one given me but no explanation. I fainted one wk after having pacemaker in and thought it would stop. Not sure what to look for on it. They said pacemaker is fine.???

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You know you're wired when...

The mortgage on your device is more than your house.

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