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Pain in PM area

Can anyone shed some light on what causes the pain in the pm area. I have experienced this for a while -- it comes and goes. When it comes, I feel like tearing it out! My docs don't seem to be listening.

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Beta Blockers vs Calcium Channel Blockers

Can anyone tell me the difference between the two? I was taking BB to supress my natural heart rate, but it was causing my blood pressure to be very low. One of my doctor's switched me to a CCB yesterday because I was suffering side effects from the BB. Since I have been taking the CCB, my heart rate is not being supressed as well and I feel awful.
I just don't know what to do! Please help!

Amanda

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70 bpm Defective or Stuck?

Thanks to Smitty and Joy for your responses.

Smitty, In Toronto, you get whoever is working the pacemaker clinic, so I've seen a few docs and they keep adjusting the settings.

It sure should be going over 72 but doesn't respond to my activity levels.

Joy, I'm only on coumadin, I should have mentioned that but it's not drug related. Thankyou for the suggestion, as it's certainly possible when you're on heart meds. Thankfully, I was able to toss my meds. after my...

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Jeremy

My son Jeremy has had a pacemaker since he was 3 yrs old. He is now 15. He is doing great. He is in the band and can play three or four instruments. He is a A/B student and most people do not know he has a pacemaker. He is very normal and we forget he has a pacemaker. At least other people do. I am mo and I try to act like I forget. I worry for when he graduates hopefully from college, about how he will do with insurrance and things. Here is a paper he wrote for school. I thought it might incour...

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How to feel

I had my ICD put in June 19th 08 and have had relatively no problems, I do feel some times a little disoriented and forgetful and I am sometimes frustrated of this condition because I used to workout and go dancing (I am only 52). I do drive sometimes but short errands only. the reason I am writing this is because when I see my doctors they ask me how I am feeling and I always tell them I don't what to feel other than the symptoms I described. anybody feel the same way?

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INTERFERENCES

Anyone interested in guidlines for interferences and pacemakers could do worse than typing in google the following
- safe distance from magnets for pacemakers -
the first hit will be GUIDLINES : HOME AND WORK
There are links to click on to other pages for more information.
Cheers pete

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Pulse oximeter prices

If anyone needs a Pulse Oximeter for home use let me tell you about the one I purchased. Last year my husband was very ill, in and out of ICU for several weeks because of end-stage emphysema. He would be coming home on continuous O2 24/7. But, the providers of home oxygen equipment do not provide a PO to monitor O2 sats. We were expected to "guess" at how my hubby was doing and adjust the O2 based on this. So, I did some searching on the internet and found a PO for less than $100.00 (actuall...

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PAIN AFTER SURGERY?????

Hello All,
Got my PM yesterday!! Thank you all for all the help I received prior. I don't think they liked that I knew half way what I was talking about thanks to you....but it sure helped me.
I did not get the right settings...the doctor said I decided not to set it where I said I would....after the surgery. I thought that was pretty rotten. When I feel well enough....He will be hearing from me.
HERE is my QUESTION......I had it put down deep so that I would still be able to b...

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Very Concerned Daughter...

Good Morning,

My father had a two-lead pacemaker (defibrillator) by Medtronic placed Tuesday, July 1st. Still today, he has a half-baseball sized swollen area, terribly large black/blue bruising over his entire left chest, pressure and more difficulty breathing when in a laying position, pain, and is losing ground.

He went to the cardiologist and was checked on the 14th. He was not the cardiologist who inserted it, but looked at a CAT scan taken on the 11th and found n...

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Tightness in shoulder

Hi,

this is my first post here, having had my PM implanted at the beginning of May 08 for carotid synus hypersensitivity. This was diagnosed after a rather unpleasant tilt test, where my heart paused for a sveeral seconds a couple of times after the neck massage bit. Generally things have been fine, the pain has on the whole long gone, and the kids are enjoying having a bionic dad.

However, some days I get a tight feeling across my shoulder when I move. It is not painfull,...

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PM's in work enviroments

I just had a PM installed on July 22nd 2008. St. Jude Model 5826 two leads. Installed only for low pause rate. I do not have the defib unit. I workin a manufacturing facility as a maintenance supervisor with lots of CNC equipment. Our Nurse is looking for information on what to be aware of before i come back to work in a couple of weeks. If there is anyone out there that knows what the guidelines are and what we need to be aware of please let me know.

Thanks

Rick War...

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propaferone!!!!!?

went in today to get cardio verted but of course i didn't go in to Afib so it wasnt done ( 10 mins after leaving hospital went into Afib--typical :) now the doc has prescribed propaferone to control Afib ---- i haven't heard good things about this drug----any thoughts out there!. I was also told this drug can chemically convert you and may not be a permanent thing. I'm also on a beta blocker and warfarin and was on verapamil but that was removed in favour of this new one. thanks for any t...

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Pacemaker-induced hypertension

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I appreciate the help and will look into each of the things you suggested.

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4 weeks!

I just realized today that it's been 4 weeks since my ICD was put in. It healed nicely and most of the tenderness is gone. I feel fine, and am even getting used to the Coreg. Just wanted some of the new folks to know that recovery can go well with only a little discomfort.

One more week and I can play golf. I have been out pitching and putting.

Bill

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Welcome Newbies

I just want to say Welcome to all the new members.

You all have certainly discovered a wonderful & supportive site.

Keep checking back daily as you never know; we might be able to help one another or at least support each other.

I also want to thank all the people I have met on this site during the past several months. You all mean the world to me.

thanks!

Pookie

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pacemaker-induced hypertension?

I have had a normal BP reading all my life. I had a pacemaker implanted 3 years ago to increase my heart rate....no other problems with my heart. It has been working without a problem. I moved recently and needed to change cardiologists and pacemaker checkup technicians. My blood pressure was the usual 130 over 75 until the week the new technician checked my pacemaker. It went up to 160 over 90 the following week and is now (a week later) 190 over 90!!!! Can the pacemaker make such a drama...

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POTS??

Hey everyone!! I'm a new member here and wanted some advice and thoughts on my situation. I've been to several different cardiologists over the years and don't seem to be getting anywhere. I'm too young to see an adult cardiologist and the doctors I'm seeing are waiting for me to grow out of it.

It all started when I was about 13 and I would frequently have dizzy/blackout spells. As I got older my symtoms continuously got worse. My mom is a RNC and became concerned one night wh...

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New Member / Police Officer & Pacer

I posted this question as response on another message, but decided to post it here as well. I am a new member and I am in need of some help. I am a police officer who had my pacer implanted in January 2008. I am desperately trying to return to full duty status and rapidly approaching a forced disability.

It has been suggested that I find any other officers working the beat with pacers. If anyone knows of an officer on patrol with a pacer, please contact me.

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Daughter had pacer checked

My 18 mos old had her pacer checked yesterday and the doc did some adjustments. He said everything looked good but that he had increased the voltage.

Last night she had a real rough night. Could it be because of the new settings?

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Having my high-risk dr. appointment today!

Hi all,
I am going in this afternoon to meet with a high-risk ob/gyn specialist for a 'pre-conception consultation' to assess my risks for pregnancy with my condition and pacemaker, etc. My hubby and I want another child (ours are 10 and 9) but we had been waiting a long time to get my fainting spells with my NCS/VVS under control, etc. The pacemaker one year ago has been a lifesaver!!!! It is great to have a pulse and oxygen to my brain!!! Now that I am 'under control' with the pacemake...

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You know you're wired when...

Your kids call you Cyborg.

Member Quotes

Hi, I am 47 and have had a pacemaker for 7 months and I’m doing great with it.