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Follow-up to tattoos and an ICE

Thanks for the comments. I have never been a big fan of tats and I am 62. As the post said, it would be my ‘first’. But ‘Old Sparky’ has given me a reason to think about getting one.

I like the zipper with ‘open here’ from Smart Redd and ElectricFranks knob with ‘high – low’”.

Maybe a ‘switch with on – off’ and a ‘knob with volume’.

The comments have pretty much convinced me that the area directly over the ICD are taboo for tattoos.

So may put it...

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Good to go

I had my first checkup Wednesday for the Guidant PM Implanted 5/16. The female technician who was an LVN ran all the tests in my cardiologists office and assured me everything is looking good. She did not make any adjustments. She merely printed out a report for the cardiologist and scheduled me for another scan in four months. However, I have an appointment with the doctor in two weeks for a followup.
My cardiologist, who has been treating me for CHF for three years, set the PM for 60 BPM...

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guidant

is there anyone going thru the lawsuit with guidant right now. if so has anyone gotten any up dates when they wiil start sending moneies to the clients . i heard not until later this year. please some one let me know. thankyou debraloncar

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Just checking in...

Hello pm family!

Just wanted to tell ya that I'm on the mend and doing okay from the gallbladder surgery. I'm a little more sore than I expected and not up and around as much as I hoped by now, but I'm hopeful! :) Some of you gave me some great advice about how to sleep and other things to expect, so I appreciate it immensely. It has all helped! Now I can't wait to eat some real food next week!

Happy pacing...
ela-girl

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POLAR HR MONITOR

I use a Polar HR monitor for runnning. Will i still be able to after use it after I get my Pacemaker?
It does have a chest strap.

Thanks Holly

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Getting a Pacemaker & Life

Hello all,
I am new. I do not even have my Pacemaker yet. It will be in July as lomg as symptoms do not get worse.
I have a few questions.

1. will I have trouble if I try and get new health insurance?

2. Is it true..you can't even have a few beers with freinds? Someone just told me that one. Said you can't have alcohol!

3. Does each doctor just use whatever type of pacemaker they are use..or do diff. pts. get different ones? I know there are different k...

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DISCRIMINATION AGAINST THOSE WITH A PM/ICD

I don't know what the California laws, or any state or federal laws are regarding people having pacemakers and/or defibrillators may be. But any law or rule that places a penalty restriction on people with a heart assist device is unfair and asinine. All that any of us that have these heart assist devices have done is learned that we have a medical problem and that problem has been corrected or helped by a man-made device. Getting that manmade device has not made us a higher risk for any activit...

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Encouragement

Hello friends... I've noticed that there are some new people and have been some depressed members in the past. Here's something that I thought was inspirational...

Do Not Quit
When things wrong as they sometimes will;
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;
When the funds are low, and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh;
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but do n...

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Medtronic Rep Madison, WI

Like many posts I've read on here I've been having problems getting my PM programmed correctly. I have been to the PM clinic several times complaining about PVCs (lots of them) and other symptoms like shortness of breath and fatigue. They kind of implied that I really wasn't having PM problems because the PM wasn't recording any episodes.

For the last 10 days (I've only had my PM a month) the problem kept getting worse until I nearly ended up in the ER and then they finally began to...

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For Fred in Seattle

Come and chat, Fred. Wannabe

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Baby Can I Drive My Car? (with an ICD?)

So, next week on June 18th I have my Guidant 1290 pacemaker replaced with a St. Judes CRT/ICD.

What's the situation with driving?

Are there state regulations (Californina here) for people with ICD's? Do EP's generally allow patients to drive? Do ICD's give any pre-defibrillating warning before firing? This already seems to be a high anxiety situation knowing that at any moment one can get zapped, and if on the road, this certainly could present a problem.

As L...

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two weeks in

Hi, everyone.
I share your anxiety about getting an ICD implant.
I had mine two weeks ago and am happy to say all my anxiety has gone away. My incision is almost healed and I have never had a moment when I felt any different.
However, I googled the subject to death. I suggest you do the same. Some great sites are Cleveland Clinic, American Heart Association and Medtronics. (the manufacturer of my device.
I talked to people with this device and am fully aware of the "kick" on...

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What Does It Feel Like???

I will not be getting my pm untill July. I am Really nervous.
What does it feel like? Can I feel when it is pacing? Does it feel like palpitations? That seems like it would feel uncomfortable.
I realize it will take some getting use to.

For instance...someone said when they have a few beers..it makes the pacer kick in and they don't feel well. Would it not pace often....or everytime your hr drops? Does it make you feel funny?
Can i ask the doctor to set it low..It was n...

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help

hi everyone,my name is linda, my husband had a pacemaker and icd put in 6/21/06 he has alot of dizzy spells, also gets a upset stomach. ALOT. is this part of the meds or some thing else. we have talked to his dr. but no real help. can anyone help us ? thank you linda

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life after a pacemaker

hi everyone,
I am wondering how many of us feel that we are totally back to the way of life that we had before the implant. I am doing well but not back to where I was a year before the PM. Am I asking for too much? My EP doctors don't seem to care if my energy is not the same or that I sometimes get lightheaded going up stairs. Should I learn to live with my limitations or keep after the PM clinic. In the clinic we never get the same doctor twice. All are EP trained card. but they spend mo...

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PM and Exercise HR

Hi everyone- I am curious what experiences other people have had with their HR while exercising after getting their PM. I have AV Block and had a PM inserted about 1 month ago.

I just started exercising this week. I have noticed that my HR starts around 75 and jumps almost immediately to 155-156 (within a minute). It settles down to around 150 and when I slow down it gradually comes down as you would expect. I have only been running 2-3 miles at a 12 min/mile pace to start.

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Thanks!

I just wanted to thank you all for the encouraging comments you guys posted about my graduation... I am at school today waiting to be called down. I love you guys!

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short of breath

I had the pacemaker inserted on June 4th....have my first doctor's appointment today...but at times feel out of breath after doing something....anyone have these symptoms...my pacmaker is set at 60...thanks vtlaney

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tattoos and an ICD

I am thinking about getting my first tattoo on top of 'old sparky' after the tenderness goes away.

Anyone have and experience with interference from a tattoo gun?

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KNOWLEDGE

ElectricFrank is really knowlegeable and claims that he understands the electronics in his pacemaker and spends a lot of time studying medical documents. I also have noticed that some doctors do not like it if you educate yourself and are able to make informed decisions about what and what not should be done. If I had not made a study of electrophysiology , I would not be in the good health that I now find myself in. Hospitals often "use" patients to speak to worried patients about their concern...

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You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

Member Quotes

One week has passed and I must admit that each day I feel a little stronger.