Most Recent Messages

New PM Implantee

Good day all and good health;

On 4/16/2008 I had a Medtronics dual lead pacemaker implanted.

I was suffering from asymptomatic syncope, which occcured shortly after I awoke.

The first, notable episodes occurred this past January: awoke at 4:30 AM, sat up, turned off the alarm, woke up again face down on the carpet within a minute.

I had a complete physical, plus stress test and ultrasound EKG; situation completely normal, save mildly high blood pressur...

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new here!

Hi everyone, I recently found this site, Im a 32 y/o mother of a 2 year old. I've had my pm since 2004. They say I have maybe 2 years till I have the battery changed, but Im planning on having a couple more kids. Did any of you have to plan children around that or can you have it changed if you are pregnant? I'd appreciate any input- thanks

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Confused on recovery time

Hi everyone. I had my ICD implant on May 28. Things are going well. But my discharge instructions from my doctor say not to raise my left arm above my shoulder for 2 weeks. After that time, normal activities except no golf or tennis for one month. These instructions appear to be a much faster recovery time than what I am reading on this site. I plan on golfing in a tournament on June 26. Have any of you pursued such a rapid recovery priod without adverse consequences? I'm 57 and in good...

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Jessie - Chat

Jessie if you are around I will wait in chat for you for a bit. Billie

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Anyone know the answers to these questions?

First let me explain I am 44, And I died on 12/04/07 during a routine EP study.They had to use the real defibrilators next to the table to start me up again. [true story]

The nurse asked what was it like being dead. I said, " All I remembered was total blackness,and I was arguing with someone, I couldn't remember if it was God explaning that I was not welcome up there because I would cause too much trouble, or Satan explaining I was not welcome there either because he was afraid I'd t...

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I"m new at this!

I went on this site before I had my ICD installed on May 29 (08)
Your comments were a great help and comfort to me, as the doctors tend to hand you written material and expect you to be satisfied. As the old saying goes, the difference in major surgery and minor surgery is whether it is happening to you or to someone else.
So , I was really looking for practical answers to the whole thing when I discovered this site. Thanks to all of you for helping me adjust to the idea of invading my...

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Overdue Introduction

Hi all. I realized in my excitment of posting messages (and spending hours reading other's postings) that I had not introduced myself to the group. My name is John and I'm in Madison, Wisconsin. I'm 40 had my pacemaker installed 3 weeks ago. So far, so good. I'm curious if people know how much they are pacing? The tech says I'm pacing around 88 percent in my ventricle....sounds rather high to me.

Alas, I'm happy to be here although a month ago I would have said: "A pace what?".<...

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too old to start over

All my doc's say to start the ssa disablity process.

I've cheked with SSA, I'll loose everthing and starve to death on their help.

I worked construction 35 years. Too old and tired to learn something new.

How do others survive??

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COUGHING

Hi Everyone

I'm almost 3 weeks since my ICD implant; my question is about coughing. I coughed a lot before the surgery, after surgery no coughing, but yesterday I started coughing again. I'm disappointed that I'm coughing again. Also, my energy level seems to be slowly coming back. How long does it take to get back to feeling reasonably normal. I'm only 53, active and healthy. So what gives!

Thanks for your input,
Linda

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First time being paced?

Hi everybody,

I'm in week 3 with my new ICD. I think I felt some pacing for the first time today. I was in the car with my Mom, and suddenly felt my heart skip a little, and then a warm pulse of energy in the middle of my chest. My Mom asked what it felt like, and the first thing I could think to say was "warm". It was odd, but not in a bad way.

Of course I won't know if it actually WAS pacing me until I go and get it interrogated.

Hope everybody is having a gre...

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Wanted to introduce myself

My name is Kathryn and I am 32 years old. I had my PM installed November 2007 following the birth of my second child. During labor I went into heart failure and died. I remember hearing my child cry and that was last thing I heard. I was given atrophine to restart my heart and for a few months my heart would beat normal and then would drop in the 40s and then go back to normal. I had an EP study done and was told my only option was a PM. I never had a heart problem before this incident and...

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Hello everybody

Just wanted to say to those I sometimes chat with that I haven't been around much because our dog has been very sick. I know that in light of health issues many people and their human family members have this may seem small, but we've had him for almost 8 years and this has been quite stressful for our family.
Vonnie

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Worried

I got PM in Noverber of 06. I am still very tired. They have changed my meds - reset my PM, put me on a sleep aid but nothing seems to work. I am going in the 23 of this month to check the settings - was wondering if anyone knew of something more I needed to tell them. I thought after I got the PM that I would have more engery but so far I haven't.

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chemical stress test

I am to have chemical stress test on Thursday, has anyone had this, and how was it?

TT

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Rate response question

Hi all, I have a St jude pacer for sss and Bradicardia plus it is supposed to help a bit with a fib. I have been a pacer for about 2 years. The last 6 months I have been on 25 mg Beterblocker as the a fib seemed to be getting worse, this has helped a lot but now I find it difficult to get my hr going. When I walk up stairs I feel terrible when I get to the top, and have to wait for my heart to speed up before I can continue, My pacer is set at 60 bpm, but even with running up 40 flights in 15 mi...

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Exercise Shoulder/Arm Instructions

Hello,
I would like to know if anyone was given information to exercise their arm and/or shoulder when they were dismissed from getting the pacemaker?
I understand the doctor or at dismissal tells a person to excercise so you don't have a frozen shoulder. Is this true for most of you?
Thanks for any input.
Don

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Exercise

I have had my pm for over a year. I paid special attention to keeping it in a sling as they suggested for the six weeks. I was even told not to bother but I found myself wanting to lift my arm over my head especially in my sleep. I would stick to this for the 6 weeks but in the meantime throughout the day I would take the sling off and exercise it but not raise it above the shoulder. It paid off. I have had no problems. Good Luck DD

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pacemaker moved

I had my pacemaker inserted in october of 2007. Recently I've noticed that it seems to have moved toward the outside of my chest and rotated upwards. Is it normal for this to happen? I haven't done anything recently to cause this to happen and there is no pain, only a little soreness where it moved to. I also have noticed that when i lay on my side it causes pain I was wondering if this was normal also. I would appreciate any input.

Thanks,
Margaret

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Excercise

Hello,
I would like to know if anyone was given information to exercise their arm and/or shoulder when they were dismissed from getting the pacemaker?
I understand the doctor or at dismissal tells a person to excercise so you don't have a frozen shoulder. Is this true for most of you?
Thanks for any input.
Don

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Some new pain...

I had my implantation on Friday May 16th. Recovery has gone well. I returned to work last wednesday and have not had any problems, but I have been taking it easy. Yesterday I jumped right back in to normal work which means a lot of arm movements and some lifting. Last night I noticed alot of pain in my shoulder area. This morning I woke up with pain and the incision site stings almost like the stitches are being pulled apart on the inside. There is no blood or anything like that. I am wondering...

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You know you're wired when...

You have an excuse for being a couch potato.

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