Most Recent Messages

reading Holter results

does anyone have any insight on reading Holter results? I am waiting for a scheduled appointment to discuss with my doctor but had hoped I could get a head start on understanding the results.
I would be more than happy to post the results if someone has any insight!

Thanks in advance for any help!!

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How I became a cyborg

It all started back in december of 07.My employer gives a wellness screening test once a year. I figured what the heck its free so im in.All went well except blood pressure was 160/100.The lady that checked me suggested i go see my family doctor
A few days later here I am in dr office.Shes listens to my heart and says shes going to run a ekg to be safe .She says not to worry.Too late already am. I just came for some blood pressure pills doc.So i had the ekg and went back in docs office to...

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lifting arm part two!

Hello everyone, today i went to see Jenny who looks after me at the hospital and tweaks my pm. asked about lifting my arm and she told me to go ahead! she even made me do it there and then. she checked me on the machine just to put my mind at ease that nothing was happening to my wires while i was raising my arm up. It was quite tight and stiff but i am now confident enough to start doing it and i know it wont be long before it will be as strong as my right arm. Just thought id update you.
...

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ICD/PM recovery

Hello,

I first became a member of this site 4 years ago after my ICD/PM implant. I was in a state of shock and terribly frightened and lonely trying to come to terms with what had happened to me.

I have been reading many messages from people who have only recently had inplants and are understandably still coming to terms with the change to their lives.

I just wanted to say that things really do get better and eventually the implant does become just a part of y...

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45th reunion

i am going on the 14th of june to london ontario for my 45th reunion for graduating from nursing. that summer so long ago now was 1963 and my first job was in my hospital in london st. joseph's and i began my career on a medical floor. in 1964 i married my husband of now and we met while i was still in school. quite a few of the husbands to-day knew each other then so our class has always included husbands in the reunion. we have a tea in the afternoon at the home of one of my classmates and the...

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This new experience...

I was diagnossed with cardiomyopathy 4 days before Christmas 2007. I had an enlarged heart which the doctors felt was the result of a viral infection in October 2007. After a series of tests and some very bad EKG readings over the past 5 months, I was fitted with a pacemaker/defibulator on April 28, 2008. I am back to work and feeling okay except for sleeping. I have a hard time getting comfortable and feel like my impant moves when I lay on either side. Also, the implant area is still sore...

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pacemaker syndrome

could anyone tell me what pacemaker syndrome is, the doctor mentioned it in passing but didn't go into detail. thanks

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Ablation

Hello to all of my pacemaker friends!

I am having ablaton number 2 tomorrow, so I ask that you please keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I am actually looking forward to the procedure, I know when I come out of it I will feel much better than I do now. I have been suffering for the last two months, so I really am confident that things will turn out well.

Thanks everyone,

Amanda

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HELP Please


Hey everyone!

I have a question so I pass out 5 times in the last 4 days which quite normal for me, but last night I passed out and fell down 10 feet of stairs, hit a cement block and fell on to dirt and landed on some rocks down a little hill. The next thing I know the ambulance people and the firemen and policemen are there and putting me on the board and neck brass and I was brought to the ER.

Thankfully the doctor said I was ok nothing was broken, *AMAMAZINGLY* I...

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For Curly

Sorry to have missed you in the chat room, Curly. Hope all goes well with you today. Love, Wannabe

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searching for members

Search request.
In the 'Member List' would it be possible to add the 'State' to the search group. The state info is already in the member profile.
Searching by 'City' doesn't help me much because I live in a small town, 600 population. If I search by the nearest larger town 'Jackson' I get returns from places like Jacksonville, Florida on the right coast and I am on the left coast.

And maybe in the member profile you could add the Zip code, which would allow us to sea...

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Medical I.D. bracelets

Hi All,
I am so grateful for the support I have received already and I am looking forward to the time that I can give support too as well as needing it.
I think that I saw this info on another posting but I can't find it again.
I am thinking of getting a Medic alert bracelet and was wondering if other PM recipients have them. I usually have my ID card with me in my pocket or purse but I think a bracelet with pertinent info would be more obvious and therefore useful. If one has a...

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Potassium Levels & PVC's

Hello everyone!

First of all, just a great big thanks to everyone on this site. It is so very helpful! Kudos to you all!

For the past couple of days I have been feeling pretty "funky", generally tired and spacey, blood pressure goes up/down more than usual, I have had a slight (very slight) pressure at the bottom of my throat and upper chest at times, and a bit dizzy or lightheaded and slightly nauseous. Last night my blood pressure kept rising, and the symptoms were wor...

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blood pressure increase due to pacemaker settings?

Help! Just received a dual chamber pacemaker set DDDR. Have partial AV block. Before, worked out regularly but had slightly elevated blood pressure well controlled with small dose of Diovan. Now have very elevated blood pressurs not controlled by twice the dose. Now told to take a beta blocker. Installers of pacemaker (arrythmia assoc in nothern va) claim the device does not increase blood pressure, but the only change made was the addition of the pacemaker. Since have left bundle branch...

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Help with symptoms

I am new to this group. I got a pacemaker/defribillator last year. I recently began to have chest pain in the middle of my chest, pressure in my back and then the pain moved to where the pacemaker is and I also have constant shoulder pain and I've also had heat in where the pacemaker is. I'm concerned about the symptoms also because I have one of the Medtronic Sprint Fedilus leads. My doctor doesn't seem to know what to do for it since he hasn't had anybody with these symptoms. Has anybody els...

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Thanks 4 the advice

Hey, just wanted to say thanks to everyone who commented on my post about dizziness. Symptoms have gotten better, but I still feel blah. I have a doc. appt. coming up this summer anyway, so I'll find out then. Thanks again!!!

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Price of a pacemaker

Prior to my having my pacemaker (Medtronic-dual lead) installed I had a difficult time finding anyone who could tell me what they cost. Even the hospital said they didn't know and I shouldn't worry about since my insurance would cover it.

Well I just saw my insurance claim for it. The pacemaker and leads, nothing else, was $15,422. Wow....can you believe it? The rest of the bill was about $45,000 but I also had a lot of tests beforehand.

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i'm always scared

hi i still have a really hard time accepting that i have a pacemaker/defib in me and it's been 3 years now. in 2005 when i got it, i was shocked 8 times while staying in the hospital. turned out in was "unnecessary" but i'm still scared all the time. no matter what i do, it's always in the back of my mind about getting shocked again. i don't think i'm depressed or anything but i still cry about it, i still feel like it sucks to have this in me & i'm 30 years old. i read about how people say they...

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a few questions

hello everyone,

my questions are---how does it feel to be "shocked"?

how can you tell if your pm isnt working right? or if a lead isnot in place?

i was told i would be as good as new after this, but i am better than i was, but not as good as new. i had 2nd degree heart block, brady, &was at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. my heart was in the 40s, and getting slower.

is anyone here also diabetic ? i was wondering if maybe this was the reason i am not...

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out of cardiovascular shape

Hi all,

I had my third pacer about 6 weeks ago and have recently tried to start exercising again; however, I am concerned about what type of program I should do. Prior to this surgery, I mostly weight lifted. Now, I get a little more out of breath just walking, so I am afraid to even think about lifting weights.What type of exercise program do you do and have you been able to exercise the same since your pacer? Is it best to exercise or not with cardiac issues? I see elderly people at...

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You know you're wired when...

You read consumer reports before upgrading to a new model.

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You'll come to peace with it in time.