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Some good news

Pacemakers Change Biology of the Heart
March 21 (HealthDay News) -- In dogs with damaged hearts, implanted pacemakers triggered fast improvements in tissue levels and the activity of a number of proteins crucial to heart health, says a Johns Hopkins study.

The researchers said their findings are believed to be the first detailed chemical analysis of the biological effects a pacemaker has on the heart. This new information could lead to improvements in the use of combined pacemake...

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Bluetooth

Hello Everyone,
Does anyone know if the bluetooth interferes with the pacemaker ? NJ now has a law cell phones must be "hands free". When the doc put on pacemaker in 2002, he said manufacturers were not sure of interfere of the cell phone, so he told me to talk on opposite side of pacemaker. Now with the law, has anyone heard about the bluetooth ?

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heart conditons and quinolone anitbiotics part 1

Hi there,
I was wondering if other members on this forum are aware of the danger of antibiotics and their effect on heart patients. In particular all the antibiotics in the quinolone group.
Here is a website with the pertinent info.
http://fqvictims.org/
gotta grab a bite to eat and since I had a personal experience with this , I will post part 2.
Elke

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What's a pacemaker jacket?

Stilljohn asked where to find them. I don't know what they are.

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Ups and Downs

I was wondering if anyone experiences intermittent episodes of deep sadness after their PM. My PM was implanted in Feb '08 and paces me 100% in my bottom ventricles because of a complet heart block. I have had it adjusted a couple of times since. I seem to have long stretches of feeling really good- upbeat, high energy- my old self again (well, almost), and then a period of soul wretching sadness hits me. I know what feeling blue is, I have worked through depression in the past, but this is tot...

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recent surgery and comments


Hi All,

I had a dual chamber pacemaker implant exactly two weeks ago . Two days after implant, I suffered very strong diaphragm twitches as a result of which the kick in rate was adjusted from 60 to 50. I have had no twitches since then , however am suffering from pain in my left arm which at times becomes severe. I have also slight neck pain.Has any one had similar experience? Is this a short term pain or likely to persist?Like to hear from any one with similar experience or ot...

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Day 2 with the pacer

Hi again,
I guess I'm an official member now. Surgery went well. They thought they were going to have to go back in and make the wire longer because when they took the xray standing up it looked like the wire was dislodging. They did a bunch of diagnostic testing in a bunch of different positions and decided it was fine. It is day 2 with my pacer. This has been the 2nd morning I have woken up with a hert rate of 50 rather than 30. What a relief. I have to admit I am pretty sore. Ho...

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Tanning Beds

Can you use a Tanning Bed if you have a PM?

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NEW BIO-THERMAL BATTERY

There is a new battery that is being developed for pacemakers which will enable pacemakers to last at least 30 years even in ICDs. Although there are a number of avenues being persued on the battery life front to replace the Lithium Iodine battery, I am convinced that this is the one that will win the day and give electrophysiologists a bit of an easier life. The new battery under developement is called a Bio-Thermal battery and works by taking advantage of the temperature differential/gradient...

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Insomnia and Light headed

Hi

Just wanted to know if anyone has experienced insomnia. I go to bed feeling shattered but as soon as the light is out I cannot sleep. No particular reason, PM is behaving.

Any suggestions ?

Also I know my blood pressure goes low but awful light headed today, also any help would be gratefully received.

Jules

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Adderrall

Have a medtronic pacemaker for occasional pacing of a low rythum. I took adderral for a few years prior to the paver then stopped prior to getting a pacer. now after having the pacer for two years I want to go back on it but am unaware as to whether the Cardiologist will allow it.

Does anyone know or are they currently taking either Ritalin or Adderrall or anther medication for Adult ADD and has a pacer...any info will be appreciated. thank you

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Electrolosis

I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of electrolosis interfering with their pacer. I have been getting it for a few months and just began to wonder about it. I don't go back to my EP until June and didn't really want to wait to ask.

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Returning to work.

Hi Just read your message and I also have had an ablation and am l00% dependent on my pm for my lower heart to function. I dont know from your message how long it has been since you have received your pm for I know they tell you to lay low for 6 weeks after it is done. I kept mine in a sling for that long even at night. I have had mine for over a year now and any questions I have about what i can be around I always direct to the 800 number that was given in the book that came with my biotro...

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My checkup today

Today was checkup day for me. As NASA would put it all was nominal. The only change we made was to reduce my ventricle pacing voltage from 3.75V to 2.5V. This is where it was before my problem back in November when I was losing capture of ventricle pacing intermittently. At that time we turned the voltage up to 5.0V to assure that I would remain one of the living! Both the cardiologist and the Medtronic rep agree that I probably had a virus that was causing irritation of my heart tissue. During...

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Need for definitions/acronym list?

Especially as it seems many folks come to this site needing very basic information - I think it would be good to create a place to capture and store such information. Probably under "Information" as a section of "FAQs". Has this been discussed in the past? There is the search function, but I think we need a simple place to look up the meaning of terms many of us use in the posts. Maybe it could be handled ala Wikipedia with any of us free to help provide the words?

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returning to work

i just received my pacemaker(dual chamber) was in for an ablation to correct VT and things didn't go exactly as planned and am now 100% dependant in the lower chambers of the heart. i was so greatfull to stumble upon this site, it has given me so much information. My question is about returning to work, I work as a baker and use industrial size ovens and mixers and was wondering if anyone might know if this would cause interference with the PM and if so what the consequences might be. Any inform...

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Saved!! lol

Just want to say thanks, folks. Have had dual pacer for near 3 weeks now. Never had any thought of having one until I flatlined in emergency room and don't know of anyone that I know has one. Had the surgery and won't be seeing doctor for 3 months. (Technician took staples out) Have been feeling very lost with no info until I found this site. You all have been very helpful in making me feel much better about what going through. Probably be getting addicted to reading the forums here now,...

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Thanks for the post Jessie!

Hi All!
Well the tumor is gone!! Let's celebrate! No cancer so I'm on cloud nine! Thanks for the post Jessie and for all you my PM friends for your thoughts and prayers! A very special thanks to Karen for suggesting the test that lead me to finding the tumor. I'm still in the hospital they are still having some problems getting my electrolytes stable so Im still passing out when I try and move around but the docs are telling me its just temporary till Im stable. At least Im allowed on my...

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FIVE DAY OLD BOY GETS PM

In yesterdays papers in the UK it was reported that a 5 day old baby boy born 6 weeks premature and who was diagnosed with heart block whilst still in the womb has been fitted with a pacemaker.This was fitted at the Bristol Royal hospital for Children. He was not expected to survive . He died 3 times after pacemaker implantation but now is going home after 4 weeks. The pacemaker was inserted in the left stomach area just above the belly button. This will be moved at a later stage to the usual po...

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Electric shock...

Hi,

Today, while moving an adjustable light I received a little electrical shock. First one since the implant of my pacemaker. I don't think it did anything to me.... but it got me thinking. What if I received a big shock?

Anyone experience a shock and problems? I am a "newbie" so I am clueless. My "owners manual" doesn't cover weird things like this!

Thanks in advance.

Swedeheart

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You know you're wired when...

You’re a battery-operated lover.

Member Quotes

Today I explained everything to my doctor, he set my lower rate back to 80 and I felt an immediate improvement.