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Utube Special

Just to let you all know that if you go into GOOGLE type in Utube and go to the Utube web site and enter CHANGING THE BEAT in the seach box you will be able to watch a 57.57 minute (Nearly 1 Hour !!!) video of two electrophysiologists talking about pacemakers implantation , complications and further developments. Its highly educational. Warning though there is some live video of pacemakers being implanted and if you cant stand the sight of blood etc dont watch the video. I think it is really int...

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PM & golf

Well, my PM was put in at the right time! After the postponement from last week my bp & heart rate were fine. After I got home yesterday from the insertion I was around 75-82 heart rate; when I checked before going to bed, I was like 140/74 and heart rate was 60! The PM was pacing. If I had not been one to believe in prayers (which I am) I sure would be now! (Boy, this one hand pecking is different!)

Anyway, a question for golfers; any ideas as to how long you really have to wait befo...

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Recovery/Listening to Doctor

I am a 24yo female. I recently had my dual-chamber pacemaker replaced. I had my previous machine for a little over 5 years. I now have my new St.Jude Pacer. I had it placed under my pectoral muscle due to my figure(athletic and slim). I have had more pain with this procedure then with the two previous ones. Is it due to scar tissue? I also have noticed a shortness of breath and severe chest pain. I was admitted to my local ER 24 hrs after surgery due to burning sensation and pain. I had an infe...

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question

Can they force you to have the pacemaker replaced when the batteries run out if you dnt sign the consent form for them to do it?

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Tired

I was just relased after my pacemaker implant 6 weeks ago. The doctor wanted me to take 2 more weeks off. I am very stubborn and told her I was ready to return to work. She said ok but no heavy lifting and I said well then I can't go back to work. So she wrote my note with no limitations. After leaving my appointment in Chicago I went straight to work at the Rescue squad. I did not even run a rescue call and by the time I went home at 6pm I was so very tired. I was only there 6hrs and I am think...

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100% Paced

Is anybody else 100% paced? Probably a crazy question, but my PM was put in 12 years ago as an "on demand" PM. It has only been during my last few check ups that I have been told that I am 100% paced. When I asked what that meant, they said that if my PM every stopped working, I would be dead. During the early years, I never really worried about it because my PM just threw in an extra beat every now and then when my heart would slow down. No big deal really. In fact, I found out my first P...

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PM inserted today!

Well I was successful with having my pacemaker inserted today. I arrived at St. Josephs at 8am and finally got out of there around 3pm! To all responders of my 'staying overnight' questions, I am also one of the few who did not have to stay overnight! A real 'out patient' experience.
Anyway, does anyone have the Zephyr SR Model 5626 from St. Jude Medical? That's what I have.
Thanks.....duggie

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How to post a picture.

Hello all you smart people.

I have been having some trouble uploading photos. So far, the advice I have received has made no difference.
I need a volunteer, who would be willing to explain to me step by step how to proceed.
What exactly do you do from A to Z to post your photo?
I posted one on my own, a long time ago, and since then, my computer has rebelled. May be it got spooked?
Thanks,

~ Dominique ~

Gasp!!! ( my spam filter is fffme )...

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what the heck?

Hello, well here it goes. I am a cardiac nurse and also a new pm patient. I am not used to being on this side of the bed. I have always tried to listen to my pt. feelings and concerns and now I am facing my own confusion, frustration not mention pain and anxiety. Believe it or not I have tried for the past four years to get my own doctors that I work with to listen to me about feeling like my heart was going to pound out of my chest, not to mention the chest pain that radiated back between my s...

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sistermary7@bellsouth.net

its me again. just for fyi i am 44y/o. heart cath ,echo and stress tests had all been normal. go figure!

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Smart Key (Keyless) Entry and Start Feature on Toyotas and Other Cars

Is any one familiar with the smart key (keyless) entry and start feature on Toyota and some other cars? If you have the fob in your hand or purse, the driver's side door unlocks when you approach the car without having to push a button on the fob or use a key. To start the car you push a button instead of using a key.

I was just about to go and finalize a deal to purchase a 2009 Toyota Corolla with the smart key feature, when I found out on the internet that there is a cautionary stat...

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go to chat.

cathy do you have time to go to chat. i sometimes get kicked out of there but it is worth a try. this computer is retarded lol jessie

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First Check - Not sure

Well I went to my first check since the implant of PM.
Explained how I was feeling. My cadiologist agreed that I could have the base rate turned down to 50. He said that the rapid response was turned off or low (couldn't understand that part of the french conversation) and that the voltage was also taken down. I also asked about the medication and that if the ectopic beats were just benign and I did not have any heart problems that would suffer I would prefer to try and stop the Bet...

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Not feeling well!

I have been fighting some virus or atleast I am sure that is what it is all week. I was wondering if anybody seems to have problems with settings when you catch something?
I have had so many palipations lately and can't get them undercontrol. They are disturbing me where I can't sleep or when I fall asleep my heart beating wakes me up. I am stubborn and try to avoid going to the dr for as long as I can.But I have a trip coming up to chicago so I called today and am waiting for the nurs...

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Long time no post...

Hello all. Just thought I would check in and see what is going on in "here". I am just pacing along great. I did need to go into the hospital recently to conduct an EP study with a possible ablation because I have been having symptoms of superventricular tachydardia. The doc was not able to duplicate my heart rythms, so he did not ablate. This all happened a month ago. Today I went in and spoke to the doc's nurse and he told me that they saw that I definently had a heart block in my ventr...

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Make sure you check it out!

I would like to encourage each and everyone one of you to check out the links that Valerie has posted below this message. You will not be disappointed. I was completely swept away with positive emotions.
Please, take some time to check it out.
Happy viewing,
Pacergirl

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My Pacemaker Is Starting to 'Exit' My Chest!!

Well, this is a frustrating and worrisome turn of events!

Some brief background:


This is my second pacemaker installation, and it was put in in 2003. My first was in 1995, when I was 36. For heart block. No cause was ever diagnosed: no sign of an unhealthy heart, heart attack, etc. Took forever to find the problem. The first pacemaker gave me not a single problem.

This second installation was rife with complications from the get-go. The first operation put...

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Our Unique Family

Hi peoples!
Here, something for all of you:

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h39sYoaaY7I
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YqY6nHxw_s

Told ya' you're always in my thoughts :)
Enjoy!
~Valerie
p.s. I can always delete stuff, so let me know (this sounds confusing now, but if you look at the links, you'll know what I mean).

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6 weeks in, got some issues.......

Hi Guys...

Right, deep breath, I'm 7 weeks down the road from my DDD Medtronic PM fitting for 3rd Degree AV Block and 29 years old living in Milton Keynes (UK), haven't been on here for a while so apologies for the intro ;o) The op went ok, and I'm yet to have my first pacer clinic check up, which maybe the answer to my fist concern but the wound is still pretty sore to touch and I'm struggling or maybe afraid to pick up my 2 year old daughter or when I do I cringe as it stings and is...

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Frustrated

Well I haven't posted on here in awhile. I am not doing very good. About a month ago, I passed out at the pulmonologists office. I refused to go to the ER because like always I knew nothing would be done. Last Sunday morning I was at work and started having severe chest pain. I went to the ER, but not before I got so confused I didn't know where I was or anything.

They said my BP was dropping really low. I had a positive tilt table test (and couldn't get a BP reading) and they placed...

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You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

Member Quotes

I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.