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Signed up for a PM

All of the encouraging stories here finally made me throw in the towel after 5 yrs of problems with exercise (and after) with a slow rate. I'm getting a PM early next year. I am looking forward to running again. It's been years since I've been able to run or even jog slowly for more than a few hundred yards.

I have a couple of questions. (1)I finally found out that my complication is that in addition to a slowing sinus node when I start to exercise, I also have a junctional rhythm tha...

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Back again

Hi Pacers

Back home again in Tasmania after five weeks away in New Zealand touring the south and north Island. It was great to pack a bag and just relax. No kids, no gripes, no worries.

Our special time on the way back was spent in Melbourne with Rewired Aussie (Kay) Each time we saw each other we just laughed and laughed. Kay is a sure tonic for blowing away the blues. As you all know I suffer from depression. One hit with Kay and it tops up the dopamine in my brai...

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What we do or did for a living

I read the postings from and reg. Pooh's message. I am glad I didn't get yelled at that way the first time I posted a message, I would never have dared to post another. I actually think it is very interesting to know what people did or do for a living. Some of us had to have a pm very sudden, without having prior heart and health problems and to me it is interesting to know if stress, equipment etc at work could have caused some of the reason(s) why we suddenly needed a pm.
Also, just as th...

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Gone Visiting

Hey Folks,

So that no one thinks I have died, I'll be off to new adventures for a few weeks. Time to go visit the kids, relatives and some friends. I'm starting early because I need to check out who will have the best menu for Thanksgiving. I'll have access to the internet at a few of our stops so maybe I can check from time to time.

Hope all of you have a happy Thanksgiving.

Smitty.

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scared beatless

I am new to the club and am facing insertion of a pm and av node ablation tomorrow and wednesday. I am extremely frightened of the unknown and find this web site to be very supportive. i have had many ablations for my chronic arrhythmia and now at 58 yrs. old am facing the rest of my life with being battery-operated. Is this a normal response to grieve my old heart and fear my new mechanism? I am active, walk, golf and work full time. i am concerned about a significant life style change.

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Blake.

Hi Blake
I am having a bit of trouble with putting more photos on the Members Gallery.I noticed that there havent been any new ones for a couple of days.Maybe it is not just me having problems.
Hope you are keeping well . You looked just as I imagined you would! Please put a few close ups of yourself.You dont have to worry about showing wrinkles closeup like us oldies!!
Once again thanks for all the work you do to keep all us battery operated people happy.
From your aussiefr...

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Chat

On the grand scheme of things, this is not a huge problem and since I'm new to the group, this may well be something that "everybody" already knows the answer to.
When in Chat, is there any way to reduce the chat window, but keep it active, or even to move it to the side so that I can be looking at forums etc and still have the Chat window active?
tks
Rick

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PVCs

Since mid-morning yesterday 11/11/07 I have been experiencing annoying continuous PVCs. I called my cardiologist's office and spoke to the nurse and she informed me that during my last pacer check, it was noted that I have several PVCs and that it was normal. Normal?

Lastly the nurse told me that if I felt the need to see the doctor, I could make an appointment and perhaps have some meds changed. Not only are these PVCs annoying, they un-nerve me. I have been a pacer recipient s...

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Bumpy Roads Increase Heart Rate

I have Biotronik pacer and have recently started having trouble with increased rates when riding in my bumpy diesel truck. My doc has me using a magnet over the pacer when I ride in the truck or on my lawnmower. Pulse rate goes from 55 bpm to 130bpm. anyone else had this problem?

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~~~What a little Ripper~~~

Hi all,
Amanda and Kay will know what the title means............
I have just been to the hospital for a load of tests and for the first time for 5 years my old ticker has shown some improvement only a little ...but enough to put me on a high!! and now i just have to wait until tomorrow as I have a 24 hour holter on if the results of that are ok .. I will be able to take a short flight again ... So I want to take my wife Nina to Grand Canaria, for a week at Christmas... so lookout Dom...

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Recently found out.

That I have a-fib when I was brought to the ER. With an Anxiety
attack. Attmitted to the cardiac wing of the hospital for 5 days.
Now I am home, and was at the docs two days ago, and had
my second sonocardiacgram, I think that is what you would
call it. Which showed that I have CHF.
I have to also go for this other test this Friday, where they
inject dye into your body and take pictures. --sigh more stuff
to worry about.
How does one know when you need...

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A little Scare

Hi,
I experienced a scare this past week. I'm 2 weeks out from receiving a pm. I work in cardiac and my coworkers did an echo on me (show and tell sort of thing) well it appeared my atrial lead had migrated through my valve and into my ventricle. Showed my EP doc and had an xray which showed the loop of my atrial lead is now in my ventricle, the tip has moved posteriorly in my atrium but the pm is working fine and the thresholds are good. Had the option for them to go back in and readjust b...

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Backpacks

Hello Gevans,

I was just checking out your photo in the member Gallery and I must say that is an impressive pack you have on your back.

Question: Was that picture taken before the pacemaker or after? Where was your picture taken? I love the outdoors.
It is a great picture!

pacergirl ;-)

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IanMcc go back to the chat room.

I would like to talk to you about Austrailia.

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New ICD recipient

  • by dibs
  • 2007-11-11 10:11:47
  • ICDs
  • 1995 views
  • 4 comments

Hi all,
My name is Donnal. My Boyfriend who is 48 had a massive heart attack at 42- two arteries @ 90% blockage.
could only stent one and waited 4 years to stent the other.
He passed out about three months ago just after a stress test and the last stent. The Cardiologist recommended a ICD to be implanted immediately.
John is also quite bipolar and with the worries himself sick over the ICD. I need advice from your experiences with your device.
He is going this Tuesd...

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Going Home at Last.

Hello Friends and Fellow pacers.

I am about to conquer my fear. After 3 years, of being afraid to make the commitment to go visit my family in Paris, France, I AM GOING!
I have non refundable tickets, so I can't change my mind. Lol.
I must admit that I'm a little nervous at the prospect of such a long flight, ( first time in the air with a pacemaker, ) and I hope it all goes smoothly.
I haven't seen my brothers or sisters or my mother in 11 years.
Peter Nash, if y...

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Still Nervous!

This last August had Pacemaker inserted as I had heart failure..I only knew at the that time,it would help regulate heartbeat..I have been doing well,checkups are great,but at times I get little pain in arms,and neck,and I get panicky thinking I am having heart problems..Since I am a new kid on the block,am wondering if anyone else had this experience..I dont know what to expect,or if this is normal?Aalthough I must say I feel great,walk without tiring,can now shop the malls,etc..My life has bee...

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Being young and feeling old!

Hi y'all! To all the people that I have not met yet welcome to this amazing club. I thought my title was pretty good as its the way I have been feeling lately.
As many of you know I have been fighting with trying to get the numbness out of my left hand which now carries into my left leg. I have an apointment on the 14th to determine what the next step is. My pacer needs some more tuning as I think my heart has a mind of it's own. I recently lost my health insurance due to having a bi...

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Cost and developement of pacemakers

I have been looking at the cost of pacemakers to the third world.
There has been an attempt by the industry to do something but the price of the low cost pacemakers for the third world is $1000 dollars plus the cost of the lead and the surgery. The cost works out at considerably more than the annual salary of someone living in the third world. Is it any wonder that many countries have less than 1 pacemaker inplant per 1 million population. There is a great need to get the price down to $100...

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Idea

I have noticed many on this site taking about the cost of pacemakers and surgeries. Heres an idead: what if we started a fundraiser for those in need of pacemakers and difibilators who dont have medical insurance and cant afford them. We could start a charity foundation and this site (with legal consent, of course) could be our sponsors. You ask for something like a cookie and your told no because you dont need one, but when you ask for a pm or difib they so no because u cant afford one. Also t...

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You know you're wired when...

Your kids call you Cyborg.

Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.