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Our Valerie

Hi Everyone -

I had a lovely email from sweet Valerie yesterday. She has had some continuing medical problems but managine okay. It is apparent she has a wonderful, loving, supportive family. She did send me a joke so I know she's still got that sense of humor and spirit. She lives about 15 miles from me as the crow flies, so we're hoping at some point we can meet up soon. I'm looking forward to also meeting her mom. For those of you who are new, when I had knee replacement surg...

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Pulse going below what pacer is set at

I had pacemaker implanted on 08/16/07, set at 50. I stayed at 50+ till last night, when I had several pulse readings in the 40's. Panicked, of course, and called doc who said to keep it monitored and call office Monday morning. Went up to 50 after an hour, and still at 50+. Doc said that shouldn't have happened and didn't know why . . . not too reassuring. Should I panic? (I have been checking heart rate twice a day just as a precaution, and found the pulse in 40's just on a routine check....

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Apologies for my self pitying posting on 31 July

My father Kenneth had a seizure on 15th June. He had dropping of heart beat and vomitting. He was fitted with a Pacemaker straigt away. After the pacemaker my father continue to have seizures and started getting his words mixed up. My sister organised for him to have a CT scan on the brain. Me and my sister were then informed that my father has an extensive left temporel inhomogeneous high grade glioma cancer on the brain and this what courses the problem on the 15th June. My father is rec...

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Pacemaker check

I had a guidant pacemaker put in place in 2001 and it lasted until january of 2007. Now it has run out of batteries and had to have another one put in this year in January. I went to my pacemaker check at a local pacemaker clinic and the technologist told me that my pacemaker was already over 20 percent used. Is this bad and what can be done about it. I have been extremely tired lately and short of breath. I already had two electrical heart attacks and 2 major strokes.

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Any climbers out there

I am new to this site and have posted this thread on two other forums before I found this sports thread. Sorry
I just got my ICD defibrillator 8 days ago for Vtach diagnosed last year, VF two weeks ago and external defibrillation . 55 years old . I have been a avid rock climber for over 30 years having enjoyed all aspects of the sport. The last few years I mainly sport climb (5.12a/b)and boulder. Does anyone still climb as hard as they did before surgery? How about indoor training , any...

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hi, new teen

I'm marisa, i'm 14, i have a congenital (born with) heart problem, I have gone through 8 surgeries and 5 pacemakers, my last surgery was october 2006. For anyone who has just recently got a heart problem and is trying to cope with their peers like i have over the gazillion school years dont stress and be self councious of others staring at you.

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Stress

I am scheduled for an EP study 9/4 and a biventricular pacemaker/ defibrillator implant the next day. I have an extremely stressful job - but not one that is too terribly physically demanding, I have been told I will be able to return to work on the Monday after the Wednesday implant. (9/10) Is that realistic? If I am going to be out much beyond that I need to try to plan in advance as much as possible. Thanks.

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Talked to Valerie!

I know many of you have asked me if I have talked to Valerie. I talked to her yesterday. She still isn't feeling well so continue to lift those prayers up for her. The power of prayer is amazing. She has been in out of those doctors and the ER many times from the last time I talked to her though I know she is a fighter like the rest of us she will get through things.
More than anything she really does appreciate all of your thoughts.
Take care and blessings my friends,
T...

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Is Angiogram necessary before PM fitted

Hi Everyone Windway here after a little difficulty logging in but helped by the marvellous Blake (Thanks Blake)
Friday 30th June 2006, I went to my GP (doctors) on a regular three monthly blood pressure check with the nurse. It was fine but heart rate under 50. She did ECG and called the doctor to the room who repeated the ECG. She read it, said "Don't move" dialled 999 (America 911) for an ambulance which took me to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff. I had had no symptoms of heart...

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Who's Online? list

What does it mean when a member's name is highlighted in red on the online list? I'm still learning....Is there any way to tell who's in chat?

Does anyone have any thoughts on comments I made today in response to the "To Smitty" post 8/22 by auntiesamm re religion and pacemakers (comment #3) and my comment (#6) in response to "What 65 means" post by Misty on 8/20? Do my daughter's numbers look good (What 65 means)??? I'm a very nervous Mom... Mary Jane

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Still not myself

I had a dual chamber put in on May 24th with a diagnosis of SSS. I had passed out my whole life and it was always attributed to a vasovagal response as there was always a precipating event. I always felt good and had a high level of energy. The last time I passed out I was sitting at my desk at work eating lunch. The stress test and cardiac ultrasound were normal but the holter picked up a HR of 18 for several seconds. They told me a pacer was needed. In the initial weeks after surgery, I h...

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Anyone hear of something like this?

My dad had a device (pacemaker/defib.) implanted a few years ago and towards the end of July his device went off--not once, not twice, but almost twenty times. From what they can tell, the problem was with the leads and it "leaked" electricity causing the device to read the heart rate as 3x faster than it really was causing it to continuously go off. At the hospital they finally got it to stop by placing a giant magnet on his chest until they were able to get a St. Jude employee to come over an...

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How Careful Do I need to be?

I got my PM three weeks ago and now that my surgery wound is getting much better and I am getting more active, I have begun to wonder just how careful I need to be about the implant site. The only information I received was to not engage in activity that results in "pressing" on the PM site. How easily can damage occur? If I bump into a wall, slapped on the chest, or hit during a pillow fight....will those things cause damage? Any insights?

Jack

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Thanks for the infomation

I started reading the posts from this site about a month ago. You all have certainly helped me prepare for the big event and know what to expect. I am a 56 year old male with sick sinus syndrome. Had the PM implanted on Friday August 16 . I was in OR for about two hours. Doctor had said it would be take about an hour so my wife and daughter were definitely getting concerned. It is a strange feeling being awake during the operation and talking with the doctor and nurses. I could feel some...

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Valerie??

I haven't seen a post / reply from Valerie in a long time. I also didn't get a reply to a PM. Has anyone heard from her? Maybe she's away...


Suze

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Phone

Due to the increasing amount of cordless phones, does everybody think the check-ups will change with the pacemaker checks ? I found its getting harder and harder to find a land-line phone when I shopped for one.

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Just in time for hunting season!!!!

Howdy from Texas,
I'am new to this game, Been told a pace maker is in my future, will see the doctor oct1 for the determination. This pm might end my career in the fire dept. I also love to fish and hunt. Any hunters out there?.

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Very basic question

OK so I'm confused.
I'm getting a pacemaker in a few months time for a compete congenital heart block (I'm 34 and asymptomatic so it as a precaution rather than an immediate necessity).
My health insurance is up for renewal and I was asking my insurance company where and what I was covered for...and I couldnt answer any of the questions they asked. Whats the difference bewteen single/dual/bi pacemakers and the number of leads. And do you have any idea which type I'd be getting. (I'm no...

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its o.k!!!

all of you afraid kids out there that is goiong to have surgery you will be just fine i am 11 yrs. old and i have a PM also i got my first PM when I was about 3yrs. old i just got a new PM in november of 2006 and looking at me now doing everything a normal kid would do!!!!!!!!!

DONT WORRY YOU WILL BE FINE
GOD BLESS!!!

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Shortness of Breath

I had pretty severe shortness of breath which was my primary symptom that led to the PM. I have been fine for a year with my PM. Over the last two weeks or so I have had bouts with shortness of breath again and they are getting more frequent. My PM was just checked on Thursday and they say it is fine. Anyone ever go through this? I have an appointment with my PCP on Friday.

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You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

Member Quotes

I can honestly say that I am feeling absolutely amazing!