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100% pacing

Had my 6 month Medtronic check and I am not pacing at 100%. I will have had my device two years in June and my pacing has increased every checkup. I have an echocardiogram on Tuesday but not sure what time will tell me. I feel fine and live my life but have to say this has depressed me. My wife and kids almost lost me and I can see the fear in their eyes. I didn't know I had an issue when my heart stopped. I have addressed every issue as soon as I became aware of it. I know I am better of...

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100% pa.ced and getting ready for pace maker replacement

I am a few weeks away from gettng my 9+ year old  Medtronic replaced.  I am 100% paced and my  electriophysiologist said he will have to run a lead from an external pace maker through my groin to keep my heart beating. 
Have any members had this done? How does this procedure work and where and how is the lead terminated to keep the heart beating.

                  Rodger zawodniak
 

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Medication mishaps in the USA

Have you ever wondered if what your doctor is prescribing you is the best combination and the right amounts? For instance, the last time I tried to take Entresto, it didn't work out because my doctor forgot to tell me to quit taking Losartan, so my blood pressure bottomed out and I almost went to the hospital. Then he decided I didn't "tolerate" it well... but didn't bother to investigate further. As a result, I missed an earlier opportunity to get better. 

Th...

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Hooray for the return of AgentX86!

So happy to see you posting again, AgentX. We've missed you.

I filed this post under "coping," because seeing posts from people I've come to know and trust is absolutely an important part of coping for me.

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The story continues

Well.

As you might remember RNRVAS had reared its ughly head so I returned to the clinic. Forewarned, the PA and tech had conferred with St.Jude about how to deal with the problem, so this time they didn't tweak the AV delay, they wiped the previous settings and took a differenent approach.

It worked and I have had no more PMT episodes.Yay. One good effect is being comfortable driving again. I have even been able to give rides to a friend who was temporarily restricted fr...

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Interesting question about forcing your heart out of PVC's

Okay... I've got an interesting question, something that seems logical to me, but that I've not heard anything about.

I get PVC's a LOT. Several times a day at least and sometimes they last for an hour or more, other times it's just a few minutes. But it's irritating because the longer they last, the more weak I feel as well as just icky feeling. Everyone here probably knows the feeling. Anyway, I figured that since my heart rate was too slow, and I was missing beats...

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Do I stop anticoagulation for Cataract Surgery?

I am due to have cataract surgery on Monday, left eye.  I had a pre-op assessment some weeks ago and was told to continue all my meds, including my anticoagulant for atrial fibrillation stroke protection.  

A lady from the eye clinic phoned this afternoon and asked me to stop anticoagulation for 48 hours before my procedure.  Needless to say I am now very confused.  

I cannot remember whether I stopped my anticoagulant 4 years ago when I had the right eye done....

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Pacemaker muscle pain

I had my pacemaker put in 2019. I am having muscle pain in the left side where my pacemaker is. Some times it feels like just an ache. Sometimes are worse than others. But I bring it up with my cardiologist and it's just disregarded as muscle pain. But it gets painful and concerning. I can massage it and can help with the pain, but once I stop it hurts again. I've done nothing to extend or injure it, but does anyone else have pain in the muscle. Sometimes it will go to my arm and upni...

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The Final Milestone is Here

My last restriction from the January 11 PM surgery was "no repetitive arm motion for 90 days" is finally over. After being cleared, I have been going to the fitness center 4 or 5 days a week working on Precor lower body machines. I checked in with the PM Clinic today and was given the only restriction as no rowing machine because that pull-back motion could impact my subclavicular lead. I am meeting with a personal trainer tomorrow for advice on the equipment I can add to my ro...

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How is this even possible? Unbelievable change!

You guys aren't going to believe this! I can't believe it myself, it's so far fetched. I started taking Entresto last Friday morning, my doctor prescribed the lowest dose and said to cut it in half so I could be very slowly acclimated. Well... I braced myself for the side effects and was fully prepared to "take on" this newest challenge. I decided to stay with my Mom in town in case there were complications from it and even bought my usual 'gentle foods' for the...

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Meta Quest 3 VR Headset

Hello everyone 

I got my Pacemaker in March 2023.  I am getting to the point now that I sometimes forget that I have one.  There are times I forget about interferences that I need to be concerned about. 

 

I just ordered the Meta Quest Vertual Reality Headset.  Then it hit me... am I able to use this?  I played on ine at Easter for abiut 10 min and had no issues, but I don't want to spend a bunch of money on something that could be a ri...

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Solar eclipse and pacemakers

Random question.. did anyone experience side effects or issues as a result of the solar eclipse today?

I am asking because I felt my pacemaker or heart racing for about 1 min. during the eclipse and found it super strange. 

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Lead voltage

I was in for my six month pacemaker check today. The cardiologist had said six months ago that my right lead isn't optimally placed.  Today he turned up the voltage from 4 to 4.5. He said it's an extra safety measure due to the lead. He said that I will need a lead replacement when the box is replaced. He said they may also add a new lead and leave the old one in place. He also said this voltage increase will use my battery quicker. I have 3.5 years left at the moment. 

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1 month after pm

I'm 76 with a healthy heart but SSS. I was told by my husband 50 years ago, a cardiovascular surgeon, that I had bradycardia.  I have been mostly asymptomatic and active up until the implant a month ago. Everything went fine but I had tachycardia 170 bpm on the 4th day and returned to hospital to be put on a drip overnight. I returned home with a low dosage beta blocker. I had never experienced tachycardia for more than a few minutes prior to pm. My incision healed quickly with...

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Patient app help

I'm new to this pacemaker club and have a Biotronik Cardio Messenger by my bed.  I'm told that as long as it has an "OK" showing on it, I shouldn't worry about my pacemaker.  It's been over 3 months now since my pacemaker was installed and no other instructions except a Patient app for my iphone.  I've tried using the Patient app, but it won't work from my house, only if I'm out and about.  I contacted Biotronik and they said to use th...

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Curious - Palliative Care

I am curious how many PMC members are using Palliative Care?

My daughter seems love the term "Palliative Care". She has used that term for years. 

Most of the people I knew who were using Palliative Care had Cancer and all avenues of treatment had been exhausted. Palliative Care was pre Hospice Care.  I worked at The Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, so my experience is tilted toward Cancer treatment, plus so many people are fighting some for...

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PVC's

68 y/o very active male, I am 6 months post op dual lead Medtronic pacemaker.  100% right ventricle pacing, 38% rt atrium pacing with a VVI algorithm and 150 BPM top and 60 BPM bottom.  Started having PVC's a week ago for no apparent reason, no change in lifestyle at all I can point to as a contributor.  Sent a pacemaker transmission through my App and my cardiologist set me up for an appointment this afternoon to discuss.  My PVC's are constant, skipping beats, po...

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1st Post, significant problems

Hi guys,

I'm grateful to be here. 1st post. Got my PM installed on 14 March 2024 and have had a slew of problems and looking for advise:

Timeline:

- 1 March diagnosed with AV block. HR at night dropping down to 26 BPM (eek!)
-14 March 2024: Initial PM implant. 
-21 March: Wound check no problem. Felt great.  
-25 March: Lead falls out and is giving me muscle spasms in my diaphragm. No explanation as to why. I had been walking at my own pace with...

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AV Node Ablation

Hi,  I had my 4th ablation, AV Node, in March of 2023.   While I feel better and am no longer bothered by Afib, I am still short of breath after exertion and sometimes no exertion.   I use a CPAP at night and some mornings after walking out to get the paper my oxygen is 94 (we live at 7500') and other times it's 84, 86.  I don't understand the swings but can't get anyone to explain what's up.  The cardiologist says, see your pulmonologist, and the...

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Advice for taking Entresto

Okay.... Ta..da... drum roll please...

I got my Entresto today and took half of the lowest dose to start; making it easier on my sensitive system. My question is, I'm supposed to take it twice a day, but I already take my Carvedilol twice daily at 7:30am and 7:30pm but I read somewhere that taking the two drugs at the same time was difficult for some... so, how should I take it? My usual method is I get up, have a piece of toast and a few ounces of milk to take my Carvedilol. Then a...

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You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

Member Quotes

I'm 44, active and have had my device for two years. I love it as I can run again and enjoy working out without feeling like I'm an old man.