Most Recent Messages

Swelling over site

I got my pacemaker in June 2022 at 16, and ever since I have swelling over the pacemaker site at the end of most days that leads to slight numbness in my arm and discomfort. Does anyone else have a common experience and is this normal? I'm studying as a chef and I'm worried it's going to influence my work in the future. Any help is appreciated! 

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Power Tools with pacemaker

I just got my pacemaker the end of December and was told that I had to be careful about using power tools.  I want to use an electric hedge trimmer and also power wash my patio.

Does anyone know if it's okay to use these power tools?

Thank you!

SharJoy

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Latest checkup

Just had my 15 minutes with the pacing consultant.

Echo of October 2023 all normal with 69% EF.

Going to try halving Bisoprolol to 5mg daily to get some exercise capacity back.

Just as well I asked about battery life as one year left, which will be nine years and one month.

I hope this isn't shaping up for another battery failure as happened last time.

Old device with only manual downloads and no active home monitoring. Not optimistic.

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Untreated Atrial Fibrillation

In July 2023 I got my second pacemaker..Medtronic Azure two-lead and I use the iPhone app for monitoring with the doctor setting the default upload to every three months. My first pacemaker was St Jude and with help from people on this board I finally got my electrophysiologist to agree to change to Medtronic for the advanced monitoring esp when we travel. That said, on Feb 14 the doctor called to say my three month upload told him I had been in atrial fib for six weeks. I had had atrial fib...

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Ecg

Hi I went to my  GP today to get to renew my script and he decided just to do a full check up on me. And he did a ECG and he was getting alot of interference on the report.

What a Googled afterwards i think he made a mistake of putting the leads in the wrong place.

But my question is I'm feeling a little tender around the pacemaker hurts a little. Will the ecg  change any settings on the pacemaker or cause I little discomfort.

Thanks 

...

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Advice and Wisdom for Newbie - CRT-P 101

Now for CRT-P 101 boot camp basics .....  

What advice would you share to help help the hospital / returning home process go smoothly?

1) What should I make sure I have available immediately after placement?  Seatbelt pad? Bra strap pad?  Front button down shirts?  Front closure bras?  I live about 40 miles from the "big city" where the docs and hospital and retails stores are located, so it will not easily convenient to run back and forth f...

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PM

I went on a birding trip to Thailand Jan 5th this year. During the third week of our trip I had trouble walking up hills, steps, giddiness and breathlessness. Then on one particular day I couldn't even walk up 4 steps. Our friends, who were Thai, took us to a hospital where I was diagnosed with Bradycardia, pneumonia and a stomach infection. My heart rate was under 38 and down to 20 at one stage. BP extremely low and also dropped lower at one s...

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New Pacemaker

Just had a St Jude/Abbott Labs PM-2272 installed 3 weeks ago.

Since installation, I have been getting intermittent shock feelings in the area when the PM was installed.

They feel like a TENS pad type of shock.

Have Dr appt Feb 27

Any comments?

Thanks

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why do i continue to check this site

  Want to see if someone asks a question that i might know the answer.  I am not technical and do not take any prescribed medications, only practical knowledge.

new to pace

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PM progress since 2-8-24

On December 15, 2023 I discovered my pulse was a pretty constant 41.  No wonder I'd been having 'brain' problems, and was week and unwell.  I had bradycadia.  So, I saw my doctor and things moved at a rapid rate.  I had my PM implanted on 2-8-24.  Just 16 days ago.    My energy level is up.  I can walk further than I've been able to walk since Oct '23.    I am still learning some things every day of course, and trying to ta...

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The Famed SIX WEEKS Has Arrived!

Today is officially six weeks from my pacemaker implant of January 11.  This week I have been easing into raising my left arm up more little by little and today I can do a full arm raise. 

Like many here, I was totally unprepared for what I would go through, surprised that I even needed a pacemaker ASAP (a what?!), led to trust it would be routine, and told I could take Tylenol for any discomfort. Two mornings later I was in the ER from not managing the pai...

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Pacemaker self-test and voltage

Hello everyone! 

I have a question about the self-test voltage vs. manually programmed voltage. 

I have an Astra Sure Scan Medtronic pacemaker (Model X2DR01) to manage my LongQT (Type 2). I'm paced at 80 bpm all the time. I've had this particular pacemaker for 5 years (but have had a pacemaker for nearly 25 years). For the first 4 years of this pacemaker I couldn't feel the self-test and only in the past year started feeling it. This seems weird to...

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CRT Placement

Honestly not sure which group to post in so I'll start here.  I'm about to get my first CRT pacemaker sometime soon - waiting to hear about scheduling.  My concerns are about placement.  I do not want to "see" the pacemaker after it's been implanted. This is very important to me on both a mental and physical (esthetic) side.  I'm also a very active lady who likes to backpack / hike, wear strapless tops, and participates in sports like Pilates...

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Serious coping....

(Edit to add: For those of you that want to say that I need a good therapist, we don't have those where I live. I would have to travel over an hour one way to see one and that just opens up another can of worms that isn't feasible.)

Yesterday I went to get into our Jeep, we live on a ranch and I got out to close the gate and got back in the Jeep... that was all it took for my chest to hurt for half an hour. Like really hurt. The kind of pain you want to cry at but don't beca...

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Delta Waves

Hello,

 

I recently purchased an apple watch, and have joined a community that look at ecgs and such on the devices. One common comment about my ECGs are the appearance of a wider QRS and Delta Waves. I was aware RV Pacing causes the appearance of a wider QRS, but i'm not sure if delta waves are also part of this? 
 

Everything online says Delta Waves present in cases of WPW, which i don't have. 

 

Thank you for your hel...

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MRI

I've had my 2 lead medtronic surescan for 9.5 years and having hip issues needed an MRI. I thought,  this is going to be an issue and and headache.  It was so easy!!! Dr ordered the mri, imaging company called to schedule, they contacted my cardiologist for approval, done. The imaging company has a device that looks just like the machine for interogations. Put PM on safe zone. After scan fine,  put it back to my settings.  I didn't even feel any difference.  T...

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When you finally allow yourself to take more meds...

A lot of people in this club have been following my journey for the last several months, and you are the ones who know the literal battle I've had with not wanting to titrate up my meds. Carvedilol to be precise. But lately, I've had a change of heart... no pun intended. 

I realized something rather important. No... I'm not kean on the idea of taking more Carvedilol, I'm afraid of kidney damage and more side effects. However... I had sort of an epiphany the other da...

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Backpacking

Does anyone have suggestions as to how to use a backpack with chest straps as they run across the area where my Pacemaker is implanted..

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Spirit World

I had a strange experience during what I assume was REM sleep recently and received what I can only describe as a 'visit' from a deceased relative. 

I don't (or didn't) believe in spirits and this is totally new to me.  It wasn't a relative I was super close to either. 

My heart was playing up and missing beats and as I walked up some steps (in a dream) and entered complete darkness, I thought my time was up! Then a luminescent and very real imag...

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ICD's and Waterskiing

Hi,

I'm a 67 yo male who was recently diagnosed with HCM and had a Medtronic Cobalt dual camber device (defibralator and pacer) implanted 4 weeks ago as Preventative for VT/VF. I've had NSVT and other atrial arrythmias and have other markers in risk stratification which is how I now find myself "in the club". I'm on two antiryhthmitics which I hate but understand the reason's why.... I'm an avid advanced waterskier who's out on the water...

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You know you're wired when...

Muggers want your ICD, not your wallet.

Member Quotes

I am just grateful to God that I lived long enough to have my ICD put in. So many people are not as lucky as us; even though we sometimes don't feel lucky.