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Bi-Ventricular Pacing risks & concerns

Hi All! After 10 yrs with 2 lead ICD, never shocked & overall pacing of 1%, developed symptoms of SOB & rapid heart beats. Turned out to be 2 blockages, that were stented. Symptoms returned month later. One blockage had to be redone. Slower recovery this time. Eventually improved and now, months later, similar symptoms. Batteries on ICD near end and they're recommending upgrade to 3 lead bi-ventricular unit, just in case, because of heart block that shows during pacing of rig...

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Which data represent the percentage of pacemaker you are dependent on

I thought my father was 99.9% dependent on pacemaker. But actually I am not 100% sure. Is the following data represent the % you are dependent on pacemaker? Is it  "Total VP"?

 

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Very doubtful

So I've had my icd for a little over 4 years now and I just recently decided to have it turned off, it still monitors my heart but will no longer provide life saving therapy if my heart rate gets too high. I was still living in fear every day of being shocked (after being shocked 10 times in less than 3 years) which was not living to me. I'm 38, I've already had my living and last wills drawn up as well as a MPOA. I don't feel like things have gotten any better in the last 4 y...

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Airport Security

I have had a pacemaker for around seven years and have usually had pat down security checks at airports. Security personnel at concerts have advised me several times that it is safe for me to pass through their airport style security gates but I have always refused and requested a pat down instead ...just wondering if advances in security technology have made security equipment safe or....should I continue to request pat down ?

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Lead revision risks

My 89 year old father installed his pacemaker  due to low heart rate in 2017 and now he is 99.98% dependent on pacemaker. Recently his doctor did the pacemaker check and download the reports for his pacemaker and there are 300+ short interval noises since 2022. He recommends to do lead revision  to avoid bad things from happening and battery change since it will run out in 1.5 years.  My father did not feel anything and no symptoms at all. I am wondering if he should go th...

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Lead Implant failure and higher voltage?

My dad went through a pacemaker replacement surgery two days ago. He was supposed to get a CRT-D installed but the doctor couldn’t get the 3rd wire anchored. He took two attempts and my dad’s heart rate started to drop. 

So the surgeon decided not to attempt it again and replace the old pacemaker with a lCD. 

Now the doc is saying he’s getting a lead voltage higher than what was set. 3v instead of 1-1.5v. So he wants to do one more test tomorrow an...

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RSV vaccine update

So, Gemita, I went first! I received my RSV vaccine yesterday ( 21 hours ago) at my local pharmacy. 
I had my guy go along. I was chatting with the pharmacist as she prepared my shot. I barely felt a pinch. Later I asked my guy if he saw the needle go in, because it was hard to believe that she had already done it. He said he saw a long part of the needle go in. I honestly didn't notice. 🧐 Then again, I am known to chat with everyone and focus on the person with whom I'm tal...

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Best setting for runners

I am a 56/yo runner and received a Boston Scientific pacemaker 5 years ago for Mobitz Block 2. Pre-pacemaker, my resting heart rate was very low but running was never an issue for me. Currently atrial pacing is 20% and ventricular pacing is 70%. My ventricular pacing has increase significantly as I was pacing in the low 20's when it was first implanted.

Since receiving the pacemaker running has gotten progressively worse. Early on I described the feeling as hitting a wall...

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Palpitations and capturing/recording

Hello fellow paced friends!

I am curious if anyone has been successful recording palpitations/arrhythmias through an upload while they are happening.  I have a dual chamber medtronic pacemaker (almost 7 years) to treat complete heart block and recently experienced an event that felt like my heart rhythm was very chaotic and things were just very out of sync.  Honestly it felt like everything was misfiring!  I sent an upload the next morning but nothing showed up on t...

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Early Pacemakers

I've attached this link to a 2010 article that outlines the early history of the pacemaker.

https://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149%2810%2901042-8/fulltext

It's extraordinary that the first device was developed as a result of choosing the wrong component in the circuit.

The first device ran on watch batteries (cells) connected in series to give about 8-volts.

if you include the battery, the circuit in the article has nine components, a transformer, two tra...

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shocks

My wife is receiving a mild shock every 8 hours on the hour. Can anyone advise?

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Hallelujah!

posted this to some friends...
 

So had a major tweak on my pacer last week or so ago.    

Upper HR had been set to 140


When I would hit that upper limit, the device auto drops my HR to around 80.   

Imagine going along on a ride or a weight workout and all in a sudden you body starts pumping out half the blood it was 

Yeah it’s that dramatic.  

So we talked at the doc about what I do etc.  

220...

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Lead replacement

Thank you so so much Tracy_E, Aberdeen and Lavender!! Wow, you guys are truly amazing. You have set my mind at ease. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond and sooth my concerns! I love being given a "fresh" start every new dawn...stay blessed! Will keep you posted. I appreciate you, and all of the best that life has to offer to you!!💐🤗💃

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Scared

I am a serious newbie have only had this since Wednesday morning and honestly scared to death I will pull the leads out.   The decision to implant this came up so quickly I didn't have time to breathe.  At 3 in the morning with my shoulder on fire at the incision site I keep wondering what I got myself into.  How long does it take before the jim jams go away?

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Peacemaker life

Hello! I'm 24years now and a complete atrioventricular block so 2 years ago i needed a peacemaker. Now, i have 2 years with him but i have a question. How much can i live with this? With a peacemaker.. i mean, i will live a normal life and died at 70-80-90 years old or i will die in the next years?.. i mean, can i live a normal life or not..because i don t wanna die young. when I searched on the internet, the life expectancy of people with stimulators was 8-20 years

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Pain accross the chest (occasional)

My wife received a pacemaker 4 months ago. She now has an occasional pain across her chest. sort of like an electrical charge but goes from one side to the other. The physician said he thought she was still healing. Any thoughts?

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Celery Juice

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone drink celery juice or juices other kinds of juices whether vegetables or fruits?

I would like to start implementing this in my day to day diet but unsure if it's safe for us heart patients.

I plan to ask my cardiologist.. I'm not taking medication but I'm trying to naturally treat a gut bacteria. 
 

thanks all 

 

 

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Pacemaker

In 2003 I had a Medtronic pacemaker implanted with two leads. A couple years later they had to add a third late. Everything was going okay until I moved to Tallahassee Florida and of course had to get a new EP. Changed pacemaker in 2014 to Boston Scientific but still used the same leads. Unfortunately I got stuck with an issue even after that pacemaker was recalled and they had to put a new one in so that was number three. The issue was after the second pacemaker I have been stuck with an awf...

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Left arm color

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I had my pacemaker implanted.  I thought my left arm looked pinker than my left arm but tried to ignore it thinking I might be imagining it.  But today I've spent the day comparing my arms.  My daughter came over and I showed her.  She agreed that my left arm is definitely a pinker color than my right arm.  It's also weaker than my right arm and my shoulder has some slight pains.  I think those things are normal but I'm...

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Pm ventricular lead replacement

Hey everyone! So glad to have found this site! Had a pm inplanted on 13 June '24. Had 23 years of tachycardia/brady/extra systoles and eventually syncope. Upon release from CCU after 2 days, I noticed excrutiating stabbing pain under left rib. Went back to thoracic surveon and him and technician said all looked fine. Pain eventually went away after 4 weeks and was replaced by pacing under my skin at exact place where stabbing pain was. Specialist tech came and found the Ventricular lead i...

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You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

Member Quotes

Your anxiety is normal. It takes some of us a little time to adjust to the new friend. As much as they love you, family and friends without a device just cannot understand the adjustment we go through. That is why this site is so valuable.