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Cycling

Good news day! I had a Guidant pm installed in 2005.
HR had dropped to 30 on a bike ride. Normal resting pulse was about 52. Now participating in veterans' bike races - lowest grade- not too hard. My only slight concern is that during a ride my pulse sometimes goes over 150 (a couple of times at 160). I believe at aged 74 my max should be around 150. Any comments? Matelot

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Telephonic checks and Medicare?

I was due last Thursday for my first official telephonic check at 9:40. I had my little modem all ready and was awaiting the phone call. Instead I got a call from the tech who said due to Medicare rules I couldn't have a check until January (?) because last month on Oct 17th when I had a "spell" and fainted they had done an inquiry in the office.

I said where is that written and she couldn't answer. Is there a time frame or something? I read here that people have such good rapport...

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Newbie

Hello All. I had my Dual Chamber Pacemaker put in August 20,2007. it.s a St. Jude model and I will be asking you all some questions, and thanking god for you all. It,s so new to me and I have lots of questions, that i want from people like me that have been through it. First one is do you still get some of the symptoms (small ones) like a little light head, some dizzyness, only minimal, but is it normal, do you get them? Thanks and God Bless Us All msphil

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Anxiety After Being Zapped By Defib

Any advice on getting over those anxieties after being zapped? In an ideal world you want to forget about having a defibrilator
and I was in that state of mind for a couple of years after it was fitted until I got zapped. The positive side of being zapped for me was at least I know what to expect if it were to happen in future. I do find myself feeling for my pulse from time to time which is a habit I want to get out of. In addition my libido/sex drive has dropped. I take a beta blocker (so...

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Musical Interference

Any performing musicians out there? I had a Defib fitted about 2 and a half years ago. I've been zapped twice in the last 6 months (my first time of being zapped) and both times I've been performing at the same venue with an electric instrument. The Doctor has told me it's just a coincidence. This affected my confidence to play as you might imagine and I became quite anxious about performing. Any similiar circumstances out there,words of wisdom? Any musicians with Defibs? Thanks Steve

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homeopathic therapy

does anyone have any experience of seeing a homeopath? do any of the tests they do interfer with a pacemaker. im due to see one next week and would be grateful if there would be any contraindications to the pacemaker .thanks

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Hypotension

Hi All,
Last Friday I checked my BP and it was 90/70. My doctor (@ office clinic) told me that I've got 1st degree Hypotension and he gave me med. Akrinor (cafedrin HCL 100mg + Theodrenalin HCL 5mg). Before PM implanted, my BP is normal (120-130/80-85). Is there anyone has the same situation after getting PM? Right now I feel dizzy (mild) especially when I moving quickly.

Gandara

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need help with a fib nuka

Dear Nuka,
i can empathize with you and any of us who have had to endure the anxiety and discomfort and occassional dizziness that accompanies a fib. Before my PM i would prefer having a flutter or reentrant atrial tachycardia over a fib because i just didnt function as well.(And i am a full-time physician who can't just call in sick easily.) i have gone for many days in a fib and i do not recommend it. you could be cardioverted and feel better quite immediately if things cannot be contro...

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PM revision

I had my PM implanted 1997 (dual, Medtronic) and has worked like a dream since., however replacement day will have arrived on 26th November and the PM leads will need replacing as well. Can anyone who has had this done before advise me of how the lead removal/replacement went. I worry somewhat about this part of the procedure as I believe there is some possibility of damage to the heart when leads are removed as they will have grown into the heart over the preceding 10 years. Thanks to all if yo...

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Pacemaker Dependency Percentages

My pacemaker implantation was September 2005 and now that my PVC's (post ventricular contractions/extra heart beats) are now under control, I feel so much better. I still have some brady-tachy episodes but they are split second and my dizzy spells are minimal. My pacemaker is set at 70 and I have so much more energy. However, my heart beats mostly at 70 and rarely a beat more on its own. I have gone from pacing at 12% initially to over 57% according to my last 4 checkups. My pacemaker depende...

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Need help with a fib.

Hi All,
Since a change of medication a few months ago I am generally doing well except... I have had two of the longest episodes of a Fib that I have ever had. The first lasted 15 hours and the one last night was 12 hours.

All night long my chest rocked around like it thought it was at a Saturday night dance. I finally converted back to normal rhythm about 11 this morning. What a relief!!!

My question is this. Does anyone have any special coping techniques they use wh...

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Weird Feeling Behind PM

Tomorrow will be 4 months for my Pace Maker. Haven't had any problems except early on with some pinching type pain around the site but that went away and probably was nerve related.

But this morning something weird happened. All of a sudden I am feeling my heart beating right behind (or maybe in front of) the Pace Maker location. Never happened before. It felt like it was racing but when I took my pulse it was about 84. It went away in about three or four minutes. Anyone else ex...

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violin is better

thanks to all who suggested the ep follow-up. i actually saw the medtronic tech and with one or two clicks of his computer attached to the blue "hockey puck" i was off and running with the symptoms gone.

thanks to all of you and this is a wonderful website especially to us "newbies."
violin

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Electrician Contractor -Occupational Concerns

Hello,

I am wondering if there are any electrical contractors out there who have a pacemaker and are working in a different work site or location every day. How do you manage the uncertaintly of magnetic field and electrical current levels if your job requires that you visit a different customer (sometimes power plants) every day?

I would appreciate any input from those who may have experienced this? Thank you!

Teri (Nurse from Michigan)

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telephone check mystery

I have had my St, Jude model 5376 about 2 years with no problems. In late Octorber I went with a friend to a hospital where she had an MRI. I was sitting in a room about 30 feet from where the machine was, the door was open.

I was a little concerned, it happened that a couple days later I was scheduled for an in office check of my pacemaker, every thing was OK, they said.

But days later I unexpectedly passed out while sitting in a chair talking with some one.

I...

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1 year check-up

Hi everyone
I just wanted to let everyone know I had my 1 year check-up. The doctor asked me how I felt, tested the pacer, asked if I wanted any settings changed. ( I have spent more time analyzing the pacer than he has). He then told me my battery was good for 5.7 to 7.7 years, and told me to come back every 6 months.
It was great to finally have some good news, and not to have to fool around with more drugs
John S

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follow-up on "scared beatless"

thanks for encouraging words. received a medtronic enrhythm PM and av node ablation and am two days post op. My only concern is( and I am seeing ep doctor tomorrow) i have a lesser rate of about 50 walking around and i feel dizzy and yet when i lie down the rate goes up to about 90 which seems like the opposite should be happening. I am concerned and wondered if anyone has experienced this and, oh, by the way, can this be changed by the ep doctor?

VIOLIN

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Unanswered question by Dr.

Hello all,
I went this week for my every-couple-of-months check in with my doctor. I had my pm installed in May of this year. I have tachy-brady syndrome. I'm becoming unhappy with my doctor because he isn't giving me answers when I ask. I asked this visit if I could get a full interrogation to learn how much/often my pacemaker is working for me. He asked me why -- that "curiosity killed the cat." What kind of answer is that? I just meekly said, I would like to know. I didn't even k...

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Atrial Fib

G,Day everyone, I have a question about Afib, I have bradicardia, SSS and atrial fib, I have a St Jude pacer (1 year now) with an algorithm which controls the afib by speeding the heart up then slowing down again once the fib is stopped. I get the afib every time I lie down , It is worse when I first go to bed and also when I wake up. I have been woken up occasionally in the early hours with mild discomfort and afib .
I am not on any medication. The Afib seems to be getting worse but this...

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Long Term Prospects

Our daughter had her regular 6 monthly check-up this week and, fortunately, all is still well with her (she has complete congenital heart block and has had a pm since 10 days old, she is now 8yrs old).

We were just generally chatting to her cardiologist when she mentioned that there are reports suggesting that long term pacing can lead to the heart not functioning properly at all, even with a pacemaker.

She has been asked to talk on the subject but admits herself that there...

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You know you're wired when...

Your heart beats like a teenager in love.

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.