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Med. alert

Just wondering how many have a medical alert bracelet for a pacemaker? Is it a good idea or not to have one? Thanks Stacy

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heart hailure

I had a bi-ventricular pacer implanted on 07-09-07 also ICD. I have been pace maker dependent for almost 20 yrs. I pace upper chambers 85% and lower 100%. The implant did not go as well as they had hoped I only got one lead and the hope was that it would help pace the left ventricle in addition to monitoring the ICD. My ejection fraction remains unchanged after 3 months. The next step if I elect will be the chest leads applied directly to the heart.My ejection fraction is 20%.
Anyone out th...

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Member Photo Gallery

The gallery is live so find a digitial photo of yourself. To view photos of other members and upload one of you, just click "Member Gallery" [4 lines below Clubhouse on the left side] after logging on.

I wish to thank all members who donated to this cause. Only with your generosity was the installation of the Member Gallery possible.

Enjoy,
Blake

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Questions to Ask?

Hi Everybody,
Going for first three month checkup of StJude Frontier II Model 5586 biventricular pacemaker. Know hardly anything about the device. Understand the checkup done by St. Jude technician with nurse from Cardiology Lab. Don't seem to have any problems with device. Usually feel tired. Has anyone got advice on what questions to ask?
Thanks

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Draniage part II

I would like to fill everyone in on my drainage problem that I wrote about earlier in the week. I know a few of us thought it was an infection...and so did I. I went to the hospital and they admitted me to cardiac unit, thinking it was a severe infection. They were going to take out my pacemaker let the area that was infected heal a and place a new pacemaker in on the otherside of my chest. Well, thank goodness they did several test and they concluded that I caught a skin allery from the tape th...

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Blimey!

Look at all these missed b-day announcements. This needs to be taken care of immediately.
In light of some down time due to recovery, I'm able to come online and make up some lost time...or posts. So, with that said, my apologies for these late announcements, but HAPPY (late) BIRTHDAY to the following pacers!

1. *Jessie: September 5, 1941
2. *Mimi: September 8, 1948
3. *Colleen: September 8, 1960
4. *Debra (bambi): September 13, 1956
5. *Suze: Sept...

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Do anything???

Hi all, this is my first post here. I'm 3 months post pm implant. I'm 43 and was fairly active up to about 3 years ago when I broke my right foot and slowed down a bit...and then about a year ago started feeling sob and an irregular heart beat. Thought I was just getting really out of shape...

I've been an AVID backpacker - out for 8 -10 day trips - carrying around 60 lbs. I've been an avid paddler -swiftwater and flat water. I've climbed, biked, rafted, dog-sledded... I work...

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PACEMAKER REPS

I keep seeing over and over that there are reps for pacemakers that some are meeting with or talking to them and having them check their pacemakers. How do you find a rep? I would appreciate all the info I could get, seems the doctor's don't tell you these things. I've had my pacemaker for 3 weeks now. I was feeling great at first, but now I get chest pains, sob, and I'm tired. Not sleeping well either. My doctor says this isn't normal so I had a chest xray done and a 24 hour holter. I'm waiting...

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Had two week check up feeling much better

I went to see my rep two dats ago
Must admit I had been feeling angry about lack of information made available about my pacemaker so i think i may have come across as rude to the guy at first.
But he really opened my eyes to everything.And i must have been in there for at least 45 minutes.

I now know that i am in a-fib less than 1 % of the time
and that my pm is doing its job.I have my af suppression leads turned on.When I asked him about turning down the wattage he exp...

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Peace of Mind...

Hi everyone, it's me Carol, PM recipient of almost 1 month. I've posted before over anxieties, arrythmias, and just coping in general with this new addition to my life. Just wanted to let you know that I'm doing pretty well, still coping as best I can . I have good and "could be better days". I did develop a friction rub, had an Echo done, and everything came out ok per the doctor, luckily I don't have any chest pain or unusual SOB.

One thing my EP did to help calm some of my fea...

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Any advice for a one month checkup

It has been a month since my Medtronics Adapta dual lead pacemaker was implanted. I go back next week for my first month checkup.

I have noticed a significant decrease in the benefit I was receiving for the first couple of weeks after implantation.

Now I'm feeling tired and more short of breath again. I think I read somewhere that pacemakers might need adjustment after the scar tissue that holds the leads in place is formed. Maybe that's what is going on.

It...

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anxiety and meds

I wanted to post what I'm dealing with and to see if anyone has dealt with it. Two weeks prior to getting my pm via the ER I was feeling lightheaded and dizzy at times. I went to my gp who said I may either need a pm for bradychardia or I may be experiencing symptoms of anxiety. I was 47 and due for a midlife crisis I guess. So I opted for Paxil. The medication was very helpful following the operation(I had my first panic attack afterwards), but now I have decided to go off it after 7 month...

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Wife of Husband who died after getting PM

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write you all back. I'm very frustrated. I just now got the death certificate, after two months! And I'm not surprised to hear everyone say that it wasn't their fault and that he died of natural causes. What bothers me is that I now have most of his medical records and he has had tachycardia problems from the very beginning. I don't understand why they've never put a defib in him. I also know that when we first found that he had a problem because they had...

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If your Dr. or Rep. had only told you.....

I see that a lot of members were sent home from the hospital without much information from their doctor or PM representatives. What are a few things you wish they had warned you about?
BP

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Have a pacemaker % usage?

I had check up for my pacemaker. The ep person said I was using my pacemaker in the upper chamber about 8% and lower chamber about 100%. what does that mean to me. I forgot to ask what those numbers mean. Thanks, Karen

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Pacemaker placement


Hi again everyone:)
My pacemaker is implanted under the collar bone. Thanks to this wonderful site I was able to find out that there are other options for placement, like under pectoral muscle. Are there any extra potential complications involve or longer healing time by doing that? In comparison to just have that under the color bone. Is that a good idea at all?
I am schedule for the replacement on Oct.-30
I would be very grateful for any info. on this subject.

T...

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Anyone to CHat

Anyone,,,,,

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PM going off

Wow, this site is wonderful. Thank you so much everyone for your help with my questions.

Gloria

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Driving

I just have a question. I am new to the site, and I think it is a wonderful site. My question is , how long after the Implant o f the pacemaker can I drive?"

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General weakness

I had a Medtronic two lead pm installed in December of 2006. Two weeks ago the EP adjusted it. Since then I have felt progressively more weak and tired. In addition I have a aching left arm and hand. Yesterday it got so bad I went to the ER. They found nothing else wrong, but could not check my PM.

Today it is back again. Called cardio and they said the PM could not be causing those symptoms. I insisted and am going to see the Meditronic rep today at 1PM Pacific time.

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You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic man.

Member Quotes

I am a competitive cyclist with a pacemaker!