Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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Transtelephonic testing St. Jude Pacemaker

I am doing research to find out what some of you are using to do bi-monthly trans telephonic pacemaker checks? We have been using Philips, until they recently dropped this service. My cardiologist is advising that we come into his office for a check.

I have been advised by St Jude to contact the following companies for trans telephonic checks:
Equimed/Scott 800-451-7470
Guardian: 877-317-3047
Ambucor: 763-780-9808

Have any of you used either of these compani...

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Latest Checkup

Just received my printout of the latest Car Link phone check. all looks great. In fact it looks better than great. PVC's are way down. The pacer is doing what it is supposed to do without fanfare!

It's worth my effort at making sure things were done right.

frank

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Settings range

Reading postings seems to tell me I should wake in the morning refreshed and ready to go. I don't. My PM is continually being adjusted to accept the fact that I am still a runner in training for a marathon. Settings are 50-150 for the PM. Adjustments for the upper end have been to loose(Hit 120 or so crossing the street) or to tight(can't even get to 100). We are fooling with the high end but I am wondering if the 50 could be too low for me, and that could be the problem. What does a higher low...

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New Pacemaker and falling asleep

I got my Pacemaker installed on July 16 and wasn't due to go to the first interrogation until August 23. However, I have been so tired in the afternoons. In fact I fell asleep in our staff meeting yesterday - very embarrassing! So I have an appointment this morning to ask them about at the Alaska Heart Institute who did the installation. What questions should I ask about settings? Is it true that they may have default settings when first installed and now need adjusting? Is there a bottom numbe...

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check up questions

OK Frank, wake up and try yo explain the following to me (if you can)!
Just had a stress test done and here is the results:
Grade 1 distolic disfunction with trivial MR,TR and PR. Any of this stuff worth getting concerned about?
Any body else got any feed back?
Thanks,
Cecil
Still waiting for decission on fractured lead issue of past spring.

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CRT-d settings vs. fatigue

I am three months out of CRT-d implant. (medtronic protecta) I have DC with LBBB. EF at placement 25. No CHF symptoms, CRT placed in hopes LBBB contributed to heart failure and will improve heart function. I felt worse after I got the CRT-d. Fatigue and breathless after stairs or inclines. Settings were adjusted by having an echo done with the pm tech. Felt great, back to normal for about a month. Then started feeling bad again. I kept blaming fatigue on other things but finally called pm tech...

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Danger of ventricular pacing in SSS with AV Block?

Danger of ventricular pacing in SSS with AV Block?

I have had a mixed bag of feeling since receiving my PM on 3/29/12. I got the PM for SSS, and junctional rhythms, basically bradycardia. My heart during the night was going into the 30’s, with a pause as long as 3 seconds. During the day, I was in the 40-50 range mainly, with fatigue.

I never have passed out, before or since the PM.

What I have had is a variety of good and bad feelings- and many adjustments si...

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1st check up

Hi all

Had my 1st check up today after having an Ablation for SVT in June 2012 causing a complete heart block, resulting in a pacemaker.
Having made a list of questions to ask, my 1st was "how often has my pacemaker been used" with the technician saying "it's in use 24/7 as your lower part of your heart doesn't function anymore"
This came as a huge shock because the doctor/consultant hadn't explained all this to me.
I still feel short of breath, the hospital has altered...

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monitor to check pacemaker at home

Does anyone have a monitor where you check your pacemaker at home and you are connected to a monitoring site? I have one but as of yet have not had the courage to use it. It has been 3 years since my pacemaker was put in and I still fret about certain things. My pacemaker works all the time and I'm still leary of it stopping. I think, no I know, that is why I have not used this machine. The tech told me it was just to check the life of the battery, but as I read the instructions, the last s...

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New settings ?

Hi I'm brand new in this club. Just had my second ICD/Pacemaker installed . This one is a Medtronic Protecta. My question is my doc had my last one set for 60 bpm. This rate was an increase from my resting rate of 50 bpm. My new Protecta is now set for 70 bpm. My doctorl gave me the option of returning to 60 bpm or staying at 70 bpm. I don't feel any difference. Any thoughts/comments are welcome.

PJB

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New settings?

So for the most part I have felt like a new person after having my pacer put in. I could do a lot of things that I wasn't able to before, because I would get out of breath. Then yesterday happen. I went in for a check up and something was changed in my settings, I think they said the slowed it down. I didn't bother to ask because I had been feeling so good, I had all other sorts of questions to ask them. But as the evening went on I found it hard to stand with out my heart beating weird, not as...

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is this normal?

I’m 47 and I had my pacemaker implant two weeks ago due to low heart rate. I had my first check up today. These are my concerns: they did an EKG which was normal, but did not do a ’pacemaker’ check with the machine. He also lifted the restrictions for using my arm. I thought I was not suppose to use it for 4-6 wks.

Is this normal for the first check up? I at least thought my pacemaker would be checked or I would be given further instructions. Sorry but this is all n...

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Pacemaker percentage working heart

I recently had a three month followup on my new pacemaker. My heart is working 47% of the time in the upper chambers and 99% in the lower chambers. With 53% pacemaker pacing the doctor was totally surprised by this. He really thought my upper would be around 30-35 and bottom chambers 20 and above. It’s good the bottom chambers are pacing 99% due to it being the most danger, but still can’t wrap the pacing upper at 53% of the time.

Why is my question Dr’s totally...

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Great news

Ok back from my Doctors today, my sweet little buddy is working well, my doctor showed me the scale battery still at full, I do not need to see him for another year, this is so good just booked a cruise in March 2014 from Fortlaundale, so looking forward to it. Night all Cindy

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pacemaker reps

Hello all, hope everyone is having a good day. I looked all over the internet and hope you can help. What type of background do pacemaker reps have? Like RN, LVN etc are or they just that reps??? As a female pacer had a negative run in with a male pacemaker rep yesterday. Thanks guys :)

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It now a year since my pace maker was placed in

Hi all long time, Am back at work full time, plus out working on the farm, have my first check on the 10/7/12 to check the pace maker not worried as I am painting again and doing so much stuff I could not do before, love life, by the way have a new grand child a lovely little girl now a Oma to 2, life is great, was the best thing ever getting this pace maker put in. Now have a life again, will write again after my appointment with my heart docter, keep smiling Cindy

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Pacemaker is going crazy

I hope to see the clinician in a couple of days, but can I get some feedback from the group?
I have WPW and severe syncope. Pacemaker is set to come on at 60, but if it registers a sudden drop, it paces at 90. Purpose was to make sure I could exercise hard and not pass out. So far, so good. Problem is that it goes into his overdrive mode when I sit or lie down.
This feels like an adrenaline rush that you get when you see a cop and you are speeding. (the kind of speeding that get...

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HR Still going Below PM Settings

I am new to the PM world and I have a question. I had my PM put in on Jun 20th and I was told that my PM was set so my HR does not fall below 60 anymore (it kept hanging out in the low 40's and then last week I flatlined). I noticed that I am occasionally still having palpitatations and it still hangs out in the 40's. Most of the time it will start climbing back up to the 70's but yesterday it took over a minute before it went back up. Is that normal?

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historyonics?

Latest check up/ekg pacemaker not being used, i asked when it kicks in because there is also a rate response setting which senses when you may need an increase? The dr mentioned something called historyonics, what does that mean.

I have a st jude pm set at 70bpm min, put it beacause of bradycardia, low 30bpm, fainting etc. Did not have a problem increasing while exercising.

Any info appreciated Thanks Finn

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to electric frank and don r

Hi; I am still here . no new pacemaker yet. Went to heart docs yesterday but saw everyone but the doctor, This is what I was told, I hope the two of you can interpret this hunca munca because Im not sure what is even wrong with me, First they said I am pacing no lower than 49 because I am set at 50. also the pa said I only pace 39% of the time and I am not really pacemaker dependent, I have between ! and 5 months left before the lower lead will stop pacing and I should watch for my pulse at 6...

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You know you're wired when...

Your favorite poem is “Ode to a Cardiac Node”.

Member Quotes

Try to concentrate on how you’re able to be active again and feel normal, rather than on having a machine stuck in your body.