Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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Hypoxia, oxygenation from incorrect PM settings?

Hello all--

I have a question no one else has been able to answer.

If a Pacemaker is not set correctly can it cause chronic Hypoxia/cellular oxygenation depletion?

I had a major systemic collapse in 12/12 and for the past 2 years I have suffered from chronic hypoxia that could not be clinically explained However, a new St.Jude's tech started tweaking my PM in 8/12 and 12/12--then in 10/13 new cardiologist (at Kaiser...) put in infected generator--had to have i...

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check tomorrow

Will have check 6 month of pm tomorrow morning. What should I expect or ask? Then to see cardiologist immediately after. Was on rythmol but quit 2 months ago on my own because of side effects ( chest pain ,SOB, Joint pain, insomnia. tiredness and depression and final blow -paresthesia of,hands and feet. ) All this is gone. Now feel wonderful, sleep well and can do heavy garden work etc. How shall I tell cardiologist? Trish

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recently moved

Hi, I recently moved from Ca. to Nv. My pacer was put in 9/2013 & cardiologist checked it every 4 mo.I do not have a cardiologist yet in Nv. I haven't had it ck. since Nov 2014, should I be concerned?

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HR increase with minimal exercise

I have had a medtronic mri compatiable PM implanted one month ago. I have notice that if I walk just from the kitchen to bedroom my HR jumps to 105 or so. This does not seem normal to me. Is it the rate response setting? Any input?
Thanks

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What shows up on PM check

Hello,
Have read some recent messages about AFib and pulsatile tinnitus. I am 4 weeks tomorrow post fitting of dual lead St Jude and still getting the feeling that my heart rate is going to fast 90/100 doing not a lot for up to 30minsand at night the tinnitus occurs when I turnover, also getting some diaphragm pacing. (there was mention of having to move a lead but my own cardiologist thought I would be ok.) At my last check up a week ago the was no evidence of arrhythmia but I felt plenty...

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A Great Day!

Hi everyone! Got my PM 5 wks ago tomorrow. Had an interrogation today & then saw the EP, who is happily releasing me from all restrictions at work, with a stern admonition to ease back into going 110% again.
The EP was really pleased with my report, didn't want any adjustments, cut the flecainide by half since I had no Afib (woo-hoo!) and told the nurse to schedule me for a checkup in 6 months!
The Medtronic guy who did the interrogation was great and cheery. He explained a few thin...

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Fine tuning

At my post implant (2nd PM) appt. with my EP, he performed a procedure no one else ever has. He explained having both ventricles "fire" at the exact same time may seem a worthy goal but, all of us are different. He took me to the echocardiogram tech along with the PM device tech and performed the following: With the Medtronic "mouse" hung over my PM, he would instruct the device nurse to change the timing (+or- 10, 20, 30, 40 etc milliseconds) while watching the Doppler report of how well the...

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What to Expect

I have paroxysmal AFib which was not cured by two ablations and cardioversions. Then I got atrial flutter as well which would not respond to drugs so I now have the pacemaker, followed by AV node ablation and I have to say, I am doing really well these days.

I know that the upper chambers of the heart now are isolated from the lower ones, so that the random electrical impulses are not transmitted through and the lower ventricles are paced.

Just puzzled though, as some nig...

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Feeling faint again

Hi all, I'm coming up on 2 years with my PM and have another checkup this week. Just within the past 2-4 months I've been getting that same faint feeling that was the original sign of my heart issue (bad AV node - complete heart block). It actually happened earlier last year and the doctor said all was fine with the PM and I was probably dehydrated. Have any of you experienced recurring faint feelings even after your doctor has said the PM is working fine? I want to make sure I ask the doct...

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Good News at 4 month Interrogation!

Hi All,

Went for my 4 month PM Interrogation yesterday and my EP told me that i'm now only paced 40% (was 90% at previous interrogation!) and batt should last 9-10 years!

Had quite a few SVT's but only short with max 162 bpm, he said likely Sinus Tach.

I dont look forward to the part where they test the PM during interrogation though! EP said my HR jumped 20+ beats just talking about it!

It seems like my problems were made dramatically worse by my pa...

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Check up

Almost 3 weeks since having PM fitted, just back from PM clinic
where I was told settings looked good using the ventricular lead approx. 30% of the time, not bad (I have 2:1 heart block which is apparently a bit more difficult to get right ?).However still very SOB so they put the rate response mode on, hope this will make a difference. Even though heart is beating ok voltages are low could out-put still be low. Voltage for V lead was higher but gave me tachycardia but that was post OP. Go...

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When to expect first check up?

Hi,

I had my pacemaker inserted on Tuesday in UK and was told my FIRST check up would be in three months time.

Looking at various postings others seem to be having their first check within 1 or 2 months and in in some cases even less.

What is the normal amount of time or is it based purely upon the individual?









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Issues after pacemaker fitted

Hi

I had a dual chamber fitted 3 weeks ago and I have felt a tightness in my chest since this pacemaker fitted any one any ideas why, I have been back to cardio unit who have adjusted settings but tightness still there,

The reason in had pacemaker installed as heart was skipping a beat and also it was stopping for 5-10 secs at a time also..

Thanks

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Need a doc with sorin software

Hi! I had a Sorin PM implanted 8 years ago in Phila., PA. I did well. In the last 4 years I moved to Maryland. I went to a cardiologist in the Bethesda area who does not have the Sorin software. I always need to make an appointment when the rep is in town and he lives about near Bethleham Pa. What happens if I have a problem and the rep is 150 miles away? I would like to have a doc in the Bethesda/DC area that has the software in the office. Does anyone know of one? Also, for the past f...

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new pacer

Had a new Medtronic pacer replaced 2 months ago due to low battery. Leads were ok and I feel ok. But every so often I feel something best described as a pricking sensation which lasts a second or so. I don't remember this with my first pacer. Anyone else have this problem? The hospital where I had the pacer replaced is about a 4 hour plane ride from here so I just can't go to them if it's not real important.
Thanks
Kennyg

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Pacing Usage.

This pertains to a dual chamber pacemaker. It is set at 60/120 and this setting has remained the same for many years. However, over the past couple of years the atrium pacing usage has increased from 3% to 5% and the ventricular pacing usage has increased from 0% to 1%. Since the pacemaker settings of 60/120 have not changed, does anyone know what is causing the increased pacing usage percents (especially in the atrium). Would appreciate any input. Going to have pacemaker checked tomorrow....

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St. Jude Merlin Home Transmitter

I gave the following letter to my cardiologist's nurse practitioner today:

I would appreciate receiving more information concerning the use of my Merlin Pacemaker Monitor. I received the device approximately two months ago and set it up in accordance with the instructions provided. I have read the instructions and need clarification:

1. Is the Merlin actively monitoring my pacemaker function every night, or is it only performing periodic checks as directed and sc...

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useage

ok I am probably being paranoid but I think I had a episode last night so I went to DR it has been a little over a month only since I was there I was told I use it 11% upper & 16% lower & says in past I have used it 100% of time is that possible to use it so much then hardly use it I am probably being paranoid but want to hear from others TY

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Guidance Requested

Hi there, I'm on week 6 today of having my pacemaker lead reinserted. It's my understanding that it takes awhile to get the settings perfect. On Friday my doc told me that he foresees that the pacemaker could be taken out within the year as he feels that I am healing from the heart block caused by an Ablation for SVT on the 1st of Dec. I personally am super skeptical about this as I feel like crap most of the time - chest pain, weird bumps and twinges in my chest, lightheadedness, occasional...

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A QUICK QUESTION

I SEE THE METRONIC REP EVERY 3 MONTHS AND THEN THE MD A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. SO FAR, AFTER 1 1/2 YEARS WITH PACER, I AM DOING OK AND HAVE 9 YEARS LEFT WITH BATTERY. AM TIRED ALL THE TIME AND SOME DIZZY PROBLEMS. THE REP SAID TO NOTE WHEN I HAVE DIZZYNESS AND WHEN I AM TIRED (TOLD HIM ALL THE TIME). NOW MD OFFICE WANTS TO CANCEL MY APPT FOLLOWING THIS REP APPT AND SCHEDULE 2 MONTHS AWAY. THEY WERE DOUBLE BOOKED WITH PATIENTS.
QUESTION: ANY SENSE TO THIS APPT WITH THE MD?? THE APPT...

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I'm 43 and have had my pacemaker four weeks today. I'm looking forward to living another 50 years and this marvelous device inside me will help me do that.