Most Recent Messages in General Posting

Post Message!

Should I get a pacemaker?

I am a healthy 69 year old and have had slow heart rate all my life. It began to cause me to get briefly short of breath (SOB) following even minor exertion, but the SOB resolves if I continue to exert (e.g., I can run miles at a decent pace without problems). I have no other symptoms nor is there other evidence of heart disease (the problem is probably familial). For now, the  SOB is a minor annoyance, and I think a PM would not be worth it, given the procedure risks and...

Read More...

Right temple pain pre-and-post

For a few months prior to my implant I had a strange fairly continuous pain in my right temple, immediately to the side of my right eye.  I had a couple of doctors insist that it was templar arteritis and just as many insist that it was not.  I saw a neurologist due to "alternate migraines" with a 'swimmy" area in my vision that grew to a larger and larger "C" and then passed out of my field of vision.  It had no associated pain.  I had no...

Read More...

Cardiologist

I had a follow up with my cardiologist Dr Dhiraj Warman.  My Ep wanted me to follow up for PM only to wait an hour and half and only see the nurse practitioner.  Had my pacemaker put in on May 20th.  I made appointment after the PM only to find out was trumped by a root canal.  Found out my cardiologist is a dentist as well.  Couldn’t figure out why when my stent was placed he was no where to be seen.  Never got discharged by him in person on...

Read More...

Lightheadedness still after 3 weeks

Just a quick thanks for all the reply's to my past posts. Well I am in my 3rd week after a dual chamber PM implant for bradycardia & tachycardia.  I am still dealing with lightheadedness and nausea. I have appointment with PM doc Monday. When I called them with my concerns they stated the PM (which they checked last week) is working fine. My BP is normal along with pulse rate and no change in medications. Before this I had been dealing with episodes of fatigue, lighthea...

Read More...

Newie

I am just new to the forum as I just had my Boston scientific dual chamber pacemaker place two weeks ago today. Having the usual issues with getting used to feeling like they were horses galloping in my chest sometimes, I'm trying to figure all this out and how my life is going to change. I am a super super active girl and I'm so frayed that this is going to impact my life negatively. I do understand that this thing is keeping me alive lol. I am used to using my Apple Watch to do an E...

Read More...

Joining question

When I joined the site, one of the questions was "How many devices?"  I'm not sure what that question means.  I have a Medtronic and two leads - dual chamber.  Technically, that means three devices, as it is lilsted on the original document from Medtronic.  Is that the intent of the question?

Thanks!

Read More...

Medtronic ICD ID cards

I had a Medtronic ICD implanted on 12th April 2022 at Hammersmith Hospital and after a few days I got a sheet of A4 paper headed Patient ID Card with all the details on. But the printing is poor quality [I've copied out several copies] but I was wondering if there was a credit card sized card. My previous CRT-P pacemaker had a small fold up card for airports etc.   I saw a much earlier post from 2018 saying that a member had phone Medtronic and got a plastic credit card siz...

Read More...

Cell phones with apps for pacemaker

My husband received a Medtronic pacemaker this week, 6/2022.  I need to get him a cellphone compati ble with the app that collects data.  Looking for recommendations for phones you are happy with.  I was given a compatible list by Medtronic.  Hoping to hear here which phones are better!  Thank you!

Marcia

Read More...

Ongoing Fatigue. Pacemaker or something else?

I have read many postings where members complain of fatigue issues associated with their pacemakers.  I have been experiencing real fatigue for approximately two years and 2 months.  Pacemaker implant was August 2019 so going on three years for that.  I am paced at 100%. Along with the constant fatigue, I have internal, what I call shaking.  Only lets up when I sleep.  A past neurologist prescribed Gabapentin but I'm not sure how much good that is doing....

Read More...

What kind of pacemaker for a Pace & Ablate (AV Node Ablation due to Afib)

Firstly I am a complete novice when it comes to pacemeker, I know almost nothing about makes and models!

I am 52 and have been in permanat Afib for over 25 years but due to my heart valves now getting fatigued and beginning to leak due to my racing heart (meds are not working well to slow it down) my EP has told me we most probably will need to Pace & Ablate.

Before I agree to this I need to do a ton of reseach so I understand what I am getti...

Read More...

Did CRT-d improve your quality of life

Interested in other peoples experience of CRT-d on quality of life.

It's been four and a half years since my implant.  I am a super responder - EF back to normal after 3 months.   My kidney disease has improved (but largely due to a very low fat plant based diet IMHO)  and I'm alive, bonus I guess.

But I'm finding my quality of life is not great.  I'm on a minimal dose of beta blocker (bisoprolol) and I am always always tired, really tired....

Read More...

Has anyone heard of a CCM ? Cardiac Contractility Modulation therapy device.

Well my cardio doc has recommended that I get a CCM implanted alongside my ICD. I've had my ICD implanted in Oct '21 because of my genetic condition - LMNA Cardiomyopathy. Since then my EF has improved thru medications, etc. I am on 3 different pills a day and he feels that there is room for increased improvement thru the implantation of this newly developed device. From what I know there are only ~7,000 implants worldwide and the therapy that the device delivers can and has reversed...

Read More...

Travel with Monitor?

Do I need to bring my home monitor with me when I travel.....in this case for a week?

Read More...

Manners

Before we post comments to respond to someone who has shared their concern, please be mindful to be encouraging and sympathetic to their fears. 

Best not to find criticism or try to minimise their concerns. This a safe platform for those who need understanding and for those who are willing to understand.

Thanks. 

 

Read More...

AV Node ablation for afib and subsequent exercise tolerance

Hi everyone, what a great forum this is. I have learnt so much through readings old posts in the last 24 hours, I feel I have already gained heaps from it!

However, I thought I'd make my own post just so there's an opportunity for some of my more specific questions to be answered if possible.

I am in afib and have been for almost a year. I have already had a LA ablation (2015) which reduced my afib episodes in frequency and duration until this episode. My left atrium is to...

Read More...

Lifting

On my discharge paper it mentions no lifting, pushing heavy things.  Wondering if this means from now on out?  I use an upright walker and need to lift in and out of car.

Read More...

Airport security

I  just went through security at terminal 2 and terminal 3 Sydney airport. All staff (6) are untrained in understanding that people with pacemakers can not go through scanner. I am standing there, shoes off,  waiting to be told where to go for a frisk, and staff are telling me to walk through the scanner! I'm standing there, shaking my head saying "no". Then finally, a female came to frisk, and luckily when I asked her to change her gloves before touching me, she was o...

Read More...

Airport travel

Travelling 1st time w a PM soon. I know I have to alert TSA and ask to skip the scanners of any kind. Curious if anyone ever had an issue? Thinking it should be pretty routine for TSA these days.

Read More...

Diet with a Pacemaker

Hi - I wanted to see if anyone has been on a high protein diet program after getting a pacemaker. I've not been able to lose weight at all and am thinking of going on a diet called OPTAVIA, which is predominantly high protein. Any help is greatly appreciated! I love this group - it has given me a lot of peace of mind, especially since I can't relate to my family or friends about certain things (even though they are very supportive).

Champak

Read More...

PT/Massage-therapy

Hi All

I am 4 weeks into a dual chamber drt pacemaker and my back and neck are in need of adjustment just because I am not totally back yet. I made an appointment at my local PT for a massage and general tuneup at the end of June. I am just a bit aprehensive about laying face down on exam table.....thoughts? 

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

Your electric tooth brush interferes with your device.

Member Quotes

I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.