Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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YIPPEE!

NO CT scan for me! That is my good news for the day. That and I have now lost 5 pounds!

As I understand it when the nurse asked the Dr. about my questions he asked to see my record. He looked it over and said "Susan is right she should not have a CT scan nor does she need one"! My CT has been cancelled!

AWESOME! hee hee... I can't believe how HAPPY I am. He went on to say that I would need a Stress Test, a Heart Echo and something else. Non-invasive procedures. hee hee....

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CT Scan

My CT scan was scheduled for today. I called and had it rescheduled for later this month. While I had the nurse on the phone I asked her why the Dr. had ordered this test for me? I went on to explain that I am very allergic to the contrast iodine used in the CT scan and if I am expected to place myself in such a precarious position I need to know why. She had no answers. She was evasive, said she didn't know why and that she would ask the Dr. and call me back. That was at 8:30 this morning. I ha...

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Mode Switch/ EP visit update

So I visited with the fine EP today. Started out kind of weird because the physicians assistant came in and interrogated my pacemaker. Usually I have a nurse do it, so that was a bit odd, she was very nice though. My EP walked in the door and no joke he said "hey, how is my problem patient". Really? Dang, I guess I am his problem patient but I hadnt seen nor talked to his office for 3 month which for me is a record, but apparently he knew what was going on with all of my other health issues...

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CT scan

Well, today in the snail mail a very interesting letter arrived. it appears that the dear cardiologist has determined that I (the patient) needs a CT scan. What in the world I thought!

My appt. was set for Wed. There is the holiday on Monday, they're out of the office on Tuesday and the appt. is for Wednesday at 9am. I called them and just caught one of the staff in the office.

You see I suffered a very bad reaction to the contrast iodine that is used in the test. So I ha...

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Home Monitoring

My pacemaker is now checked via home monitoring. I send readings from my pacemaker to the hospital every three months. But I am never told what the results are and when I called and asked was told "no news is good news" I have not seen a doctor or indeed a nurse or technician for two years. Is my experience normal? Am I worrying too much?

Thanks

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mode switch = ON topic

Ok, well I am about to go to that fine cardiologist next week and being as though I thought I was going to have a heart attack yesterday I thought I would post my question and see what recommendations are out there....

I am set as DDD, rate 70 - 125. Above 135 I go into that mode switch. I believe it switchs to DDI or DDIR but I cant find any info about it on my pacemaker report. I understand what it does, by ignoring my atria and essentially putting me into heart block 2:1 or 3:1....

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transtelephonic transmitter

I went in today for my first 3 month check after having the pacemaker installed. The tech checked everything but didn't tell me any of the readings. Why do they make you ask the questions like; how much is it pacing? How long does it say the batteries have left etc. Anyway I asked about the transtelephonic transmitter and how do I get one. Mine should be coming in a couple of weeks. Does anyone know if that method of monitoring is as effective as actually going to the clinic? Also, is it...

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rate response

I'm having a love / hate relationship with my rate response. I can't function without it, but yet I hate living with it. UGH....

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Timing

My PM is set to "help out" at 45. But what about the pauses that I still get? While at the Dr.'s visit yesterday we saw a premature beat, a little extra beat and then a quick pause. Does the PM wait until my resting heart rate is at 45 to work or does it also help out when I get these pauses? Is there a timing interval of some sort?

I have a printout from yesterday but not sure what it all means and forgot to ask her about it when I saw it happening...her only response was that "ever...

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WHAT A DAY!

So I had my follow up visit today at 3:30. However, I was already in the Emergency Room because my daughter is sick. Thankfully she is OK now and we are home!

Made it downstairs for the follow up and the "flicks" were happening while I was being interrogated. She said they were premature and skipped beats I was feeling and nothing to worry about. She did lower my PM to 45 thinking that may help. Pacing 1% ventrical and 5% atrial.

I've been having chest "pressure" too latel...

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EP Visit Today

Hi everyone,
I am going for a follow up to the EP's office today. Something I want to know about it is the settings. I was under the impression that I wasn't supposed to feel myself pace.

But when I lay down to go to bed, I'm relaxed and I feel like a little "flick" in my chest. I check my RHR and it's hanging out right at 50....at the exact setting the PM is supposed to help.

It doesn't go on for very long...a little "flick" here and there, but is it possible for the...

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Some Good News (For Once)!

Yes, you are not mistaken: I am actually going to post something positive! Make a note of the date, so next time I'm being all doom and gloom (I'd give me 'til the end of the week, or at the most 'til the week after when I see my cardiologist, LOL), you can post this message back to me.

I went for my 6 week pacing check today. No AF. Only one very fast rate, an atrial and ventricular tachycardia of 150 - and I know why that was (I wish I was doing something exciting, but actually I...

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First Interrogation

I was implanted with a bi-v ICD on 4/22 and appear to be doing great. Minimal pain and getting better every day.
I am scheduled for my first interrogation on 6/4 and I see a lot of information on this site that I don't necessarily understand.
What questions should I ask? What do I need to understand regarding my baseline? What questions do I ask that I don't even know to ask?
I have a curious mind and a desire to take an active part in my health moving forward and would appreciat...

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First Interrogation

I was implanted with a bi-v ICD on 4/22 and appear to be doing great. Minimal pain and getting better every day.
I am scheduled for my first interrogation on 6/4 and I see a lot of information on this site that I don't necessarily understand.
What questions should I ask? What do I need to understand regarding my baseline? What questions do I ask that I don't even know to ask?
I have a curious mind and a desire to take an active part in my health moving forward and would appreciat...

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Running with rate response

Hey there!

I was wondering if there is anyone here who is running regularly, and needs the pacer's rate responsive feature most of the time. If so, what are your settings?

I have recently started an interval-training on the treadmill, and sometimes in the park close to my home. I walk three minutes, then run three minutes. I'm rather slow at the moment, walking at 6km/h and running at 8km/h. I need the rate response all the time. The thing is sometimes while running my hear...

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Tests, tests and more tests!

I had an echo today, which seemed to go OK. They were going to do a sonovue contrast because the last one wasn't clear apparently, but they've recently got a new machine and it was really clear so I got away with no IV! The doctor and the nurse were talking to each other about what they were checking for, and cardiomyopathy was mentioned - first I'd heard of it!

When I first got there it struck me that I'm a regular there because the receptionist smiled at me and said "Hi Emma, I'll...

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Optimized

Today was a great day, I think. Got my CRT-D 3/09 for CHF. My EF at that time was 20. Since that time I've only had 2 adjustments to my CRT-D, the heart rate was upped from 60 to 70 and last month the rate response was adjusted. It had been on but set so low it was non-functioning. At that time an app't was made for me to have an optimizing interrogation at the same time as my echocardiogram. My EF today was 50!!! They told me I was one lucky person as a lot of people never regain that much impr...

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weid feeling after interogation

Hi all
I had my 2 month post PM implant check and interogation yesterday. All was well and they tweaked a couple of minor settings. Later that day and again in the eve. I felt my heart making a weird thudding feeling. It was like when they make your PM work during interogation. It felt very strange and don't know what to make of it. Could it be my PM was doing it's thing when I felt this. Any thoughts?
Thanks from Howard

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episode increase??

Pacemaker age 2004 St Jude. Pacemaker dependent. Have always had episodes with no symptoms. Checked pacer done every 3 - 6 months because of episodes. Episodes slowly increasing.
This week over 2000 episodes noted with //no symptoms..
Aware of possible causes such as a fib, a tachy, vent fib.
To see Dr. in am.
Any thoughts?????????????

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PACING CHECK

Went for my 6 monthly pacing check yesterday . Monthly because I am 100% dependent. No waiting, was seen 5 minutes before appointment time. No problems, and 4 years left on battery after 3 years and 2 months use already. Left the pacing technicians a box of biscuits for their coffee breaks as usual. Even the free bus rides (for over 60s in UK) from chosen parking position near a patient friend I was in hospital with, went without any delays. And the sun was trying to shine through. All in all a...

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Member Quotes

99% of the time, I totally forget I even have this device.