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Meta Quest 3 VR Headset

Hello everyone 

I got my Pacemaker in March 2023.  I am getting to the point now that I sometimes forget that I have one.  There are times I forget about interferences that I need to be concerned about. 

 

I just ordered the Meta Quest Vertual Reality Headset.  Then it hit me... am I able to use this?  I played on ine at Easter for abiut 10 min and had no issues, but I don't want to spend a bunch of money on something that could be a ri...

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Solar eclipse and pacemakers

Random question.. did anyone experience side effects or issues as a result of the solar eclipse today?

I am asking because I felt my pacemaker or heart racing for about 1 min. during the eclipse and found it super strange. 

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1 month after pm

I'm 76 with a healthy heart but SSS. I was told by my husband 50 years ago, a cardiovascular surgeon, that I had bradycardia.  I have been mostly asymptomatic and active up until the implant a month ago. Everything went fine but I had tachycardia 170 bpm on the 4th day and returned to hospital to be put on a drip overnight. I returned home with a low dosage beta blocker. I had never experienced tachycardia for more than a few minutes prior to pm. My incision healed quickly with...

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Patient app help

I'm new to this pacemaker club and have a Biotronik Cardio Messenger by my bed.  I'm told that as long as it has an "OK" showing on it, I shouldn't worry about my pacemaker.  It's been over 3 months now since my pacemaker was installed and no other instructions except a Patient app for my iphone.  I've tried using the Patient app, but it won't work from my house, only if I'm out and about.  I contacted Biotronik and they said to use th...

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PVC's

68 y/o very active male, I am 6 months post op dual lead Medtronic pacemaker.  100% right ventricle pacing, 38% rt atrium pacing with a VVI algorithm and 150 BPM top and 60 BPM bottom.  Started having PVC's a week ago for no apparent reason, no change in lifestyle at all I can point to as a contributor.  Sent a pacemaker transmission through my App and my cardiologist set me up for an appointment this afternoon to discuss.  My PVC's are constant, skipping beats, po...

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1st Post, significant problems

Hi guys,

I'm grateful to be here. 1st post. Got my PM installed on 14 March 2024 and have had a slew of problems and looking for advise:

Timeline:

- 1 March diagnosed with AV block. HR at night dropping down to 26 BPM (eek!)
-14 March 2024: Initial PM implant. 
-21 March: Wound check no problem. Felt great.  
-25 March: Lead falls out and is giving me muscle spasms in my diaphragm. No explanation as to why. I had been walking at my own pace with...

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AV Node Ablation

Hi,  I had my 4th ablation, AV Node, in March of 2023.   While I feel better and am no longer bothered by Afib, I am still short of breath after exertion and sometimes no exertion.   I use a CPAP at night and some mornings after walking out to get the paper my oxygen is 94 (we live at 7500') and other times it's 84, 86.  I don't understand the swings but can't get anyone to explain what's up.  The cardiologist says, see your pulmonologist, and the...

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If you could rename Heart Failure, what would you call it?  

No one likes the term “heart failure” since it implies a terminal condition.  Heart Failure sounds so final as though it is the end stage of all diseases related to the heart.  But is it always so final for those of us who have been given a diagnosis of heart failure when it may have a treatable or even reversible cause in some instances, especially if it is caught early?

Instead should we perhaps call it something like Heart weakness, Heart impairment or Hear...

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Electric car chargers and pacemakers

Hello, I read in The Sunday Times at the weekend that one day wireless car charging *plates in the ground* "may be commonplace".

I think this is something the pacemaker community needs to be aware of. As far as I know there is nothing to worry about with ordinary charges beside the road or in parking bays but wireless charging plates might be a different matter.

 

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Angiogram Results

My cardiac doctor ordered a heart CT Scan for me which I had on April 1, 2024, after the pacer clinic accidentally turned my 100% pacer off during my yearly screening causing cardiac arrest again, and could not restart my pacer.  Trip to the ER who restarted my paver.

 

Angiogram Results:

1. There is stable prominence of the ascending aorta measuring approximately 4.3 cm in diameter.

2. There is a 2.4 cm nodule in the right lobe of the thyroid. A dedicated th...

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Cycling. movement and PM reaction

Hi there,

I am one month post PM insertion.  Female 57 years, active exerciser, cyclist, hiker and multiple sports player. I had unexpected bradycardia in January that had me down to 32 bpm at rest.  I struggled to get my HR over 70 under exertion. Climbing stairs had me winded and light-headed.

I have been cycling indoors (low impact, no hills) to get back into cycling shape before I head outdoors.  My PM settings are 50 - 130 bpm. Recovery has been going well unti...

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Pacing

Hi, 

I got a message after my quarterly download that I am pacing 100% BIV.  No explanation.  What does it mean?  Is it OK?  Should I be worried:?

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Gut Microbiome

We’ve talked about diet quite a bit recently on this forum, so I apologise for bringing it up again but there’s a lot of information being passed on to consumers (and patients) re: improving our gut microbiome and how we should aim to eat 30 different plant based food items p/week for various reasons. Reasons include: the impact on the environment, our intestinal health, to improve our immune system, reduce inflammation and for the prevention of diseases - e.g. gastrointestinal di...

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Pacing rate change/rate response

Hi

i noticed from my last visit that my atrial pacing percentage has changed:

1-9-23 atrial pacing: 35%

3-27-24 atrial pacing: 59.8%
 

my ventricle paces 100% of the time and I'm pretty sure always has since I had a pacemaker.

i have complete heart block. 

the EP was explaining to me that my heart works fine but what doesn't work is the connection area (forget the term) where the atrial speaks to the ventricle to relay the beats etc....

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You should check your " health portal" after your visit for those in the US

I do not know if those out of the US have the same options.  I know that after i see the doctor or have tests.  Do check my patient portal.  Why because sometimes they do not put the right information in my records.   Supposely if you are ever in the hospital they  check your records.

Why you ask, one time after seeing the cardilogist looked an they had written my blood pressure as 274/.  I wrote them and it was corrected immediately.  Another tim...

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Why no test for "ischemic heart disease" after PM?

This issue came up because my older sister had a stroke recently.  She is doing well in rehab and may escape any long term effects, but her doctor was asking her about the family cardiac history and she asked me to give her specifics about my problems that led to getting the PM.

So I looked at my hospital records from 2021.  I came across this note from the doctor who did the PM, "recommended consideration for ischemic heart disease or cardiac sarcoidosis." 

...

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Lead Extraction Experiences Please!

Hi everyone - I am getting this in June - and would love to hear people's experiences good and bad, and any tips or things to be aware of.  Curious about healing time vs just having a lead thrown in as well.  I am going leadless so will not have that issue. Thanks so much!

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Ablation, atrial flutter, and exercise

The last thing I requested before my atrial flutter ablation general anaesthetic  6 weeks ago was,"Please, don't fiddle with my pacemaker settings, leave them as you find them". Did they? No. 

I have had a month of tachycardias and shortness of breath on even light exercise such as a flight of stairs. Fed up, I contacted my pacemaker clinic and they had me back.  The test of two flight of stairs nearly had me with the crash team. I really could not breath at...

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working in mining as dump truck driver

hi guys,

I had heart block problem before and got the bypass surgery for it and I've got pacemaker in it already in my left chest.

Before I have heart attacked and bypass surgery, I am very active person when I am working ( I work as gas cylinder filler, so yeah its hard work) and I did outdoor sport activity like running,fishing,swimming.

4 month after heart surgery and pacemaker inserted in my left chest I feel normal again just like before.

Now the question is,...

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Electrical shocking after Pacemaker Instal

Not sure who to talk on this.  But right after I got my 2 lead pacemaker installed, I started have these electrical charges start at the heart or right at the pacemker.  The charges goes across my body and then down to the bottom of my hips or all the way to my feet.  My fingers tingle and I have problems making my fingers move correctly or hold on to something in my hand.  I feel these electrics shocks many times an hour.  It is especially hard electrics shock w...

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You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

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