Most Recent Messages

Post Message!

Electrophysiology Testing

When some of you had an Electrophysiology Test were you completely knocked out or did they just use a local anesthetic? I just read this from my own Dr.'s webiste;
"The site where the catheters will be inserted is cleaned, shaved, and numbed with a local anesthetic. Other than a sedative, patients having an EP study do not receive any anesthetics because they can alter how the heart functions."
I was completely put under and am now wondering if that had any outcome on my results.

Read More...

pacemaker thumps every 3 hours

Hi my family is trying to figure out why our 9 year old daughter's pacemaker thumps three times every three hours around the clock. She's had an EKG at the time when it happened but no medical staff were present they say the jump on the EKG is from her moving but she never moved an inch we watch her tummy as it jumped three times. She's now doing a 24 hour holter. I feel like we're not being listened to because she doesn't actually ever loose a pulse and the doctors have never heard of a pm t...

Read More...

Doctors!

I'm scheduled to see my cardiologist tomorrow at 3 and right after have my pacer check. I got a call a little while ago and the receptionist said they had to move it up. I asked what time. i was told 1:30. I told them I can't make it at then. I can't leave work any earlier than 2 so I wouldn't make it there until 2:30. I love how they think you can drop everything for their convience. If I knew yesterday maybe I could have worked something out. I don't have a job where I can just leave. (it was...

Read More...

Guidant Problem!

I had a Guidant Insignia 1290 implanted in January of 2006. (This is NOT a recalled model at this time.) I have previously wrtten here about subsequent problems that began the moment I woke up from surgery and was experiencing constant shocking from the pacemaker, and how my EP who implanted it refused to even acknowledge that this condition existed.

This misery continued for several months until I found a new Electrophysiologist who took seriously my complaints of constant "shockin...

Read More...

Body Fat Testing Follow up

So I called Medtronic (the maker of my ICD) to see what they had to say about me using the body fat tester at the gym. They told me they don't recommend using it because it can cause the device to give an unnecessary shock. Yikes, I don't think I'm up for risking it!

Read More...

Weight Lifting

I received my pacemaker 18 months ago and am starting up a weight lifting exercise program for weight reduction, strength and overall conditioning. Can anyone tell me what exercises should be avoided and why. TIA

Read More...

pericarditis

hi all! i posted a little over a week ago about chest and throat pain when i breathe in starting after i had my PM implanted. last week (4 weeks after implant), i was on my honeymoon in the Georgia mountains with what i thought was a cold that wouldn't get better and my chest and throat were starting to hurt more, so i went to a local doctor hoping to get some meds and enjoy the rest of the week. well, the dr heard something in my heart and ordered and echo, so the next morning i went in for an...

Read More...

airports

Hello to everyone. I recently flew and showed my pacemaker card and they took me back to do a pat down as not to go thru security device. On the way back at the Las Vegas airport they made me go thru the security and would not even look at my pacemaker card. I have a dual lead with a defibulator and I received a first class shock. What I need to know can this have affected my pacemaker settings. I have a Medtronic pacemaker 100% dependant. Does anyone have an answer??
Thanks ponyrider...

Read More...

weird sensations

Hello everyone:
I had my PM implanted in 2004. For the last 3 months, or so,
I 've been feeling when the heart is stimulated and I feel the shock going up to my throat and short of breath for a couple of seconds. I don't feel dizzy or fainting. Has anyone experience these sensations ?
Thanks,

Read More...

discouraged

hi all. God bless all the wonderful people in this site! I feel very discouraged...i saw my cardiologist last week and he told me that i have to live with what i have...there is nothing elce he can do for me. I really dont get it. According to him i have atrial tachycardia and i also have ventricular events... im not sure what they are called: qvc or pvcs? He also says i have vasovagal disease and supposely not related to my pacemaker but i just wonder why im having this now? i never had faintin...

Read More...

**Thank you all so much.**

Hello to everyone,
thanks to all of you who sent me birthday wishes last week.it was so nice to hear from you all .just like having a big family.which basically this club is..thank you all.

For those of you that have been following the postings of Pacergirl (Susan) and my self on her trip to the UK from the States.....Sad to say it is all over now .....the week went so quick.and Susan is back home safe and sound and back to work today.
But what a lovely week we had...even...

Read More...

The Sorin Group

Has anyone had an implant made by the Sorin Group company? I've been researching what the smallest ICD's are (unfortunately I wasn't able to do this in the hospital before they pressured me to get mine) and I found that the Ovatio DR model made by this Italian company has a significantly smaller ICD than made by Medtronic, St. Jude or anyone else for that matter. I'm pretty upset with my surgeon right now since I told him I wanted the absolute smallest one possible for cosmetic reasons. I guess...

Read More...

Did your eyesight get better after?

I am 1 week post-op with my PM. For years I have been nearsighted (see things close up, but not far away). I could read and do close up things without wearing my glasses. But I needed the glasses to do things like driving and watching TV. I am still just out of the hospital, so I haven't been driving, but - I can see the TV just fine without my glasses, now. My BPM (beats per minute) was down to 36 before the PM, and now it is 60. Could the improved bloodflow have helped my eyes and hence eye...

Read More...

CHF & 3 lead

Hi everyone. Another problem/question. My husband just had his 2 lead ICD (implanted 10/06) changed on Monday to a bi-ventricular 3 lead due to CHF. Came home Tues., went back in on Thurs. due to a low grade fever. Nothing showed up on blood tests. He was given IV antibiotics and now oral at home We finally got out on Sunday. They "think" he may have had a pneumonia in his right lung. When we went in on Monday for the ICD his weight was 120. When we went back in on Thursday his weight wa...

Read More...

Now A Two Pacemaker Family

In previous posts I wrote that I was implanted with a pacemaker in February of this year for second degree heart block. On May 15, my wife had an attack of ventricular tachycardia where her heart rate went to 210 bpm and she was rushed to the hospital. After a heart cath, it was determined she needed a pacemaker/defribulator to control the v-tach.

It has been nearly two weeks since the implant and she is doing very well (probably better than I am) and we hope to resume our "normal" da...

Read More...

Intermittent pain

Hi,

I made a moved my arm backward yesterday and got a sharp pain over my pacemaker site. It last about half an hour. It was a sharp intermittent jagging pain. It is still happening every so often. Could it be a box or wire moved over a nerve or something. Would be grateful for any info. Thanks.

Read More...

Loud Speakers

Can anyone tell me if loud speakers from a band effect a pacemaker?

Read More...

We are home again, home again jiggty a jig

Greetings Everyone! ;-)

My husband and I have returned home from our wonderful visit with Nina and Peter. We had a fantastic time! It was so wonderful to actually meet and chat with someone who has heart issues as I do. What great friends my husband and I have made in Nina and Peter. We shall remember this trip for the rest of our lives.

Travel was quite easy internationally speaking. No problems if one does not mind being personally body searched each time one enters a...

Read More...

Scar question

Hi again. I was wondering what people's experiences have been in regards to the healing of their scar from the implant. This is the only surgery I've ever had and I wondered how long it has taken the redness of the scar for others to return to a more skin type color. I've been using Mederma on mine but it's only been 6 weeks since my surgery. I'm guessing it takes a long time for the red line to turn more skin color but I thought I'd ask and see what others experienced. Thanks!

Read More...

Body Fat testing

So I was at the gym today and was going to test myself for bodyfat. They have this portable device that you hold on to and it sends a small electrical signal through your body to figure out your body fat. Anyway, I decided not to use it because I wasn't sure if it would interact with my ICD. Has anyone used one of these before with an ICD?

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You have a dymo-powered bike.

Member Quotes

I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.