Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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Lead Dislodge

I had my first visit today since having my ICD put in on Oct.30, 2009. The doctor advised me that one of the leads has dislodged and I need to go for another surgery to correct this situation. I have an appointment with my surgeon on Wed. Dec. 16, 2009 and will probably have surgery soon thereafter. Has anyone else experienced this? I have a Medtronic ICD. Good luck and Happy Holidays to all.

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How long will PM store information?

Do the pm's store information for 3 months only? I think I have missed an interogation.

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Settings and issues

I have had my pacemaker since 2007 and have had adjustments made on occasion. I have a single lead pacer for sick sinus syndrome. During the warmer months I play a lot of sports, softball, field hockey etc. so they set my sensing to accomodate the activity. Two days ago I felt like I was going to pass out and my HR has been in the 120-140's. Today I had my PPM interrogated and the sensing was making my pacemaker think that when I walked I needed a higher increase so my rate would shoot up in the...

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When should I be scheduled to have my pacemaker re

Hi,
I see my cardiologist every January for a pacemaker check up.
In January 2009, I was advised that the battery had two years to run. Working on this basis, I figure I have around one year to go.
When do you think my cardiologist will actually do the replacement? Six months before? Three months?

It'd be great to have an idea of how long before the battery end of life they do the replacement.
thanks
Kate

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PM usage time...

As a result of a complete heart block, ended up with a PM on 17November2009. Was told by a Medtronics technician that it is being used 5% of the time.

If the PM is being used 5% of the time, is this criteria based on the heart rate going to 60 or below in a certain timeframe? If so, what is the timeframe?

If not, can someone shed some light as to how this 5% is calculated/determined?

Thanks for your help.

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22,000 PVC's

Hi all,

Just an update on my checkup yesterday. I forgot to ask for a print out, but this is what i remembered.

She said i have had 22,000 PVC's in the last 12 weeks, does that sound alot? Tech said that was a normal amount to have.

They have turned me down to guardian angel settings, no rate responce or other fancy setting, just on 45bpm all the time.

So hopefully now there will be no test in the early hours to wake me up.

Can you have PVC'...

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Fast Heart Rate

I just transmitted over the phone and the tech called me back a few hours later to set up an appointment for an EKG and follow up Dr. visit due to several incidents of fast heart rates. I have not felt the fast heart but I have felt slightly dizzy a few times lately and a few weeks ago I felt like I was going to faint, which has not happend for the last many years since I had the pm put in. My battery life is fine. I am on no medication.
Is this something I should be concerned about?

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Checkup Tomorrow

Hi all,

Just after some advise please, i have asked to go in for a checkup tomorrow.

Something seems to wake me up around 5 - 5.30am most days, My PM tech thinks it could be the PM doing a test or something that it has to do everyday.

So im going to see if they can change the time to the day time so it doesn't disturb my sleep as im knackered.

Also im going to ask them to turn it down to 40bpm at night, so that doesn't wake me either, as when it was fi...

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Newbie thanks and update

I want to thank you for the comments on my last posting. It
made a difference. Went for 1st visit today..here is story.
Boston Scientific-Altrua60 implanted Nov 24. Now DDD, set
at 140 (I exercise a lot), pacing is 28% Atrium and 96%
Ventricle. Delay setting is 360ms. Pulse rate for arrythmia is
set for 60. Diagnosis: left anterior vascular block, right bundle
branch block and 1st degree Atrioventicator.

I am shocked at the 96% pacing rate, didn't know...

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An answer?

Hi out there everyone. Great Turkey day but it's the last turkey I'll cook without help, just too heavy and too much to do. Sure tastes good and I love leftovers. I have a question that maybe some of you who know PM and settings can help. Got the Medtronic Consulta CRT-D 3/09 and am disappointed with it in some ways. I was told the shortness of breathe and fatique would be gone after a while. As you can see, it's been 8 mos and they are still with me. Dr. upped the lasix to one a day from every...

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ATR & Vtach

Hello Everyone!

Just got back the other day from my six month interrogation for my pacemaker.

I was please to learn that my usage has dropped significantly. Currently, I am only pacing 6% of the time in the ventricles and about 10% of the time in the atrium.

The tech told me after looking at my numbers over the past year, that he didn't see why I still needed my pacemaker. That sounded good to my ears.

Nevertheless, I've learned that you can't get out...

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Surgery

Hi Friends,
I went to the new EP yesterday and found out I will need another surgery. My goal is to make it one year without a surgery so I would prefer it after the holidays. My pm will be placed in a net mush bag type thing and stitched into place so it can not move anymore. I will also have my lead from last year that they could not get out taken out.
The issue right now is finding a Dr who does lead extractions in my area. The Dr is searching and will get back to me within...

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1st check up 11/23

Hi :) I am new here but have been reading since I got my PM which was 10/19/09 now with my 1st check up coming I wondered what they will do..? I feel better then I did before.. but still have little weird things going on...and wondered ihow they check the PM for the right settings.. I am anxious about this so wondered if you might help me.
Thank you

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First integration

I have had my Medtronic PM now for 4 months. I had my first interrogation today in the cardiologist office. They said the report was great news that the atrial line was working 70% of the time and the ventricular line was only active 2 % of the time. I did not ask them but does this mean that my heart is getting a little help from the PM 70% of the time every day all day and that my heart is dong the other 30% the rest of the time? Anyhow they said that this was a great report. They asked i...

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Medtronic Adapta

In August I had two Medtronic Adapta PM's implanted. First one lead dislodged. Second one is implanted well with no dislodging. The problem is that they cannot get it tweaked so that I do not feel anything. In October I went in for my first tweaking and I felt worse after. It would thump me in the chest when ever the pm kicked in. I went back in the first of Nov., again tweaked, but this time tech thought that the lead was hitting a nerve and could not get it tweaked properly. But, she di...

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Check up, Check in

I was at the Cardiologist office today and it was a hoot! ha ha. At first the techs could not find a blood pressure on either arm. Said the cuff was too big for my "little" arm. ha ha! I weigh about 140. 5' 3", I don't think I have a skinny arm. he he.

Anyway they did confirm that I do have blood pumping through me veins. The St. Jude rep comes in and performs his little test. Yes, he says, your battery has about 6 months left. Wow I stated. Last time you said it was 6 months and tha...

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Montecrisco

Hey Todd... did you go back and do your check up with your doctor about your settings???? I just saw you post about them turning your rate response off and how you feel with it.. was curious how things are going?

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Interrogation.....I'll say

That lady / dictator had me running up stairs this morning, and I'm sick.....out of all days. I tried to tell her that first I needed to change into my work-out clothes, but she wasn't buying it. LOL.

After telling me that I was "deconditioned" which is another way of saying "lazy", she almost stood her ground and didn't change a thing.

Now look who wears the pants lady? I told her I'm out of shape because I've been scared of pulling another lead loose and haven't done any...

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First Check Up coming in Early January

I had a PM installed in late August 2009; Type 2 Buddle Block / Dual Lead, Medtronic ADDRL1. I am now due for my first hospital checkup in early January.

I realize today how little I knew about PM's before one was attached to me for life. For an engineer with a graduate degree I am embarassed to admit this.

Since August I have learned a few things, but could some of you put forward a few ideas, questions, that I should ask? Anything thoughts or suggestions from your exper...

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changes after pm checkup

hello, i hope someone can help me with this one. I've had pm for 9 months now. i went on 11/10/09 for a checkup before that i was feeling great. the next night i start having a dizzy spell lasted about 2 to 3mins. again in am next morning a min or so. i'm wondering if it was just the small adjustments that will need to b gotten use to. they were only expanding the battery life kept the settint gs at 60 bpm. not doing anything at those times resting.

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Member Quotes

I am not planning on letting any of this shorten my life. I am planning on living a long happy battery operated life. You never know maybe it will keep me alive longer. I sure know one thing I would have been dead before starting school without it.