Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

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Turning off PM?

Last week, my EP decided to "effectively turn off " my PM because the pacing percentages were so low -- between 1 and 2 % in both chambers. I was given the PM originally for what was thought to be Sick Sinus Syndrome but later proven to be untrue.

What "effectively turn off" meant was moving my low rate from 45 bpm to 30 bpm. And because I was having so few ventricular paces, he just left the AV delay the same. I was excited about the percentages. They dropped to suc...

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Frequency of visits with EP

Hello,

I am 38, have CCHB, and have been paced for 21 years.  My pediatric EP retired about a year ago, so I was moved over to the adult clinic and am working with a new EP.  I have seen him twice since switching doctors, but do not have another appointment scheduled and was told by his office that I will only be seen if I am having symptoms or if something unusual pops up on one of my remote pacemaker transmissions.  Is this normal for adult care?  I was seen b...

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Pacemaker lead not working and shortness of breath

Had the pacemaker put in over thanksgiving. Blood pressure became extremely high. Went to another cardiologist, they put me on Entresto and the surgeon who put the pacemaker realized the lead wasn't working and scheduled a surgery. Lead was recovered. Blood pressure returned to high levels, shortness of breath was more common and can't walk far and can't sleep because if the shortness of breath and weakness. Three weeks later they see the lead of a not working (never see the docto...

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Pacemaker

I had AV node ablation with biventricular ICD/pacemaker placed last week. My Dr. has told me I am 100% dependent on device for heartbeats.  I understand this.  They set the heart rate at 70.  Does that mean the pulse rate will always be 70 or will it increase when I walk or exercise.  I appreciate the help with this.

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Support Group

Hi, when I finished my pacemaker interrogation today, I thought of this forum and thought how good it is to have you here supporting each other including myself.

I knew I had been out of rhythm and hoped the report would show this, I was surprised I had 76,000 arrhythmias episodes in 6 months plus an unsustainable rhythm in the middle of the night.

Does this all sound boringly normal? I assume it does. I am booked in for a sleep test. 

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17% usage

Hi, i am 51 yr old relatively fit chap & have just had my 6 week check on my dual pacer/ICD gizmo! They told me all is good & working correctly which is great & I'm making good progress. 

They also told me that i am using the pacing element of it 17% of the time, mostly when asleep keeping heart rate at 60 bpm. My resting HR before op was 50-55 ish. 

So, my question is, is 17% use good, bad, irrelevant etc?

Thanks, Mark 

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Interrogation

I had an interrogation today. I am always very nervous for these yearly appointments due to the way I feel during it. During this particular one, the tech ran my heart rate up. I felt anxious, nervous, palms sweaty. He said, "I'm having trouble getting your heart rate to go back down." Later he told me it was in the 140 range. This lasted about 2 minutes. According to my husband who was present. I was thinking maybe he would call someone who else who might help him. He did not....

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First check-up and setting adjustments. In a foreign country.

Had dual lead St Jude PM fitted 12 weeks ago for Heart Block, after fainting during exercise. 40yo, otherwise very fit and active (competing athlete). Partial problem to all this - I'm in a foreign country where I'm learning the language - so I don't understand the full diagnosis.

Initially set to DDD, but for some reason, in the first week it kept pacing me at exactly 120bpm for long periods (did it for 8 hours one day) which was distressing and uncomfortable. It was diffic...

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Check up - What my Doc said re: blood thinners, AFIB, supplements,, Watchman, etc.

Hi PM peeps.  Had a semi-annual cardiologist appt. yesterday, and my doc (who is always patient with me) addressed my several questions.  Keep in mind these refer to my specific situation-AFIB/Aflutter with AV Nodal Ablation & PM Dependent.

First, I'm doing great!  Implanted October 2018, and it worked to eliminate my symptoms (3 years of disability and misery).  Second, it's always nice to impress my doc -- now that I'm no longer sick, I've lost...

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2nd Check up.

I am now 5 months into having a PM for Type 2 AV block and today was my second PM check.  I am feeling fine and after making a few adjustments, the EP said that everything was OK, except that on 20th September last year (PM implanted 13th August), I had an episode of palpitations at 12.30 am.  I remember waking up with my heart doing the fandango, but went back to sleep and didn't think any more about it. As far as I know this is the only time this has happened. The EP said I sh...

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12-weeks post implant, dual chamber Medtronic PM

Many thanks to everyone's posts that provided so much great information about checkups and settings! Today was an 'extra' 12-week checkup to see how the 'problem' right ventricular lead is doing.

- the sensing of the problem lead is still at 2 milliVolts, but stable and not getting worse or better
- the brand new Medtronic pacemaker is highly programmable and has 12 different programmable sensitivity settings
- I am currently on the 3rd lowest sensitivity s...

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Patient access to pm data

I am interested in how I can get access to my pacemaker data. I have paroxsysmal afib without symptoms. The only way I can check is to transmit to clinic or go there or go to doc with a readout, etc. 

Does anyone have experience with fit it watches and or fibricheck app?

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Pacemaker self test

My Biotronik pacemaker has been set to self test at 3:30 am.  In the last year the time has been gradually getting earlier to the point that one month ago it was occurring at 2:30 am.  In the last week, I experienced a light headed feeling each night about 10:30 pm.  I had my annual pacer test last Thursday during which I told the technician of the recent events.  He insisted that the pacemaker was set to test at 3:30 am and that I must be mistaken about what happened.&nbs...

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Upcoming interrogation

I have an upcoming interrogation my first 3 mo. At the 2 week my doctor was there. They said he won’t be there this time. Before the tech confered with him when he made an adjustment. I wouldn’t want the tech making an adjustment on his own.  I absolutely refuse to see a PA. When that’s the case I refuse to pay my specialist copay because I didn’t see a specialist. So if I do need an adjustment first my EP has to read the report first (which they promised me he wo...

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New pacemaker “kicks in”

I had a PM inserted two weeks ago today. I was told there would be a period of adjustment as my body became accustomed to it. I don't feel I received as much information as I needed and was happy to find this site to answer some of my questions as I was experiencing things. By way of information I have a dual chamber Biotronic PM to address Bradychardia as a result of second grade AV heart block. Besides minor intermittent twinges and the flutter of the PM working when my HR goes too low....

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icd

I HAVE A HOME MONITOR. HOW OFTEN DO YOU GO INTO THE DOCTOR FOR A CHECKUP ON THE COMPUTER.I GO TWICE A YEAR NOW.

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Rate setting changes

Hi everyone🙃

I am new here, but I am happy to find you because I need your help to understand something. 
 

My dual chamber pacemaker was implanted almost ten years ago and it has impacted my life in a wonderful way. Actually six months after it was installed, I was hospitalized with severe sepsis of unknown origin, and my pacemaker helped me survive as it took over 100 percent when my blood pressure dropped to 50/25. So I appreciate and value this device. 

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EP follow up

Is it true that you never see you’re EP again? That’s what they told me at my first pacemaker clinic appointment I literarily cried. They said he’s just the surgeon and I just go to the cardiologist (who I hadn’t seen in 3 years when he referred me to the EP - the cardiologist  never said the words SSS or pacemaker but now I’m thinking that a pacemaker was specifically what he referred me for.-I thought it was because the electrophysiologist had mo...

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Pacemakers ability to detect Artrial Flutter

Hello, 

In sept 2018 I got a Biotronic Enitra 6 dual lead PM because of Sick Sinus Syndrome. I also had Artrial Fibrillation and Artrial Flutter that both now have been solved with ablation. 

The Afib was obvious but to detect the Artrial Flutter I was asked to wear Holter and also Thumb-ECG at a later stage.

Afterwards I wonder why I had to do this since I wear a Pacemaker?
 

Have I missed something here or Is rea...

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Pain

I have my pacemaker 5 years ago and I am still feeling discomfort around the area and in my arm. My Dr left and idk anyone else who can help me

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