Most Recent Messages in Checkups & Settings

Post Message!

Help deciphering?

When I went to have my PM checked yesterday, the technician said my heart was being paced 79% of the time. He also said it was set at 2.5 volts, and also said something about 0.7 volts. Is the 0.7 referring to my heart only producing 0.7 volts or did I get the wrong end of the stick? I'm looking forward to the first scheduled PM clinic (yesterday was because I had some concerns) so I can get some more in-depth figures.

Is 79% a lot of time to be paced? I have 2nd degree heart block,...

Read More...

I yr. checkup

Hi everyone,

Ok so I just had my 1 year checkup on my pm. This may sound like a silly question but here it goes.
I have a Medronic EnRythm pm. I asked the doc what I was pacing at. I am pacing at between 18-20%. No episodes of PSVT or A-Fib. So I have to ask myself, did I really need the pm in the first place. What are your opinions on this?
Would love to have any imput
Thanks,
Mona

Read More...

still feel pauses

Hi everyone

I have a on demand pacemaker which I think means it kicks in if my heart rate drops below 50 beats per minute, at my last check up I was told I had used it less than 1% of the time - however I am still feeling pauses periodically and am wondering why when the pacemaker is supposed to have stopped this feeling . does this happen to anyone else.

any feedback appreciated

Read More...

EGM artifact ?

Is it even possible for a pacemaker to record "artifact".
I got irrate at my nurse because she claimed that my pacemaker recorded artifact- as if I just pulled these numbers out of a hat or something. I could have slapped her.
Her tone was inappropriate, and I guess that's what made me mad. She's one of the ones who's forgotten that I have an atrial lead only. (hence the confusion)
She thought my 380 tach was artifact, because there's no way I could have a heart rate that fast,...

Read More...

Junctional Rhythm

Hello All,

I had an appt. with my Cardio Dr. and Medtronics Tech today.
After having the PM for 18months for Bradycardia/ second degree block, I found out that I also have Junctional Rhythm.

I am now weraing a holter for 24 hours. Guess, I am a bit scared. I had been feeling weak and fatigued for a few months, but thought maybe that it was because they set my PM to 50 in Oct. I had been working abnormally long hours this past month and worked on call, and also had the...

Read More...

Whoo hooo

Went for my 1 month new pm check today. Zero V pacing, yea!. No significant SVTs or tachy. Reset the Rate Response activity from medium 3 to high 5. It was pacing me momentarily when I would exercise. Don't need the boost. So far my new Medtronic is better than my old Guidant.

Read More...

1st -Three month checkup

Haven't posted in awhile after a small flurry of posts (and replies) after my PM implant on 11/14. I have had no problems or concerns to speak of, and next week I'm seeing the tech from Biotronic for the first time since my one week check. I understand I won't even see my doctor at this visit. So what can I expect?

1. Is he going to report directly to me what the data are indicating, or is this all for the benefit of my doc?

2. Will he "download" data from my PM, or will...

Read More...

Read My Interrogation (Decipher)

Thought I would post my interrogation for some input on what all this means. I know there are alot of people on this site who understand what it all means. I would also like to know what it all means so the next interrgation I may have some idea on what it going on.

Lead Measurements A V
Impedance ohms 699 817
Voltage 3.64 3.68
Current mA...

Read More...

Internet check ups

Does anyone know if you can check yhour pacemaker through the internet.....instead of using a telephone line? Seems like you could do it through high speed internet.

Read More...

Digital Wireless Phone Usage

I swiched to a Digital, Internet, Phone connection and call-in every month via a pacemaker "Tele/Trace" monitor. Medtronic sent me a small phone plug-in devise to make everything work. No cost, just call them.
What I want now is a monitor that will work with a cell phone so I can be free.

Read More...

upper limit

Can someone please explain the "upper limit" that I sometimes read about on these pages!
I understand(i think) the lower limit,where if your heart beats less than a certain number of beats per minute the P.M sends an electrical charge to make it contract and beat, but don't understand how your heart rate can be slowed by a p.m!

Read More...

Checkup Nightmares...

Has anyone ever had just a really horrible checkup for their PM?

Usually, I don't mind so much my experiences at the doctor's office, but every now and then I'll have a bad experience that causes me o dread my next visit.

One time in particularly happened just a few years ago, before my replacement surgery while I was still in high school. I had that particular PM for about 13 years at that point and it really needed to e replaced, so I was having very regular visits. Usua...

Read More...

First Check Up-Adjusted settings..

I had pm surgery almost 2 wks ago. They checked my pm and printed out the history and told me it only worked 1% of the time...the pm is just "watching".
The NP adjusted the setting to lower the voltage to save battery life by 3 yrs.
Since the appt, my upper chest every once in a while feels kinda heavy or tight. Could it just be from the "testing" today when the spead up my heart and checked things out?

Hope I sleep tonight...I've been anxious since surgery, knowing I have...

Read More...

Any way too??

Is there anyway to put in our messages the printouts of the interrogations we have had, for others to view so we can gain an understanding of what printout means? I have the ability to scan my printout of the interrogation and put on my computer and can I attach this to the mesaage some how?? Can we paste to a message or install somehow??
Thanks Perry

Also I have wrote other messages here and they seem to have not made it on this site anywhere? Did I save something wrong? Any sug...

Read More...

First F/U after PM Monday

Surgeon who performed my pm surgery said my heart went in to tachy (SVT) during attachment. (I would think that would be normal) I had the pm due to loooonnnngg pauses not SVT.

I've had SVT for 15 yrs and under control w/ no caffeine etc.

He thinks we should do an eblation due to possiblity of hidden WPW....I have had that ruled out by many cardios in the past. I have gone up to 230 twice and had to go to ER to get the shot to stop my heart and it restarted back to normal r...

Read More...

Just had my first PM check

And got the printout, like y'all suggest. No setting changes since it's still very new and there's not much history built up yet. If anyone would be able to help me read it, I'd appreciate it if you would e-mail me privately. I don't relish the idea of doing that via postings.

A couple good numbers... 1.3% atrial pacing, 6.4% ventricle pacing, which makes sense because my cardiologist said my atrium was doing just fine, but my ventricle wasn't always getting the message. I was thinkin...

Read More...

1st Checkup, Pacing 99% / 47%

Great Site!! I've learned a lot in the past 2 weeks since my pacemaker implant and hope to learn more!

I had my first follow up on Thursday, the tech said there could be a problem with one of the leads placement but they would wait and see and make changes slowly. If they have to turn something(?) up too high, it may quickly drain the battery - but it might work better on its own? Does someone know what she was talking about? My Atrial paced was 99% and Ventricular paced 47% -...

Read More...

Had my first week inspection

Incision is almost healed and they said it looked good. I had already come to the same conclusion, but glad to hear it anyway. First pm check will be in 3 weeks. So far I am VERY pleased with this new one. No events so far that I am aware of. I'm hoping some of it was pm induced by the old unit. Got my fingers and toes crossed!

Read More...

1st. PM check

I had my first PM ccheck yesterday. The Techo. said all seemed OK and It had been 20% of the time, he did not seem to want to expand on this apart from saying thePM was doing it's job. Any comments on this?
Arty

Read More...

Interrogation

Next month I will be going for my first in-office interrogation. I'm not sure what this is exactly. I'm guessing that they will hook me up to a machine to test the pacemaker.

I've had my pm for about two months now. I received it due to SSS. I saw the doctor two days ago and after talking to him I now know that I am having PVCs. I thought the pm was supposed to solve problems, not cause them.

I thought by now I would be feeling back to my old self, but I'm not. I st...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

You prefer rechargeable batteries.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker was installed in 1998 and I have not felt better. The mental part is the toughest.