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Upon death - pacemaker donation

I'm in the process of redoing my Will and was wondering if anyone had experience with donating pacemakers after death.  I've read that they can be refurbished and used in dogs and that there is a program associated with the University of Michigan that sends them to impoverished countries.  I was wondering if anyone has any experience with setting up paperwork to assure this occurs and if it needs to be in my Will.  I'm a designated organ doner as well.

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CRT device when do I need one ?

Glad to have found this useful forum on pacemakers . I am 45 years old , I had a heart attack 2 years back  & had a CABG .

Currently my e.f is 32-33 % & am on heart failure medicines such as diuretic ,arni & ivabradine.

My e.f has remained the same since my surgery even after taking these meds .

I go for 25 minute walks in the morning & evening and am never breathless. If I exert myself by sweeping the floor ( vigorous hand activity) for say 10 minutes o...

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Feeling confused

I'm a 53 year old male and I've had my pacemaker for 2 weeks now. I was admitted to the hospital with critical Heart Block and I also have high blood pressure. All of this is brand new. Started passing out on March 1st of this year, where we found my BP at 210/115 and started BP meds. Brought my BP to 130/90 within 3 weeks but still passing out. After many tests cardiologist says to the hospital you need a pacemaker now and we need to monitor you 24/7. My heart was stopping multiple t...

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xyltiol

I saw a report in major media sites recently that the Cleveland Clinic did a study that found that xylitol, the artificial sweetener, doubles one's chances of a heart attack or stroke, in large amounts.

I believe that people taking statins and diabetics have dry mouth problems, and so there may be members on this forum using xylitol products to help dry mouth.  I use it because of having Sjogren's Syndrome, chewing xylitol gum after lunch at work to clean my teeth, and...

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No stable threshold

Can anyone tell me what "No stable threshold found" would mean? I tried checking my manual but couldn't find anything on it..

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59YO CHB Dual Lead Pacemaker

New member, never thought I'd have a pacemaker at 59! I'm active duty military, good physical condition, former college football athlete, no other serious health issues in my life.

It started about a year ago when I noticed I was getting a little light-headed when I would stand at attention. Didn't think too much about it, just dealt with it. About 3 months ago I was working in the yard all day, nothing out of the ordinary for me. It was warm but not oppressive heat and I wa...

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Pacemaker Festival?

Hi.  It's been a while since I came on here, but I just recently watched a video of a guy attending a redhead festival and I know there's been a blonde festival... So, I'm wondering....are there any pacemaker festivals where people with pacemakers unite together?  You know, young recipients wonder if there is anyone around them like them and so something like this would help them to make friends with fellow pacemaker recipients.  

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Weed-wacker and lawn Mower

I'm abut 2 days away from the 6 week post-implant mark (not that I'm counting.... *haha*).  I know what exercises and range of motion I can  now engage in but forgot to ask about activities like using my battery operated weed-wacker or gas powered, push mower.  Mother Nature has been having a field day and I'm now faced with jungles of tall grasses and weeds (think 3+ feet tall.)   I'm not worried about EM fields but more so if these are safe activities for...

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2 lead pacemaker

I had AV node ablation in 2021, and received a PM 2 weeks later.  Due to the ablation, I'm Pacer Dependent.  My cardiologist wants to replace my 2 lead PM with 3 leads....My ejection fraction is low and so is my blood pressure, with symptoms of heart failure.  

Anyone else, pacer Dependent?  I'm a little nervous to change out one PM for another, while being dependent on the pacemaker I have...

 

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Mechanical Valve Noise

While at Cardiac Reb for therapy due to a biological valve replacement, the supervisor was mentioning that some people with mechanical valve replacments in lieu of a biological valve, have experience constant noise or clicking from their valve. Some people expressed that it really disturbs their sleep or when being quiet to read. Has anyone here experienced this?  My tricuspiod valve was torn during Pacemaker lead removal and had to be replaced.  Note: Biologic valves have a 10 year...

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GOOD OLD FASHION GINGER

Just curious to see if taking ginger while being on blood thinners is ok to take. I love lemon and ginger in my tea and i've heard it does wonders for your digestion system and inflammation which i have.  thanks all

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Heartbeat felt in area of pacemaker.

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting.  I received my first pacemaker in April and my recovery has gone very well.  In the last few days I've been feeling strong heartbeats in the area of the pacemaker - not all the time but several times a day.  At first I thought it was muscle twitching and wondered if it was nerves regenerating but I'm now sure it's my actual heartbeat.  I plan on calling my cardiologist in the morning but just wondering if any of you h...

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Irregular heartbeat on my blood pressure machine

Is it normal to have irregular heartbeats even though I've got pacemaker,I've had ablation and I'm 100% paced 

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TV programme

Watched a UK documentary last night on heart transplants and a patient having a pacemaker replaced.

Unhelpfully, the surgeon doing the pacemaker talked about battery replacement but later corrected himself by changing that to generator.

A relative of mine whose mother had a PM always insisted it was a battery change.and it took 10 minutes to do. Holter monitor possibly. I don't bother arguing.

The girl was in her 20s, but surprisingly they gave her a general anesthetic....

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casino

Is it safe to be in a casino with my pacemaker? Slot machines?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Caren

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Weird symptom....maybe....or not

Good Day! So friday morning I received my 3 month interrogation report (have had my pm for almost 2yrs) for my biotronik edora 8 drt and it was great. Still pacing at around 68% with last event being in feb. So...then last night I was woken by this weird vibration in my chest. At first I thought I was dreaming, it felt like I was shaking,  but once I was settling back asleep I got another jolt. Anyways maybe it was a dream??? If not, anyone ever experienced this? I see my...

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Bipolar and alcohol ablation

Has anyone out there ever had a bipolar or alcohol ablation?  I had an ablation back in Dec23 for PVC burden but it was only partially successful.  My PVCs are back up to 30% burden and I am having a bipolar and possible alcohol ablation.  I understand alcohol ablations are not performed a lot.  My EP is getting special equipment to perform this procedure.  Anyone ever had one?  Thanks!

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Just a Tidbit

Yesterday I saw my EP/Cardiologist for a follow-up appointment.  All is good for the most part but I did mention how my everday walks include hills and how they completely zap my energy and cause me to be so short of breath.  I asked him how he felt about perhaps making an adjustment to my rate response.  He looked somewhat surprised and asked where I had learned about rate response.  I answered "oh I belong to the Pacemaker Club and that subject is frequently discuss...

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ubiquinol Form of CoQ10

Anyone heard any pros or cons on benefits or side effects of ubiquinol / form of CoQ10?

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A couple questions . . .

Hi, 
It's been a while since I've been on here. I had my first pacemaker / dual-chamber implanted at age 57 for Bradycardia w/ AV block, Mobitz 1 (Wenckebach). Also, diagnosed w/ HF. Then in 2020 I had it replaced with a CRT pacemaker. So.... my questions are:
1. If you have a CRT, how long have you had it?
2. If you have HF, how long have you had it? 
Thanks,
Damie

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You know you're wired when...

You have a dymo-powered bike.

Member Quotes

I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.