New member!

• by Capt Odyssea
• 2024-03-22 15:35:14
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 465 views
• 3 comments

New Member from the Bahamas, first pacer in feb 22, after passing out for the first time in my life.

Pulse at 30, bp low so I got airlifted to Fla, had the first pacer within 24 hrs.

6 week follow up occasioned a DNA test looking for the cause of my total heart block, and 38%EF, and hypertropic cardio myopathy.

Test came back being positive for late onset FABRY'S Disease which is an X cromosone enzyme disorder!

Have been on a very expensive med for the fabrys which...

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Statins

• by Gemita
• 2024-03-22 15:12:59
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 824 views
• 33 comments

Hi everyone, I have always thought my diet was exceptionally healthy, but my Cholesterol numbers aren’t exactly where they should be and my cardiologist is thinking about Statins and a lot else if coronary artery disease is confirmed, but I will tell you about the rest another time when I know more and have had a range of tests. 

I may try to get these numbers down with lifestyle and diet alone.  Can you give me any advice about Statins?  Never tried them.  May...

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Chronotropic Incompetence

• by Penguin
• 2024-03-19 16:54:07
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 581 views
• 13 comments

When I first received a PM, like many others I received a diagnosis of CI alongside SND.  My consultant shared the 72hr holter monitor results with me which evidenced the low h/rates when my diary notes evidenced that I was at the gym.  My legs felt like lead on a running machine and RR and the pacemaker removed these symptoms. 

The CI diagnosis was then called into doubt after years of RR pacing on a sensitive setting, and so many people confirmed that it was no longer p...

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CRT

• by Meemaw
• 2024-03-19 16:09:37
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 437 views
• 5 comments

I wasted 10 months being on beta blocker plus valsartan at time diagnosed with non-ischemic left bundle branch block. The hope was to manage the LBBB even though the only symptoms initially were shortness of breath upon exertion. My ejection fraction remains at 40-45 percent.  There is a ton of medical opinions that say medication does nothing for LBBB. In fact, we had to discontinue the beta blocker but kept on the valsartan.  Heart was monitored with a zio patch after ten months o...

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Metoprolol Succinate and Lopressor for Class IIB HFrEF

• by Andiek11
• 2024-03-13 15:35:12
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 319 views
• 5 comments

My cardiologist started me on very low doeses of both of these meds over the last six months as we began testing to determine if I was a candidate for CRT-P.  I understand that the meds are primarily preventative in my case but that they are still important.  I've been told that I will need to continue them even after CRT-P placement on May 1.  My issues are the side effects are really interferring with my personal quality of life - such as: weight gain, strugglin...

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Anyone else with total heart block?

• by susiebear
• 2024-03-08 07:10:42
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 457 views
• 9 comments

Hi all. Just wondering if anyone else on here has a pacemaker because of total heart block? Wondering is there a connection between that and random nerve pains I get. Could be down to my open heart surgery also but ever since I've had it I get terrible nerve pains in my arms feet basically everywhere. It's not all the time but I tend to suffer them for a period then it calms down again then few months later bang it's back! So painful feels like I'm being prodded with hot poker...

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Pacemaker and Aortic Valve Stenosis

• by kari
• 2024-02-29 15:12:41
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 506 views
• 6 comments

Hello, I had a pacemaker put in 6 months ago.  Also I was diagnosed with Aortic Valve Stenosis etiology mixed hyperlipidemia. I have no idea what this means. I'm in my 70's.

My question is, what percaustions can I take so this disease dosen't get worse.  Is diet something to be concerned about?  Exercise?  Stress?  Also, does a pacemaker help this condition? It was put in due to  Bradycardia disease. 

My doctor said diet won...

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Untreated Atrial Fibrillation

• by scott02467
• 2024-02-26 11:51:55
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 552 views
• 3 comments

In July 2023 I got my second pacemaker..Medtronic Azure two-lead and I use the iPhone app for monitoring with the doctor setting the default upload to every three months. My first pacemaker was St Jude and with help from people on this board I finally got my electrophysiologist to agree to change to Medtronic for the advanced monitoring esp when we travel. That said, on Feb 14 the doctor called to say my three month upload told him I had been in atrial fib for six weeks. I had had atrial fib...

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MRI

• by rolson
• 2024-02-21 09:39:43
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 381 views
• 2 comments

I've had my 2 lead medtronic surescan for 9.5 years and having hip issues needed an MRI. I thought,  this is going to be an issue and and headache.  It was so easy!!! Dr ordered the mri, imaging company called to schedule, they contacted my cardiologist for approval, done. The imaging company has a device that looks just like the machine for interogations. Put PM on safe zone. After scan fine,  put it back to my settings.  I didn't even feel any difference.  T...

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Ablation

• by Indyglo
• 2024-02-10 15:06:02
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 361 views
• 3 comments

My pacemaker has been in for one year and just had my one year checkup with the doctor.  He said I went into A-Fib around December and suggests that I have Ablation.

Has anyone had to have ablation for A-Fib?   Last May I had a TVAR.  How long is recovery for ablation?   If anyone has had ablation, does it really make a difference in heart palpatations?  

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It seems I am not bone idle but genuinely in need of some rate response

• by Gemita
• 2024-02-05 06:13:35
• Conditions, Meds & Tests
• 639 views
• 19 comments

Thank you all for your helpful contributions and support to my recent post.  I thought I would do a new post. 

I have just received the following message from my pacing clinic.  Here is their response, early Monday morning.  It seems I do need Rate Response turned on and left on. 

I am having difficulties getting the graph posted, so I will try to post it to the gallery where you can view if you wish.  Update:  finally manage...