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Swelling

I am 3 and a half weeks post op and my scar is looking great.  The only thing that is bothering me is that my incision site is still swollen.  It has gone way down, but is still swollen nonetheless.  Is this normal? I really thought all of the swelling would be gone by now.  I have been using my arm regularly, but am going to be glad when I can start raising it above my shoulders.  

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Heart failure

I was recently implanted with a second pacemaker, this time with a defibrillator. The first was implanted in May and in August went into heart failure probably due to incorrect pacemaker (New doctor placed the second). My heart function was down to 30%, but since the placement has increased to 49.6. I had an echo yesterday and now have Grade 3 diastolic dysfunction. Does anyone else have this or are familiar with this? From what I am researching, it is not good.

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Marfan Syndrome and pacemaker

Does anyone have Marfan Syndrome and a pacemaker?  If so, how is your heart doing since the implant?  Since our hearts are delicate, I'm wondering if it can take the presence of hardware inside it, and for how long.

I have asked my doctor, but the condition is rare enough that there doesn't seem to be any literature on the two combined.

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Beta Blockers - Bisoprolol

Another question PM friends. I'm now 10 days post implant following a 2nd degree IRBB heart block. Pre-implant r.esting HR 37 - sleeping HR 29. Over the past 2-3 years during exercise / training I've noticed difficulty in reaching any target training heart rates (80%) in spite of increased effort. Sooooo,,,, PM implant to elevate HR but why would I also be prescribed a beta-blocker to lower HR? Yes,,, I have asked the Dr but has anyone else experienced this and would you know why...

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Living with SSS

Hello,

My question is to people with a diagnosis of SSS. Living with a pacemaker do you still have episodes? What are your symptoms? 
 

Thanks in advance for answering my questions.

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Fitness

I finally got to see my consultant and after a chat the end result was to play about with my bisoporol dosage. 
My main issue amongst lots of little ones, is the inability to maintain effort. Hill walking has become increasingly difficult and putting in more umph when kayaking is again very difficult. 
We've tried to archive the optimum  settings to avoid my AT and the fact my atrial rate increases faster than needed. ( this seams to have happened post implantatio...

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Golf Carts

I had a pacemaker installed three weeks ago. I live in Florida and we drive around in golf carts. We have two, one is gas powered and the other by Lithium battery. When driving either for about 20 minutes all of a sudden my heart rate jumps from 70 to about 112. If I get out of the cart the heart rate goes back to 70-80. The question seems to be is it radiomagnetic fields (RMF) generated by the golf cart moter that is causing the problem. I am looking into some sort of...

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Power cuts

With the move to more remote monitoring with our devices, so the need for a reliable power supply.

Where I live, in a town not the countryside, I get a disproportionate number of power cuts. I had 8 in one day a few years ago.

Last night we had one and again this morning. It causes chaos.

I'm on the medical devices register of the power company and they phone if there is a new or imminent interruption. This morning's cut was probably finishing repairs.

The trou...

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Return to Sports / Exercise?

Hi.... New to the group. Post PM implant 2 weeks ago and was looking for advice. Fit 67 year old kayaker / surfer / swimmer and was wondering when it would be safe to resume training / competition. Any comments / advice? thanks Ray

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Vasovagal syncope

Anyone else have this?  I had it before pacemaker surgery, although at that point, it was not diagnosed.  I had an episode last week, first one in 3 months since receiving pacemaker.  Post hospital visit with cardiologist today. She said I would have flatlined without pacemaker.  Technology is wonderful.  My heart will not stop, but BP still plummets.  The vasovagal episodes wipe me out, and not knowing when the next one is coming is unnerving . It is always...

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Post revision symptoms

After implantation of my dual chamber pacemaker (approx 2 months ago) and a revision (3 weeks ago), both for failure of the V-lead..apparently neither time was it secured in the ventricular wall. I am to have another revision this week (I chose another institution!). 

Currently iI appears that the V-lead has moved into my atrium, but has been turned off, and I am pacing only from the atrial lead. Before this I had long runs of atrial tachycardia and intermittent A-fib. That stopped...

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Is this bracelet safe for my mother?

My mother recently bought some bracelets made of hematite, there seems to be conflicting information online on if this is safe for her to wear

https://www.coopersofstortford.co.uk/stretch-hematite-bracelet/

It doesn't say it's "magnetic hematite", which seems to be a different word for another material altogether, this is just "normal" hematite it would seem, would anyone be able to give me a concrete answer on if this is fine for her pacemaker?

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Atrium lead dislodgment

Hi everyone I had a dual lead Boston Scientific pacemaker inserted end March 2024.

I have a 2 to 1 heart block age 60.  About 4 weeks after insertion I started walking and one day felt a block. 6 week check showed all leads were working fine. After about 7 weeks I started running and had to stop after 2 weeks feeling of block.  

Before operation I was lifting compound barbell weights 3 times a week (strength training)

My surgen advised and even wrote on my not...

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Pacemaker installed last week - I have some unanswered questions

Hello,

I had a Medtronic Azure XT implanted a week ago, and I still have several unanswered questions.  I had a total AV node block and a bpm under 30 at which time a fainted for a few seconds.

I have been trying to get answers to some of my questions from the hospital and my healt care plan but without complete success.  I assume that my pacemaker has been configured from some baseline before my operation, but it has not been adjusted since then.

My blood prr...

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Pacemaker protector

Hi All, I have just had a CRT-D fitted a couple of weeks ago. I have been playing netball for over 40 years and want to return to playing when I am well enough to do so. I was thinking it might be a good idea to wear some kind of protection over my CRT. Can any of you recommend any that you may have come across please? Thank you. Chris

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Afib & Pacemaker

Following the suggestion of a respected club member, (whose posts I have already found to be very helpful & informative), I'll attempt to clarify the situation I find myself in post pacemaker insertion:

I have Afib, (although I've never found it restrictive, and since getting the pacemaker just over two weeks ago the previously virtually non existent symptoms have almost taken over my day to day living); 'relatively mild' lightheadiness occurs when getting up from a...

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Wish me luck!

Tomorrow I leave for Los Angeles (about an hour flight for me)

Monday pre op testing & physical 

Tuesday 5th (Election day 🫣) I have to be at the hospital (Cedar Sinai) for 5am. 7am procedure start.

on the agenda:

remove and replace duel chamber pacemaker 

lead extraction X4 (2/26yrs old & 2/16 years old)

placement of two new leads (hopefully on left side) I'm a righty but after lead abandonment on left side they moved everything to th...

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chest pain after pacemaker implantation

Is it normal to have chest pain after a pacemaker (dual chamber) has been implanted?  That is my only complaint and I can't tell if I'm panicking or it's really there.  It feels like a heavy weight on the center of my chest.  Otherwise, everything seems fine.  

Thanks in advance!

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PM & Seasick Patch

1st Time Pacemaker.

Edora8 DRT inserted in September. Cruise planned next May.

I usually wear a seasick patch behind my ear. Anyone experience contra-indications or complications from it? 

Thank you.

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Major Surgery Being 100% Paced

Surgery day started off with a rainy drive to the hospital.  I spent 4-hours in surgery having my whole thyroid gland removed as it turned out to have cancer.  I have lost my voice which the doctor says should return in a day or so.  I feel like a truck has run me over.

My anesthesiologist spent a lot of time talking to be before surgery as he went over my cardiac history of events.  I took a list of questions with me that he answered for me.  Having my dual cha...

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You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

Member Quotes

Pacemakers are very reliable devices.