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What to expect living with PaceMaker?
"Hi everyone, I’m a newcomer here. I’m scheduled for my first pacemaker soon due to heart block. I’ve always been very active, and I’m looking for any advice on how to deal, cope with this new device inside my body. I'd also love to hear your thoughts on specific device types or settings that have worked well for a golfer. Looking forward to learning from your experiences!"
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I have had a pacemaker for about 3 years. On a daily basis, I forget that I even have a pacemaker. I am active and exercise daily and lead a normal life. Follow the instructions after your surgery for the recovery and all will feel like a new person. Maybe even be a better golfer.
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1 Reaction@rainyday541
Thank you. That is what I like to hear. Do we have to take any additional drug for the pacemaker?
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1 Reaction@64nguyen
When you get your device think of it of having your own EMS team waiting to help you.
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1 Reaction@64nguyen I was taken off Metroprolol and given Amlodipine 2.5MG for blood pressure when I received the Pacemaker.
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1 Reaction@64nguyen Buddy, my ICD is just "there!" I was prescribed Metoprolol after my septal myectomy, and nothing changed after the ICD installation. Your cardiologist and EP will determine your needs. We are all different.
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1 Reaction@rainyday541 Your prescriptions are geared to your specific needs. @64nguyen's care team will prescribe according to his/her specific needs. It's interesting to read that your meds were changed while my one blood pressure med remained the same. We are all so different!
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2 ReactionsI received a Medtronic Azure dual chamber PM in April 2025. I have a 2:1 AV block. So when my pulse showed a heart rate of 70 my heart was only beating at 35 BPM, which for me, was catastrophic. I ended up in Mayo Hospital Phoenix ER. They applied what I think was an external pacing device called transcutaneous pacing. The ER doctor said he has only used it once in the last 4 years. Talk about making me feel comfortable, yikes! Anyhow on day 3 of my visit I received my PM. It was like a switch was turned on and I had my life back. I'm pretty active and my number one form of exercise is running. My PM is very configurable especially what is called rate response. It took 3 iterations/meetings before they got the settings set so that I am able to run without my PM dropping my heart rate suddenly. Based on my experience, what worked for me was: using my Apple watch to track my heart rate for each run; tracking my blood pressure and weight daily; and entering that data into a spreadsheet so I had data to share with Mayo's pacemaker team. As an aside, I've also benefited from using ChatGPT. It not only has provided insight into my PM configuration settings but also has coached me to the point where I am now running at the fastest pace since last April without any PM drama. Hope this is useful info. Good luck
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