This past year I have had a lot of problems with fluid build up.{CHF} It doesn't necessarily go to my ankles but to my right lung. It makes me feel so tired that I don't want to do anything. I have had a dual lead Pacemaker/Defibrillator since 2010, but insurance wouldn't pay for a 3 lead. One of the Nurse Practitioners said I would have been better off getting the 3 lead in 2010. My Cardiologist put in a 3 lead last Wednesday. After the procedure, he told me one of the leads on my 2 leads had not been working. When finally given the chance to ask, he mumbled around about how "well, it was sort of working etc. He said this 3 lead should really make me feel better.Have any of you had experience with pacemaker/defibrillator's, and what has been your experience? Do you have a friend or family that has one? I got the 3 lead last Wednesday, and I still feel really sore and bad today. Will I ever feel good enough to RV again? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Defib installed in Nov '07, and haven't had a problem since then. Prior to that, I had had numerous heart attacks. I visit the Defib Clinic once a year, and quarterly I do a remote download via a machine provided me thru the phone lines to the hospital. I hear your Dr saying one wire wasn't working....they could have downloaded it and I would think that would show it was having a problem. I take the Lasik pill twice a day for fluid - and sometimes have to take a third - if I feel the swelling in my feet/ankles is not normal. Hope you get everything resolved - the technology is super. Safe travels.

I have a three lead Medtronic Pacemaker. I got it in April and have felt much better since. Prior to getting this thing I was losing stamina and strength, since I had it put in I feel much better and stamina is returning. As others mentioned, I take a Lasik and haven't had any fluid issues since the implant.Best of luck to you...On edit. I had a truck camper when my heart issues started, I gave it to my daughter as I had a tough time setting up and taking down. I have a Rialta now and have been out several times since the implant with no issues. My Dr. and Pacemaker Tech. told me that my strength would increase weekly and Pacemaker would be adjusted as time went on. All this was true. I''l bet you feel better soon and return to RVing soon.Best wishes...Bob J.

Thank you so much for the information and encouragement. I already feel better, and it's only been a week. I called Medtronic today and it is possible to buy their cellular service for $10.99 a month. He said that many are going to cellular because they don't have land lines anymore. I think it's well worth $10.99 a month for peace of mind. Medtronic has great customer service.Again, thanks to all of you for the information.

I'm on my 4th defib. The last 2 have been 3 leads. I felt much better when I got the 3 lead version. It takes longer to get ready to go, but given time I can make it. My biggest problem is my wife wants to drive ( she just rides ) 8 - 10 hours a day, and I just can't do it for more than 1 day :(

DH has a 3-lead pacemaker. They put the first one in about 8 years ago and he felt better almost immediately. Of course, he was nearly dead when they put it in(no exaggeration! He was gray and lethargic, with a pulse of 23 :E) He came out of surgery pink and hungry, LOL. DH just had the pacemaker replaced in Dec, since the battery was going down and he was having a lot of fatigue and illness. He didn't bounce back quite as dramatically this time, but it seems to be going well. He says the site was sore for a couple weeks, but now he doesn't have any trouble with it. DH has stage 4 lung/heart disease, so he naturally has a lot of trouble with fatigue and loss of stamina. He uses oxygen at night and sometimes during the day, if it's a bad day. Still, he always wants to go camping. It helps a lot that I can do everything from towing to set up to take down. When he's having a bad time of it, sometimes he just sits out under the trees with his book. He still says a bad day camping beats a good day stuck at home!

AICD/ Pacemaker/Defibbulator....anybody have one?

rwj146
Explorer
Oct 14, 2013
I have a three lead Medtronic Pacemaker. I got it in April and have felt much better since. Prior to getting this thing I was losing stamina and strength, since I had it put in I feel much better and stamina is returning. As others mentioned, I take a Lasik and haven't had any fluid issues since the implant.

Best of luck to you...

On edit. I had a truck camper when my heart issues started, I gave it to my daughter as I had a tough time setting up and taking down. I have a Rialta now and have been out several times since the implant with no issues. My Dr. and Pacemaker Tech. told me that my strength would increase weekly and Pacemaker would be adjusted as time went on. All this was true. I''l bet you feel better soon and return to RVing soon.

Best wishes...Bob J.
retired4fun2002
Explorer
Oct 14, 2013
Defib installed in Nov '07, and haven't had a problem since then. Prior to that, I had had numerous heart attacks. I visit the Defib Clinic once a year, and quarterly I do a remote download via a machine provided me thru the phone lines to the hospital. I hear your Dr saying one wire wasn't working....they could have downloaded it and I would think that would show it was having a problem. I take the Lasik pill twice a day for fluid - and sometimes have to take a third - if I feel the swelling in my feet/ankles is not normal. Hope you get everything resolved - the technology is super. Safe travels.

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AICD/ Pacemaker/Defibbulator....anybody have one?

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