The Rogue Beat - real life with arrhythmias, pacemakers, and ICDs
The Rogue Beat
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A home for rebel
rhythms that
don't always stick to the script.

Real-life experiences, information, and community for people living with arrhythmias, pacemakers, and ICDs. You're in good company.

The Rogue Beat

Why
The Rogue Beat
exists

Getting a pacemaker or ICD changes your life in ways nobody fully prepares you for - the everyday adjustments you never saw coming, the “can I sleep on that side,” the scar you didn't expect.

The Rogue Beat exists so you don’t have to go it alone. Not a substitute for your care team - just a community for things you learn by living it.

Wherever you are in this, start here:

Learn what to expect

Straightforward articles for before, during, and after your procedure.

Resources worth knowing about

Helpful places to find information, support, and community.

Gear that actually works

Comfort and convenience products picked by people who've actually needed them.

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A quiet note in your inbox, now and then

No spam. New articles and information worth sharing.

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About

Back in 2009, I had two little kids, a busy life, and approximately zero thoughts about my heart. Then I got my first ICD/pacemaker and suddenly found myself knee-deep in questions and ice packs.

I spent a lot of time scouring the internet for the things I couldn't find in an appointment - support groups, advice, photos, you name it. I have an incredible care team and count them among the most valued people in my life. They keep me healthy. But there’s a whole everyday side of this that happens outside the doctor’s office.

Seventeen years and eight surgeries later, I think it’s okay to lament the sore days while still finding the good. Along the way, I’ve gained a renewed appreciation for what really matters in life (and a surprisingly solid handle on the competitive world of silicone scar tape).

There’s a whole everyday side of this that happens outside the doctor’s office.

That’s why I created The Rogue Beat.

Not another medical resource, but a place for real-life experiences, useful perspectives, and the random questions that come up along the way - all with the goal of helping us get back to living a full, amazing life.

Onward.

M.

Have a question, a story of your own, or an idea for what this place should become? I'd love to hear it.

This community grows one voice at a time.

Real life, useful information, and perspectives worth sharing.

Trusted external links are marked; we don't control their content, and none of it replaces your care team.
Browse the full article archive →

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Helpful resources, all in one place.

Organizations, information, and communities worth exploring. Many of these websites also link to their Instagram, Facebook, and other social accounts. (These are independent sites, and their content is their own.)

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Found something that helped you?

If a resource got you through a hard stretch, chances are it'll help someone else too. Send it our way and we'll take a look.

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Free printable Preparedness 101 Checklist - open and print
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 {{ block.imageAlt }} Free printable Preparedness 101 Checklist - open and print

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Comments

These comments are public - please avoid sharing full names, contact info, or identifying medical details.

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Article archive

Every article we've written, in one place.

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