A Big Thanks...and a Long Story

• by wenditt
• 2009-11-11 07:11:19
• Surgery & Recovery
• 1590 views
• 4 comments

To all of you that have helped me through...thank you. I am 10 weeks post implant today and am getting better. I am still having desperate/high anxiety moments (as I did last night). And thank you to those who checked in with me last night to help me get through it. Knowing that there is a support system here helps and my appreciation goes deeper than I could ever tell you.

I called the EP office today and to my dismay was completely blown off by the nurse practitioner whom I asked to interrogate my pm or at least check it out today. I explained to her that I felt a dip in my heart rate, a pause and a panicky flush and that I was under the impression that if the pacemaker were to go off that I wouldn't feel anything. I explained that I was concerned with the setting, the episode and that I wanted a report as I would be making an appointment with a cardiologist for tomorrow. Her words were, "Wendy, we've been over this before, your pacemaker is not broken, it's working, now it's time to get over it!"

I am proud to say that I found my "inner bulldog" and unleashed hell. I directed her to begin copying my file ASAP as I would be at the hospital within the hour meeting with patient relations to talk about her tone, her choice of words and unspeakable lack of bedside manner and that I certainly would not be reporting back to that office.

And I did just that! I went straight to patient relations, had a meeting right away and explained the situation. The rep personally escorted me to the EP office, where my file was waiting...and so was that witch! And let me just say....she was sweet as pie! I had my pm interrogated in the presence of the patient relations rep, and instead of waiting 7 business days for my file....walked away with everything withing 30 minutes.

Part of my anxiety has been "not understanding" my diagnosis, the procedure and all that it means. Basically because the office has never spent more than 5 minutes with me to explain any of it to me. I have cried at every visit and asked them to please just explain it to me. That if I could just understand, I know that I emotionally could heal and begin to move on. But each time, I get the same answers, "just don't worry about any of that, the pm is working. Don't worry about palpitations, skipped beats or extra beats, just worry about no beats."

But today, the witch (in the presence of the patient relations rep) actually went through my records, and explained things to me! LOL...I still don't understand 1/2 of it...but she doesn't need to know that!

And here is the real kick in the pants! When I stated that I just couldn't believe that I was the only patient they have that is anxious, nervous and on edge with my new pm. And that I couldn't imagine that I am the only one calling in panic to get more info. She ACTUALLY said that I was the ONLY patient whom was anxious and not "over it" for this long. What an a-hole! I told her I completely disagreed as I had found a support group-all of you-and some of you have had pm's for years.

I hope anyone else who just can't get answers or just doesn't feel happy with the service they are getting from their doctors finds their inner bulldogs as well!

Wishing each and every one of you well! And a huge thanks for all the advise and info since the start of this.
Thanks for everything!
Wendy