Replacement. (Long, sorry!)

Well, my replacement keeps getting better. I went last week to see the doctor and schedule my replacement. He said I could wait and have it done between the end of school and the start of summer school. Was just waiting for a call back that the insurance approved it. (Scheduled it for July 2) The doctor called me today. Of course it was 5 mins after my lunch so I didn't get the message until after the kids left. When I got home I called back and spoke to the person that did all the scheduling last week. ( she even had her note to call me after 3) Everything was approved and we scheduled my echo for next Monday. I told her the doctor called and she wasn't sure why so she went to talk to him.
5 minutes later he called back and said after I left he was thinking and realized that I will need a new lead because the way it is the threshold use is high. If I don't get it relplaced it was use up the battery faster and I'll need more frequent replacements or it will stop working. So, when I go for my echo they'll do another test to see if I can have another lead in the same vein. Hopefully because it's in a good place and if not I'll need 2 new ones instead of when. He's also going to do anther interagation to make sure I can wait.
We hung up and a min later he called back. He forgot to tell me when they tested me for MSSA it came out positive so I have to get a prescription for a nasal ointment to use before I go in. ( of course that freaked my husband out)
So now I'll have to spend the night (and my kids are leaving on the 3rd to go away for a week) and I'll have the restrictions again. Time to teach hubby on how to do pony tails. Can't do them one handed and the middle of summer I need the!


2 Comments

TraceyE

by Shell - 2014-06-02 09:06:03

First replacement the pm lasted a little over 4 yrs and this one has been a little under 4 yrs. (first time I decided against the replacement) venogram, that's what the doctor said. My mother lives nearby and she offered to pull my hair back and my way to work if I wanted. ( though I'll have 1 1/2 weeks off before summer school stars.

ay yi yi

by Tracey_E - 2014-06-02 09:06:19

Sounds like a crazy day!

I was in your exact position. I made the choice to keep the bad lead the first time, I decided replacements were easier than messing with the leads so I went into it knowing the battery life would be shorter. A year later, the lead got worse and the battery ended up lasting only a little over 2 years. In hindsight, I should have just fixed it the first time! Anyway, I had a venogram also to see if there was room to fit another lead. It's just an iv in the cath lab with dye, takes longer to wheel you in and set it up than to do it. I had room so they put the new lead in with the others, capped off the bad one, replaced the battery and that was that. I hope it's as easy for you!

It's great that your dr screened you for MRSA! You really really do not want that and about a third of the population carries it so it was very smart to look into it now.

Shhh, don't tell anyone but I did my own ponytails. I didn't do any sudden movements, kept it slow and easy. I had my stylist wash my hair the first couple of times, then I very gently did it myself after that. If a lead is going to be displaced, it will be in the first day or two. After that it's just precaution.

You know you're wired when...

Your heart beats like a teenager in love.

Member Quotes

Hi, I am 47 and have had a pacemaker for 7 months and I’m doing great with it.