Am I being reasonable?

Happy New Year Everybody,

I just came back from my 4 month interrogation report, I haven't paced at all. I'm VS / AS 100%. Settings are 40/180

The reason I had a pacemaker implanted was due to situational syncope, and nothing more.

I'm very active and jog 45-50 miles each week.

When it came time to give me my next appointment, I requested my visits go from 4 months to 6 months, since I only have an EP and not a cardiologist, I was told I needed to get a script from my general practioner. I thought this was a little strange.

The bottom line, I walked out without the appointment card that was set for 5/4/2014, but plan on calling for an appointment in July.

Please tell me if my request was reasonable or unreasonable, I'm partially employed, and the cost is also a factor of which I explained to them as well.

Fingers crossed I will get a full time job in 2014.

Moner

>^..^<

7 Comments

Depends

by Theknotguy - 2014-01-09 08:01:44

It depends upon what heart problem you had. Obviously you had something that warranted a PM. On the atrial side they don't get too excited unless it goes too fast. Ventral they get real excited because it can kill you quickly. Ventral doesn't give as much warning as atrial.

Without knowing what you have it's real hard to guess if your request was reasonable or unreasonable.

Of course the money situation factors into it. It's also hard to make a decision if your doctor is playing I've got a secret.

Not sure if you have medical insurance? If you do, you can make a call to the medical insurance company and see if you can get through to a case manager. I've done that several times. Some insurance companies have a support nurse with whom you can talk too. They can give you some insights. Just call the company ask if you can speak with a case manager. That should lead you to a discussion and see where they get you. In spite of the bad press, medical insurance companies have a vested interest in you. The healthier you are the more money they make. So it's worth a call.

In Ohio in the USA you can change doctors as many times as you want. So if you're not getting answers from your doctor you can walk out and go anywhere you want. So if your gut isn't giving you good feelings, walk.

Hope this helps.

Theknotguy

should be fine!

by Tracey_E - 2014-01-09 08:01:48

I often spread out my appts when things are going well and my battery is new. My dr is ok with it. Instead of going through the hassle of getting script, I'd just wait a month or so then call to reschedule.

I hope you continue to not pace and to not have episodes!

Very Reasonable

by ebfox - 2014-01-09 08:01:52

IMO very reasonable rationale. You will probably be scolded by the EP; there are guidelines for interrogation frequency and I expect 6 months is longer than the guideline. So he will tell you about the risk you are taking and you will continue to run 40 miles a week (you do know that all that running is probably the reason you have situational syncope.)

Good luck on the full time work.

E. B.

Thanks!!

by Moner - 2014-01-09 10:01:32

Thanks your replies folks, I really appreciate your help.

Moner

6-12 months

by golden_snitch - 2014-01-10 03:01:00

Hi Moner!

For someone who doesn't pace at all at the moment, an interrogation every six months is perfectly fine. You could even do every 12 months. Guidelines generally say every 6 -12 months; only ICD/CRT patients are often requested to come in every 4 months (but now with remote monitoring even those patients can often do with every 6 months.) There's an overview of current guidelines at:
http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/126/14/1784/T3.expansion.html

Best

Inga

Hi Moner

by BillMFl - 2014-01-10 09:01:38

I am jealous. Your battery should last a really long time. And there's no way I could keep up with you running. I bike or walk 5 to 10 miles 3 or 4 times a week, but my knees say no no no to running. :) By the way, you guys are getting a good old fashion winter eh? My neighbors up in Maine keep whining about below zero and send me pictures of their yards buried in snow. Gonna be 80 here today. And muggy dam it. haha

Checkups

by Selwyn - 2014-01-10 11:01:32

Once you get over the initial check up following your new PM, in the N.H.S. ( UK), check ups are once a year, unless there are problems or you are nearing the end of your battery life.

I am not aware of any problems associated with this frequency of care.

You know you're wired when...

Your signature looks like an EKG.

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