first pm check

i had my first pm check yesterday they told me my pm is working 100% THE TOP OF MY HEART AND 50% THE BOTTOM and they turned my hr up to 60 from 50 i feel more alert but had trouble sleeping am still very nervous also i havent had a follow up appointment with the cardiologist when i asked they said i was now discharged just needed check on my pm in six months can this be right i live in Wales UK. would be grateful for any advice

4 Comments

Cardiologist follow-up

by IAN MC - 2012-10-04 01:10:12

In the UK it is common practice never to see the cardiologist again after a PM implant.

The technicians who do the check-ups are more highly qualified than in some other countries and will organise medical involvement if it is needed.

I have had a PM now for 14 months and haven't set eyes on a cardiologist since I was wheeled back to the ward after the PM installation !

If you think all is not well get a cardiologist appt either directly via their secretary or via your GP.

Best of luck

Ian

first pm check

by MAZZAROO - 2012-10-04 06:10:32

hi, i had my first pm check on monday and i havent seen my cardiologist. have an appointment for 30th october for another check. i think an appointment will come through from cardiologist in the not too distant future, hope so anyway. i am nervous too its a lot to get used to. hope you go on ok and feel better. i live in nottinghamshire.

Sleep mode

by ebfox - 2012-10-04 08:10:10

Bottle,

Your pacemaker may have a sleep mode that lowers the low rate during nighttime hours (you can adjust the hours to your liking). My Medtronic has this feature and it really helped me sleep-

I am surprised that you haven't seen a cardio or EP since the implant; in the US they typically want to see you a couple of weeks post-op and then again in 3 months.

EB

UK V USA

by IAN MC - 2012-10-05 05:10:38

Hi EB ... it surprises some of us too but the systems of cardiac PM care in the two countries seem to be totally different .Both countries have :-

- "Cardiologists" ie medically qualified heart specialists who we are referred to initially whether we have plumbing or electrical issues

- Cardiologists who specialise in electrical problems of the heart . You call them " E.P.s" ... this title is less common in the UK

and then in the UK we have another species called ;-

"Cardiac Physiologists ". These people are not medically qualified but have an intensive 3 yr training in all aspects of the heart,...... its anatomy, its diseases and most importantly the uses of cardiac devices such as PMs.They are graduates in cardiac physiology. Combined with their academic training they have extensive hands-on training with patients. They sometimes assist the EPs with cardiac ablations etc


Our checkups are always done by these cardiac physiologists. You don't have an equivalent to these people in the US. From what I have read on here your checkups are often done by non-qualified manufacturers' reps ( of very varying abilities and experience no doubt )

So if we don't see a cardiologist post -PM it is because the cardiac physiologist doesn't think it necessary . The system works very well .

If we need see cardiologist we always do.

Cheers

Ian






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