IPG generator

Does anyone know anything about them? I have been reading the posts for various people and everyone is talking about how much they are paced and different things I have no idea what they are talking about. Shouldn't I be more aware of this replacement? How do I find out more about this generator?

Going back to the Dr who implanted it is not an option.

9 Comments

PM Questions

by SMITTY - 2012-10-28 01:10:11

Hello,

Lots of us with pacemakers think we know a little about our pacemakers, but whether we really do or not is often a guess. The best suggestion I have for you is to go to Google and put in "How does a Pacemaker Work?" What you will find is not a quick read so get comfortable before you start. Before going to how a PM works I would suggest that you ask Google "How Does The Heart Work" since a PM actually replaces part of the work your heart should be doing.

Now I'll try to show you why I can't answer some of your questions. The questions you asked can be answered when you get a PM checkup. And you will have to get a checkup sooner or later to get any benefit from your PM. How much your PM paces your heart depends on why you have the PM. And that number today may not be the same next week, or next year. In my case when I got my PM for low heart rate the PM helped out only 2 to 3% of the time. That was 12 years ago at age 71. Now that percent is up to about 90%.

For a very brief lesson on how and what a PM does I'll offer this. Our PM has two circuits. One monitors our natural heart PM rate and the other sends an electrical impulse when the heart's natural PM fails to do so. About all a PM can do is increase a heart rate or replace the heart beat the heart's natural PM is not doing. In these cases when the PM is pacing more than 90% the person may be considered PM dependant because the PM makes their heart beat most of the time. For the rest of us we have what is known as an on demand PM. That simply means the PM steps in as necessary to keep our heart beating.

It can do this because the PM has two set points, a low and a high set point. The low set point is the point at which the PM will start working should your natural rate go below that point. The PM will then make your heart beat whenever your heart's natural PM does not do its job. The upper set point is the point where the PM takes itself out the game because when your heart rate reaches that level the PM knows it does not need help.

With that I'll have to stop. I have a back problem that tells me when I must quit trying to type and I just got that message. Hopefully some of the others will help out as your questions are very common.

One other thing. I just noticed your questions "Shouldn't I be more aware of this replacement? How do I find out more about this generator?" The checkup mentioned can provide those answers.

Good luck,

Smitty

IPG

by donr - 2012-10-28 01:10:26

Vic: I believe that you are using a generic term for PM's. I went & Googled IPG & came up w/ them using it as a generic term. Implantable Pulse Generator.

Sounds like whoever planted your PM used that as a substitute for the brand name. Not saying you did NOT get a piece of trash as you stated, however.

Terrible as this sounds to you, I'm afraid you are going to have to go back to either the Dr who did the job or the hospital that it was done in to find the brand.

You may have to go to each PM mfgr & ask them if they have a record of you being implanted w/ one of their devices. They can do it. A bit of work, however.

Did they NOT give you a PM card to carry around w/ you, just like the one you were given for your Kappa?

Don

personal note

by vphillips - 2012-10-28 02:10:10

just no one draws their own conclusion of what my charge was, I hurt no one but myself. My charge was not violent.

IPG

by vphillips - 2012-10-28 02:10:49

Yes I do have a card. The correct name for this implant is a SENSIA DR. Unfortunately, the doctor that done the procedure has made it known that he is not interested in seeing me. My personal opinion is that due to the nature of my charge he had decided before he even knew me that he did not like me. Im a small town, that is not uncommon. I have been looking up medical university hospitals in hopes of finding some help. What spawned this sudden concern what something that happened last week. I blacked out twice. First time I was a work and the second time I was feeding kittens on the back deck and woke up face first on the cement at the bottom of the steps. The crazy part was that I have been breaking out in sweats, short of breath, extremely tired since this happened. When I went to bed the other night after that last episode, my jaw was drawing like i had chewed gum for days non stop.. i havent felt that since before the first implant. my heart has been going crazy, but when I go to a hospital its like this heart of mine goes into survival mode and beats perfectly.. so idk what to do.

AH, AT least we know...

by donr - 2012-10-28 04:10:21

...What kind of PM you have. I am guilty of not reading your profile at first. I now see what you have. It's a Medtronic - all their stuff is pretty good - has to be. Sounds like your settings are all screwed up.

Dunno its reputation, but you have enough info to get help.

Your PM stores a lot of info on what happens to you - this one is no different. It's not like you are a neophyte at the PM business - hosting a Kappa for 11 yrs.

Here's what I suggest you do for a start. You've got nothing to lose w/ the problems you are having. You say you are a college student - well every university/college has a health clinic - well at least MOST of them do. If not, try the county health dept - they often have folks who take care of the indigent. Go there & sit down w/ someone in their office & explain your entire story to them. That you have a PM & you have passed out twice. All the rest. Tell them you desperately need help & you cannot pay - I mean the whole 9 yards. Ask them where you can go to get it. Somewhere there is a medic who does charity work - even in cardiology. Anderson, SC is not the end of the world.

If worst comes to worst, go to the local ER & complain about the passing out part. They HAVE to treat you, pre-existing condition or not; ability to pay or not. It's the same law that incarcerated you! Their billing office can be a lot of help to you, as can their ER personnel.

BTW: You want to get on this MONDAY AM. You do not want to pass out & do a face plant on a hot grill or into a vat of hot cooking oil! You don't even want to fall on your hands on either of those.

Don

Problems

by SMITTY - 2012-10-28 06:10:58

Let me add a line to what Don said about getting help. You really should see a dr, someway or other soon. While I'm not saying you had, or are having, a heart attack, the symptoms you listed are typical of what a person having a heart attack will have. And a PM is not likely to cause such symptoms unless the settings are really out in left field.

Progress Report

by donr - 2012-10-30 01:10:19

on finding a cardio who will see you?

Hope you've made some progress.
Don

progress report

by vphillips - 2012-10-30 07:10:22

Well I am back to work with no help yet.but.I did find our.that there is only.two medical.universities.close.enough.for.me.go.to.. one is in Georgia.and he other in charlston. But u have.to remember here in the south we are over run with poverty.and indigent.patients so the budgets are stretched and tolerance is.low for non paying people. Although I understand it.doesn't help le much. When people say they have.to treat you if u go.... That is not.exactly.true.. they are only bound by law to do what they can.to.stop the emergency at hand. Then send u to a physician which..BTW... Will want payment upon services.rendered and is.stated so before hand. Ok so here is my plan... The best university hospital for.medical.is.one of.two states... Ohio or Texas.. now I have to decide.which one and go... It's not much of.a plan but better than nothing. I figure if I go to one of the.two then I will get help and someone will learn from the.experience. what do u guys think?

You might try...

by donr - 2012-10-31 11:10:11

...Emory in Atlanta. It has a huge, very well staffed cardio Dept. I believe it is run by the Methodist Church & may well have a decent program to handle the indigent.

Is that the hosp you were talking abut in GA?

You know you're wired when...

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