possible complication

Yesterday I got in to see doctor after experiencing increased pain in PM area. He said it was inflamed and prescribed meds. More concerning was the report that my lead in ventricle may not be scarring over properly and additional surgery may be needed. Doctor says "we will watch it and cross our fingers". Not what you want your cardiologist to say! I was also told something about too much voltage being observed at that lead. Can anyone explain this one? I also found out for the first time that my pm is on rate response and I have an upper limit. Why would I not have been told this? Medtronic rep apologized by saying "I forgot you were science minded and would want to know these things". Who wouldn't want to know this about their personal pm? I am getting quite an education about the medical field.

10 Comments

Remember : You are your own Doctor

by jtaheri - 2013-10-17 10:10:27

Hi Judy,

In 2008, I had my 2nd pacemaker implanted and always was feeling very hard palpitation. I had Told my Doctor prior to surgery that I had the palpitation. After the surgery was the same thing. After few days, I called the Doctor's office and complained about the heavy palpitation on my left side penetrating the signal towards my left arm making it to jump with every pulse.

I was given an appointment to see the Doctor and the Technician. We did some trial and error by disconnecting one wire and checking the heart rate and connecting the other wire via the interrogating computer. We found out that one of the wire was not functioning well and was causing distortion. They disconnected one wire and said I will be OK... Hahaha

This wire was faulty since day 1 when I had my first implant in 2003.

Please remember the Doctors are operators, they are not in your body to know how you feel. You are your own Doctor. Good for you to question the Medtronic Rep. They think they are GOD and know everything. In today's Internet world and the technology we read, investigate and prepare questions for the Doctors and their co workers.

Crossing the fingers is the most un professional response that one can get from the Doctor.
Please ask the Medtronic's Technician to check your wires by the computer and see if there are any distortions, spikes or other readings that can alert them for an intermittent problem. This is your right.

I am due to have my 3rd pacemaker implant in November 2013. They had told me that it would last for 6-8 years. Not true. With the faulty wire disconnected , I guess my hearth draw more juice from the battery.

Regards,
Janet

Angry Sparrow is right

by PacerRep - 2013-10-18 01:10:15

You would be surprised at how annoyed some patients get when you are telling them how the device works. I've actually had a formal complaint filed against me for "confusing them". This husband and wife team were asking me some pretty specific..higher level questions... so naturally I answered them...

Well they didn't get it, and filed a complaint on me. To this day when I see their name on the schedule I call a different rep to check them.

I have a very generic...very basic speech I give to everybody that gets the device and end it with...Now what questions do you have for me??, fire away. I say a few things that gets their minds jarring like "well most people ask me about microwaves, or cell phones ect ect." But my experience has led me to believe, most patients don't really care how it works. Plenty of them say...well the doc picked this for me so I'm just going to trust that, no questions......Okey...dokey I say, and frolic down the hallway to the next room.

Medics of all stripes...

by donr - 2013-10-18 02:10:15

...are strapped for time to start.

SEcond, they run into the "Ignorance is Bliss " types who don't want to hear it.

Third, they run into those who are totally incapable of understanding & get confused (nudge, nudge, wink, wink - Pacer Rep).

Fourth, they run into the true SOHW (Stressed Out Hysterical Woman) who is a bundle of quivering, raw nerves.

Fifth, they run into the retired engineers who want to know everything starting w/ the quantum mechanics describing the operation of the semiconductors & ending w/ wanting to help them perform the next operation.

Sixth - they have to figure out which is which. Going back to the opening, being strapped for time, makes it nearly impossible to do in what time they have available.

So - the net result - they don't volunteer very much. Only what they believe the patient wants to hear & can understand. Therefore, those of us w/ noses like Aardvarks get shortchanged!

I becomes incumbent on us to establish w/ all concerned that we want to know. That, unfortunately takes more than a single visit. It also takes building a rapport w/ the Dr. & his staff, including the Pacer Rep.

The challenge for us is to figure out who is "Chatty Kathy) (we know that around here) & who wants to hide info from us w/ the philosophy that knowledge is power & they want the power. We also have to figure out which Dr's forbid their staffs to talk to us.

The problems lie on both sides of the exam table.

Don

Hungering for Information

by Grateful Heart - 2013-10-18 09:10:24

I also found when I showed interest or had questions the Nurse, Rep or Doc is very willing to explain it to you. One Nurse told me no one usually asks and she loves to teach and talk about it. I was very happy to be her student.

They also take time for me (which I really appreciate) except for 1 Rep who doesn't want to do his job so Pacer Rep, I 2nd that request.....I wish you covered my area too.

Judy, write your questions down beforehand too, that helps so you don't forget.

Grateful Heart

information on personal PM

by judyblue - 2013-10-18 09:10:31


Thanks to all! I am going to print these comments and take them with me next visit. I will insist on interrogation reports, and discuss the ventricle lead's necessity. It is pacing at less than 1%.

You never know Judy

by PacerRep - 2013-10-18 10:10:31

I may cover your area! lol. My location is a secret around here.

Thanks for your kind words up top, I think DonR hit the nail on the head....as usual...nothing new here...move along.

I check close to 100 devices every week....on top of the surgeries we do. I pretty much have a script that i run through with the basic stuff people want to know

But when somebody engages me, as long as I have time, I'll talk all day about this stuff, so it's really up to you guys to seek the information. I usually spend a good 25-30 minutes post implant with each patient fielding questions and giving the basics...but then again, if they are irritated or don't care...I have other things I could be doing.

For me, knowledge is power

by KAG - 2013-10-18 12:10:07

I'm a retired engineer and I must know how things work or anxiety will build up and over time I'll get physically ill. I believe the mind is a very powerful organ and can influence your physical well being in both good and bad ways. I've found that the reps here really enjoy discussing my device. The first time I met with 2 reps (they had been forewarned that I was a retired engr) and we discussed my two pages of questions and went over the data report in detail. I had them move the chair in front of the monitor. We must have talked for at least 45 minutes, well into their lunch time. The last check I had when I moved the chair directly in front of the monitor. The (different) tech said that this was new, but OK. After discussing my data printout and answering my one page list of questions, we spent some time going over the programming menus and various functions. I think he was having a good time sharing info and I appreciated it.

So I'd say if some folks don't want to know fine for them, but for those of us who do need info/data their medical team should ask and not assume. But if they don't ask, then we have to take the bull by the horns and insist if necessary. I think this can be as important as any treatment or drug when it comes to healing.

Keep asking those questions!
Kathy

Hi Judy,

by jeanlancour - 2013-10-18 12:10:15

I found that telling your cardio and the tech that you want to know what is going on, and a copy of the interrigation, and any other report made while you are there does work. You may have to be firm, it is your right to have those reports. I had to set there and not budge untell I was given them the first time. Now they give them to me, and I find they are more forthcoming with information now, Good luck Jean

ask questions

by Tracey_E - 2013-10-18 12:10:29

Lots of people either don't understand or don't want to understand their pm's. I found that once the rep realized I not only understood pretty well but wanted to know, he started giving me copies of the reports and explaining things to me.

If a lead is not in a good spot, they turn up the voltage to get the signal through. What was your diagnosis? Here's why I'm asking, if you need rate response, that is atrial pacing. If you mostly pace atrial, maybe they can turn off the ventricular lead. It will work just fine turned up, but it will kill the battery faster. If you need that lead, I would reposition now while it can be done easily. You have a window of about a year to make a decision, it's not urgent to fix it next week, if it even needs fixed.

p.s. I hadn't clicked on your profile before, you're only a couple of hours from me. My oldest is in love with Stetson after going to camp there last summer. We'll be headed up there one of these days soon for another tour.

Note to PacerRep

by Moner - 2013-10-18 12:10:55

I wish there were more PM Technicians like you around.

Sorry you got that complaint, rest assure you will not be getting any complaints here.


I can't imagine why people would want this kind of technical information.

Moner
>^..^<

You know you're wired when...

Your device acts like a police scanner.

Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.