pacemaker

This may sound like a dumb question, but please bear with me. I was in ER a week ago with tightness and having a hard time breathing. Turns out it wasn't my heart. However, I mentioned that I had my pacemaker replaced on March 4 and she, the doctor asked me if they replaced the pacemaker or the batteries. I looked at her and said the pacemaker. Now I have had a pacemaker since November 1, 1972 and I have always had the pacemaker replaced. It is sealed and I have never heard of just the batteries being replaced. Am I wrong?

7 Comments

Isn't it amazing

by Theknotguy - 2015-05-02 09:05:23

Isn't it amazing that medical people who should know better don't?

I don't know what planet some of these guys come from but it isn't Earth.

Hope everything else is going well for you.

Don't feel bad

by Theknotguy - 2015-05-02 10:05:04

I went into afib during the time I was in cardiac rehab. Being in a medical facility, the nurses running the rehab frog marched me down to the ER and threw me into the room. Since I've been going into afib for some time answering the ER questions was no big deal. I sat there bored most of the time.

The ER doctor came in and told me they would "cure" my afib. Since I've been at this for a while, have researched my situation, and have a good relationship with my EP, I knew they can't "cure" my afib. So he backed off.

Then he came in again and said he had to transfer me to the main hospital for "observation". I told him no. All they would do is keep me overnight, keep waking me up, then release me in the morning saying I was "stable". That's whether I was still in afib or not. So the back and forth discussion ensued. He "had" to send me to the main hospital. I was going against medical orders, etc, etc.

Finally I told him to call my EP and if he said I had to go to the main hospital, I'd go. Otherwise, send me home.

My EP said, "Leave the poor guy alone, he's been through enough."

After that, if I went into afib I didn't go in for rehab. I'd just call in, tell them I was following my doctor's orders, and not to call the squad.

It cost $1000 for that ER visit. Needless to say, I made sure I didn't end up there again.

So, you're not alone with running into crazy ER visits. (And they say we have the best medicine in the world???) Hate to see what happens in some other countries. Or as one doctor said, "People just die."

Thanks

by sagehen - 2015-05-02 10:05:07

I appreciate your answer. I certainly have no confidence in her now. Yes, I would think that medical people would know. All seems to be going well at this point.

Nah...Can't do that

by donr - 2015-05-03 01:05:50

Our advice is worth what they pay us right now.



Donr

Crazy ER

by tammyjk1021 - 2015-05-03 07:05:14

In Jan I received the Medtronic Micra. Now granted, the micra is new and experimental but common sense went out the window. I explained that the Micra is implanted through the femoral artery and there are no incisions. I also explained that after 3 weeks, scar tissue grows over and it would not move or be removed.

So after 4 hours, the ER doc tells me that he talked with my cardiologist and they may have to remove it and place a different type of pm!!! It had already been 2 mos. Imagine my sheer terror. At one point they tried to tell me I didnt have a pm until they saw the xray. Then they all gathered to look at the xray in amazement. I mean, I'm glad to be of assistance to get them up to speed but geeeez. Common sense should have told them that there would be no replacing it after scar tissue had formed. Now I carry the manual with me as well as my card. I have to wear a bracelet because I have no visible signs of having a pm. It is kinda funny, well until you get a crazy ER doc.

Hen, you are 1000% correct...

by donr - 2015-05-03 07:05:48

...the PM is hermetically sealed w/ battery inside & the whole thing is always replaced.

What you ran into is the abysmal ignorance of an MD. To be realistic, the average Cardio is a plumber, not an electrician. It takes an EP to really know the electrical guts of the heart & the detailed workings of the heart's control system - & PM's.

My cardio takes care of a lot of PM hosts & is pretty darned savvy on them; but he never made me feel better than the day he told me "Don, you've got me stumped; I'm sending you to my EP." Incidentally, his EP said the same thing, but had nowhere to send me, so he had to noodle it out.

Also, let's give the Devil his due: In this day of expanding knowledge, Dr's. Kildare, Welby & House just plain do not exist!!!! For one of them to know everything about all ills is impossible! For them to make you think they do is a sham. OTOH, any decent ER Doc should know enough about all issues to know when they are in over their heads & they need specialized help. They should also know when to tell the patient that something requires another Dr.

Our #2 Daughter is an ER Doc. She knows a lot about a lot of things she faces, but knows her limits. She's delivered babies in a parking lot in the back seat of a cab in an emergency, but generally calls for an OB/GYN when a pregnancy appears. She refuses to put on a cast except in a screaming emergency; but she can reduce a fracture of the wrist or other bones.

You want to find some real ignorance, start asking MD's about Rabies treatment protocol. Then go ask your local Vet - you will be surprised. Especially about Rabies & bats!

Oh, yes - never ask a urologist about ANYTHING on an ECG!

Cheers.

Don

Meducation

by Zia - 2015-05-03 10:05:38

Hey Tammy, Don, et al, wonder if we could start billing them for our expertise and time spent in their further education. Must be worth something LOL

You know you're wired when...

You can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.

Member Quotes

Think positive and go out and take on the world.