Are you a "maker" patient?

Great example on here recently

by IAN MC - 2017-07-27 05:41:52

A few months ago there was discussion on the  limitations of pacemaker Rate Response sensors which depend on detecting motion /vibration to increase the heart rate.  These sensors don't help cyclists much because of lack of upper body movement.

One enterprising member went to a sex-shop, purchased some sort of vibrator device and strapped it to the PM site .. Results were good apparently when cycling ( but I bet the people in the sex-shop didn't believe his reasons for buying it ! )

Ian

New use

by The real Patch - 2017-07-27 14:08:09

I use my CRT-D as a refrigerator magnet storage device. Does that count as innovative ?

To: The real Patch

by hugooc - 2017-07-27 14:23:21

Sure, using the CRTD as refrigerator magnet is innovative. But I am looking for examples of how people hacked the healthcare system to get what they wanted (or needed), to improve their patient experience, to personalize their care.

I am looking for examples of things clinicians wouldn't even think to recommend because they never had a device themselves.

For example, years ago when I first got my leads implanted I was worried about inadvertently raising my arm over my head and dislodging them at night. A fellow patient suggested sleeping with my left arm inside a loose t-shirt for the first 6 weeks. It was a simple but brilliant solution.

My doctors had never heard of it and could not have recommended it. I am looking for examples of "wisdom" that only we would know.

To: Ian MC

by hugooc - 2017-07-27 14:28:28

Ian, this is quite something. Amazing example! I'll bet that would be a perfect solution for indoor cycling. I searched the forum for the post but am unable to find it.  

Is this the post? (But no mention of vibrator.)
https://www.pacemakerclub.com/message/30508/cycling

I'd love to follow up on that. I am presenting in two weeks about wisdom of patients along the lines of necessity being "the mother of invention". Thanks for this example.  

Hugo

by IAN MC - 2017-07-28 08:27:56

No, that is not the post i was referring to.  So far I've been unable to find it but will let you know as soon as I do.

Best of luck with your presentation

Ian

Found it

by IAN MC - 2017-07-28 08:39:49

Hugo, this was the post :-TITLE manually stimulating/vibrating pacer to increase heart rate during exercise

BY SESQUIPOD

 2016-12-20 21:29:08

 EXERCISE & SPORTS

 591 VIEWS

 13 COMMENTS

i've found that by taping a vibrator to my chest close to the accelerometer location of my pacer (Medtronic Advisa - A2DR01) i can increase my heart rate during exercises that don't create enough physical movement to be detected by my device's accelerometer.

The vibrator is small - bullet type that is remote controlled - i think by bluetooth. 

So, this solves a big problem for me when engaging in vigorous exercise, like bicycling, or elliptical machine when I'm on a flatter incline.  As my pacer doesn't know I'm exercising and my heart rate stays low when i need it to go a bit higher.

Of course it would be easier if I could just program the device to stay at a high rate when I'm exercising, but I'm not aware of a way to do this other than perhaps dating a medtronic technician that would let me use their programmer :)

So here is the obvious question.  I'm interested in what the community thinks the risks are for this practice.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Santiago

AMAZING!

by hugooc - 2017-07-28 14:36:28

This is absolutely brilliant! Ian, thanks for finding this.