Interrogation frequency

common

by Tracey_E - 2018-03-14 11:04:27

I've used to go every 3 months but many go 6 months or even once a year. I got a home monitor with my latest one.. It does a download every 3 months, I get an email or call that all is well. I only go in person now once a year or if something shows up in the downloads. You can always call if something is going on but once our settings are good and we are healed, we don't need much follow up until the battery needs replaced.

frequency

by The real Patch - 2018-03-14 12:03:14

It's your heart condition that determines frequency of office interrogations...well that and how badly your doctor needs to pay for his kids college.

Most patients start out with 6 month office interrogations and graduate to once a year. I still go every 3 months even though I have a home monitor

It's Okay

by Gotrhythm - 2018-03-14 13:40:22

Six months is really normal. In fact, after a year, you might not have an in-office interogation more than once a year.

From your question I sense that what you want is reassurance that everything is okay more often than once every six months. A certain amount ot anxiety is normal. A pacemaker is so far outside most people's experieince that most of us don't know what to make of it, and we certainly have no idea what to expect. How could we? Even the doctors can't tell us what to expect.

Learn to trust your pacemaker. They really are marvels of reliability and they're loaded with failsafes. Should the need for an interrogation crop up, either because of the pacemaker or changes in your heart condition, you'll have plenty of time to get one.

3 Months for the first year ....

by MartyP - 2018-03-14 13:44:22

I'm in the first year and I decided for a few extra bucks, I want to see my EP every three months.  I always have questions and want to see a person who will actually check everything vs. depending on someone to read a printout.

I see my cardilogist every 6 months and if all is well I will move to every 6 monts, but still face to face.  I want to see the face of the person telling me everything is OK.

How often

by Alma Annie - 2018-03-14 19:47:39

I only have a download from home monitor every 6 months.  No one tells me if it is ok, but I am told if there is a problem I will be notified.  My EP says every 18 months is enough for him to see me, and at that time I also have an echo, due to other problems.  My next appt. has been delayed as he is doing OTHER projects, and rather than have me go to his colleague, HE wants to see me, as he is a friend of my son.  So it will be 22 months.  I must admit I feel somewhat neglected, but I know I can see someone if I have a problem.

My only problem is that the leads, which are almost under my arm, are sticking out more and are uncomfortable.  

Yes I can understand that you are 'antsy'  even though everything is ok.  It can make one feel that nobody cares.  Having said that I am sure if there was a problem, you could be seen immediately.  If you do have a concern, contact your clinic.  Don't stress too much, but I know that is more easily said than done!!

Alma Annie.

Once a year

by Washingtonienne - 2018-03-15 18:25:44

New pacer here - The plan for me is in office yearly and at home every three months.  Just had my first at home check and it was quick and easy.  Within a week, I had an e-mail report stating how often which lead is pacing, what the settings are, battery life, etc.  More than I thought I would get.  
Once a year in office is fine for me.  As long as the thing is working and I feel pretty good, I'm just going to keep on keeping on.  

it varies

by dwelch - 2018-03-29 05:30:58

there are a number of factors, the home boxes (I refused to get one) have changed the game.  Part of it is your condition/sitation.  Part of it actually a lot is the insurance company and/or medical practice that want to pay for as few as possible.  Before the bedside boxes and still currently for some of us, phone checks, and they didnt want to pay for those either.   Im on device number 5, over 30 years with pacers.  Lived in various towns with different docs and insurance plans. Most of the time it was 6 months for the first year or so, then up to once a year for the bulk of the time then as the battery wore out back to 6 months.  In between was typically a phone check every 3 months.  

Had one that did the last few years phone checks more often.

I think the plan this time around is to "punish" me with 6 month visits for the duration since I didnt take the home box.  But I am within my first year on this device, so will see.  the insurance providers are having a battle right now so I may lose this doc so long as  I keep this job/insurance company and the battle continues.  Have dealt with this before in another town and it eventually hurts both companies, so they basically re-divide up the town as to number of patients, then go back to letting folks from either plan use docs/facilities from either plan.  

So long as you feel okay, implant site is healing okay, etc, no reason to worry.  You can always call them if something feels wrong/strange.  The devices have not needed as much tweaking as they used to for a long time now, so they dont have to bring you on a lot that first year to get it tuned, nor need to make adjustments over time.  Even with replacements they can/should be able to take your current device settings and progran the new one with the same/compatible settings and you should just keep on operating smoothly.