time lapse

First checkup

by AgentX86 - 2019-03-14 23:44:45

A onth is perfectly normal.  They'll check the incision to make sure it's healing properly and check out your pacemaker to make sure everything is still working properly.  They may change settings some, too.  If you have any questions, that is the time to ask them.  Also, if you want any changes made (heart rate, a night time setting, or whatever) that's when to ask.  You'll likely have another check every three months for a while, though you can request to be seen anytime you think you're having a problem, or the device needs adjusting.

1st time

by Don1936 - 2019-03-15 15:05:57

Thank you for info. Answered questions i was worried about and i appreciate it.

yep

by dwelch - 2019-03-21 04:05:12

implant to first visit is usually measured in weeks so one month is about perfect.   second visit often measured in months, maybe 6 months after implant.  Third about a year, then if all is well then one per year.

But country you live in, insurance you have, these take home boxes.  And other factors play a role in how you and your doc and their practice operates.  Some folks in some places dont come in unless the take home box says to.  I dont have a box so my "punishment" is 6 month visits even though the prior 30 years with pacers has been one year visits a fair amount of that time with no take home phone monitoring tech at all.  Now all of the sudden we need to be monitored daily.  Anyway, some insurance companies wont pay for too many visits, but with my five pacers the few weeks then 6 months-ish then annual was typical.  (first year had some extra visits for tweaking that todays pacers do themselves).  When the device gets near end of life (the printout is almost always wrong, dont get worked up about the estimate).  They may if they can start bringing you in twice a year for the last few years.  

These take home boxes are going to change a lot of that experience.  So this will be new and evolving for all of us   The few weeks they are also laying eyes on the implant site for infection,etc so that should not change, the few months the scar tissue on new leads has settled down and may need to adjust the device, I dont see that changing for new leads.  but the long haul I see that changing to overreliance on these boxes.  

my short answer is no different than above.  one month is about perfect for first visit after a new device.