Pacemaker Data capacity

Hi,
Can anyone tell me how many days or moths data can be stored in a typical pacer? I am stationed overseas and the local doctor says to come in every 3 to 4 months. My family doctor said about every 6 months. Last time I had the pacemaker read the doctor wrote a report stating "normal functioning of the pacemaker." Isn't there something that can be downloaded, some sort of report?
Thanks for your help.
kenz

6 Comments

Data storage capacity

by Vai - 2007-12-26 02:12:57

Hi,
Frequency of visit to EP/cardio for check-up is best determined by the EP/cardio. No point second guessing. It depends on your condition really. Standard check up routine is 3-4 months. For me, after the 1st 6 months, the EP revised it to once in 6 months.

The data storage capacity of the PM is more than 6 months. My last check-up was 7 months apart and the interrogation downloaded all 7 months of data. The tech prints out the clinically significant data only for the doctor. The tech would erase the previous data after the interrogation. You can ask for a copy of the summary report. You paid for the interrogation. Take the last report with you when overseas.

As for being stationed overseas, you have to confident that you are medically fit to be away. The PM is meant to help you resume a normal life. It appears to have done so for you. You also need to ensure that the overseas city has a qualified EP & who have the appropriate equipment to interrogate your PM. Your EP would issue you a letter stating your condition. You can obtain assistance from your PM manufacturer website to assist you to identify the appropriate medical expertise & equipment in your overseas station. You need to keep this handy in case you need urgent medical attention. Also check out your insurance policy to cover the cost of consultation overseas. The cost can be seriously more expensive. You can opt for your routine check-up overseas or return home for the check-up.

Best wishes.






data

by thomast - 2007-12-26 03:12:33

I read out my pacemaker over the phone connection every 3 months, and go into the clinic once a year to have it read. I ask for the complete printout each time , not just the summary, When I do it over the phone, they mail it to me. It is yours, you paid for it. I have learned a lot by reading it. I can corelate fast heartbeats to something I was doing etc Mine also records fluid buildup, so I can see when that occurred, and what I was doing. The reason I can do this is I keep an accurate log of what I do each day. It only takes a few minutes each day and is worth it. For istance we recently went on a trip of 4700 miles round trip. I was able to see that everytime we were above 3000 ft elevation I would have episodes of fast heartbeats if I was doing anything.

Ineresting...

by Suzzy - 2007-12-26 05:12:51

I had a reading done on my pacer, and the Nurse asked me how I had been feeling. I told her that I had been really sick about 5 weeks prior, and it took alot out of me. She indicated that she knew something was up becasue of my reading. I was surprised that they could pull that kind of information up. She could not tell me exactly what the problem was butl she could tell that I had difficulties. I am not sure exactly how far back they can read but; I am sure it is quite a few months if not years.

Each Pacer is different

by pacergirl - 2007-12-26 08:12:47

Hello, I am a bit surprised that you are stationed overseas. I don't know why, but I am. Your pacer needs to be checked by a trained tech person. They require some very specific equipment to"read" the information which is stored on the pacer. The settings are then adjusted if needed and the tech can print out the events from your last visit. Are you being checked by a GP? That is like taking my Beetle to a go cart shop! I would contact my insurance and then I would contact the number on the back of my pacer card and do some checking.
I know my pacer stores "events" for at least 6 months. It is a good question and I will ask my Cardiologist on the 18th of Jan. when I see him next. Some other more experienced pacers maybe able to shed some light on this subject as well.
Take care, and happy pacing.
pacergirl

well...

by kmhayward - 2007-12-29 08:12:14

The answer to your question is as follows....
every pacemaker is different. Every patient is different. Follow-up appointments must be managed by a trained technician or cardiologist with specialist equipment. The frequency of your follow-ups is usually determined by the battery life left. If you have more than 2 years left on the battery then you are usually seen yearly, anything less and its down to the clinic. The follow-ups getting more frequent until its time to change the box. How long have you had your pacemaker, are you pacing dependent and what make and model is it. All these things will affect the frequency.
As to the amount of data the pacer can store, again its all down to the make and model. The older ones ie over 7 years old tend not to have the same diagnostic capacity as the newer ones, however sometimes the more data storage there is the shorter the battery life. It's a trade-off.
Lastly.....
Every pacer checkup results in a report that is downloaded directly from the device. Your doctor usually writes a short report in your notes saying whether all this data was normal.
Check with the clinic where you are as to why they want to see you so often..... could be that the battery is slowly running down.... don't panic, your pacemaker will still work normally..... or its just that you are new to them and they want to get to know you and you device well before increasing the time between apointments!

Pacemaker data capacity

by ElectricFrank - 2007-12-31 01:12:27

The data time length will depend on the particular model of pacemaker you have. It also depends on how many functions it is programmed to save. Even there it can vary. For instance mine is programmed to save data on the number and variety of PVC's that I have. If I am going through a time with a high number of them I use up memory faster.
The time between checkups is probably more determined by how stable your condition is. You also need checkups more often as the battery gets near the end of its life.
Being overseas, I would talk it over with the doc. It is important to know where to get help if you develop a problem.

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