Edinburgh western general pacemaker clinic refused to see me

I have just had some guy called Martin who works at the western general in Edinburgh
who was my ep technician at my last visit refuse for me to be seen as he feels as i have visited clinic 5 times since last October and that there is nothing wrong with my pacemaker that I should be better going to my doctor.I am horrified to think that I have a device inside my body that I cannot get checked until a year from now.Especially as it is a good way of reassuring me when I visit the clinic to check my afib percentage.The guy was patronising and rude and made me fl like a hypocondriac ansd spoke to like i was a child.Surley it is a persons right to be able to have there pacemaker checked .Is there a private way of doing this as i hate to be cotrolled by anyone

5 Comments

hairmyres

by petethetreat - 2008-07-16 03:07:03

Hi Allan
i had a pacemaker implanted 6 weeks ago at hairmyres in east kilbride. Since then, i've been into wishaw general once when i thought something was wrong and they took me in over night and wired me up to monitors. Thankfully everything was fine and after feeling a little embarassed the doc reassured me stating any time i feel somethings not right just to pop over. (I stay in wishaw). Just last week, i had another incident where the device had visibly moved from its socket and started to wonder if the leads had become detached. I telephoned Hairmyres cardiology dept and they told me to come in straight away for a check up. (it was only 5 mins from where i work) and again they tested things no problem. I've still to get my first "official" check up which is due in a fort nights time, so my experiences so far is that these two hospitals are first class.
I think you shoud complain

Quarterly

by hooimom - 2008-07-16 09:07:27

I live in the States and my PM gets checked every 3 months. I appreciated that very much in the first year because I needed lots of reassurance that all was well. I will "celebrate" my second year on the 19th of this month and they still check every 3 months. I don't get mine done over the phone though. I usually hear something reassuring when I am in the office so I like going in! I hope you get your situation resolved Allan.

Michelle

Clinic refusal.

by Stepford_Wife - 2008-07-16 12:07:05

Hi allanrogers.

If your EP tech refuses to see you, and suggested that you contact your doctor, I would take that advice, and ask the Primary Care Physician to refer me to someone I could actually trust to give me the answers I need, any time I need answers.
It is unimaginable how curt and indifferent the medical population can be to patients.
It makes you want to grab them, and insert a device in their chest, and see how they function with one, and how it really feels.
I don't think there is a private way to check your own pacemaker, and even if there was, I wouldn't advise it. You are better off leaving that to an expert.
Don't despair, I'm sure your doctor will be understanding, and will find the right person for you.
Take care, and good luck.

~ Dominique ~

Pacemaker checks

by Pookie - 2008-07-16 12:07:34

Hi Alan,

I don't know how it works in Edinburgh, but over here in Nova Scotia, Canada, you can only get your pacemaker checked at the most twice a year, unless, of course, something is obviously wrong.

I've had my pacemaker since April of 2005 and only get it checked twice a year. Some people only get theirs checked once a year. And some people in the United States have some kind of device that they can use to check their pacemaker while at home via the phone!!

But...if you've had your pacemaker checked 5 times since last October, I was just wondering why you want or need it checked so often???

Pookie

Frequent pacemarker checks

by Vai - 2008-07-17 12:07:02

I empathize with your having to face down rude and inconsiderate medical personnel who are suppose to help us and provide us service.

It is quite normal, as related by many in this site, that patients have their pacemaker checked at least once every 3 months for the 1st year. If all goes well, the check-ups in the 2nd year can be changed to twice per year or even once per year (in my case).

My insurance won't pay for any self-required chedks for assurances. The check-up is paid by the insurance only when it is referred by a doctor or appointment set up by the EP as a required check-up. I would not want to pay myself just for some reassurance.

I hardly notice the pm and forget it is there. I am too busy living life than worry about the gadget. I do some self monitoring monthly for bp and pulse. If I don't feel well on occasion, I record the bp and pulse readings and what/how I feel. I show them to the doctor in the next visit. So far I have never had any emergency visits to the doc. I hope it stays that way.

The pm is supposed to work and let us resume life. We ought not be worrying about it all the time.

Unless you believe it is not working out for you and you need to have it chedked 5 times in 9 months for good reason, it appears to me its overdoing it a bit regardless of who pays for it.

You know you're wired when...

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