Biotronick

Hi everyone this is only my second post but I would like to say THANKS. First of all I could kick myself in the booty for not getting all the info I could about the type of pacer I have, and just blindly accepting that cardiologists would know everything about PM...unbelievable gullibility. Well here is my long story short version. In May of 2004 I had a biotronick pm put in everything was fine with me and the pm until this summer and I had moved to AR from Calif. needed a cardio dr so I found one. My first clue should have been when he pulled out the biotronick computer box and started wiping dust off of it. Anyway I was at that time set at 80 beats per minute. He told me he was going to lower my beats per minute to seventy because the voltage was set up too high and I was wasting battery power, when I questioned him he assured me I would not feel any different. He also made other adjustments, but amazingly when we have tried to get those settings from him his office says they have no record of the settings he made. I started having trouble catching my breath within the week., anyway this was 9 mos ago and thanks to this site I have been enlightened to just how important those little tweaks are. Anyway, until my new EP adjusted the beats per minute I was having a really hard time even catching my breath. Moving it back up to 80 has helped some but I still have breathing difficulty days. He also knows zilch about the Bio PM. Now I have talked to the Biotronick company they assure us they are working at making a valid presence in the south, but I will be driving to Tulsa (about 3hrs. from here) to meet with my first biotronick tech since 2004. He feels like the CLS has probably been turned OFF among other settings being off. Evidently the Biotronick pm has an emotional setting(CLS) and I, not knowing it, was even part of a test Biotronick did to prove these were good settings to have on a pacemaker...never knew this until we have recently begun to ? what in the world is going on with my PM and the not being able to catch my breath thing. I know this sounds like rambling but I am hopeful that getting a Biotronick tech will help get me tweaked back into normalcy. Anyway thanks to some of your posts I now realize that adjustments DO COUNT!!!! Appreciate any prayers on Monday the 31st when I drive to Tulsa. Jackie


3 Comments

Prayers are coming

by janetinak - 2008-03-28 02:03:12

Gosh, Jackie. What a story! Rest assured that our thoughts will be with you on Monday.

Let us know how it goes please.

Janet

Biotonik

by bini - 2008-03-28 09:03:40

Hi Jackie,
I can feel your pain in trying to find a local cardio to deal with your Biotronik PM. I see a Dr. in Ohio who knows everything about my PM. But I live in Rhode Island, and my cardio here knows nothing about my PM. He didn't even know how to put the paper in the computer. I am truly his guinea pig.
Biotronik is still trying to spread their name in the US so it is still hard trying to find a Dr who knows this PM.
I have the Cylos and so far I love it...no problems.
My Dr. in Ohio told me that soon every Dr. will know about Biotronik bc their leads are supposed to be the best...even medtronic is now using them sometimes.

Biotronik is very advance in the type of PM's they make...especially with their closed loop response.

Anyway, I am rambling...but welcome to the club.

Thanks for the Biotronik comments

by jpayette - 2008-03-29 12:03:39

Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post about the Biotronik pm. Just knowing how to contact Biotronik reps that you recommend, and then knowing others have had trouble/success with cardiologists who do or don't know these machines helps. I suppose I was under the impression a pacer was a pacer and anyone could basically do the correct settings. That was then this is now after almost $20,00.000 later. I appreciate all the help all of you have so graciously taken time to give me. Also, I noticed a post from a Biotronk pm about Toshiba laptops,and it interfering with pm. Because of all the problems I've had I have kept a journal about what I was doing when pm seemed to give me problems...my laptop is a Dell and when I hold it on my lap (imagine) I have pm problems. Also, know it sounds crazy, but another time my pm gives me problems is at church. I go to a church that has lots of high powered music...aka LOUD at times and when this occurs I have pm problems...hate that because being a 60's child I do love to rock and roll. Someone has suggested it's not the magnets in the speakers but just the loud rhythm. Again, I don't know just know these two things never bothered me until my famous day and the button happy Dr. Well hopefully Monday will begin a happier chapter 2 to my pm episodes. Isn't this great... I know I am not crazy now...well I wouldn't go that far,,,but I do know I am not as uninformed as I was. Help is greatly appreciated!
To all of you who need technology to help your life, stay informed!!!

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