Check up questions.

My husband goes in for a pacer check in a week.

After reading all the posts on here I was hoping anyone could help me come up with a list of questions we should ask the doctor. Things most people would like to know.

I want to find out what his low threshhold setting is?
EF %?
How often it is pacing him?

I am lost on what we should be asking. I know I am going to ask for a copy of everything.

Thanks in advance.

Wendy

2 Comments

Questions

by J.B. - 2009-08-07 09:08:49

Wendy,

I can't tell you what to ask because I don't know what concerns you most, but you might try making a list of any thing you cna think of to ask them. They should be able to tell you the high and low set points on his pacemaker. In fact that is on my printouts. I have to ask my pacing percentages and when I do that usually gets added to the information on the printout. Unless his pacemaker is way ahead of mine, they will not be able to tell you what his %EF is from the information the get from the checkup. I have to get a test, such as an ehcogram or MUGA for this number. They have given me this number when they did a heart catherrization.

But get the printout and that will provide guidelines for questions during his next checkup.

Good luhc to your hubby,

J.B.

??

by pete - 2009-08-08 03:08:39

Interesting questions.
Ask them if there have been any untoward events recorded. Ask them if you have a rescue rhythym/residual pacing (sometimes also called an "R" rhythym, if you are pacemaker dependant, ie have had an AV node ablation. Your pacemaker I think has a "gas guage"- ask to see it on the screen. If no gas guage they should still be able to tell you about the life and condition of the battery. It will give you confidence in the life left in the battery. They should be able to tell you roughly how long the battery will last. Ask for the impedance of all leads in ohms- note the figures carefully and check the figures at subsequent check ups. A significant change in impedance suggests a problem developing in the leads etc. Ask them how much you are being paced in each lead in percentage terms and compare it at the next check up - if a large change , question why. Ask them if they are going to alter any of the settings. Ask for a print out so that you can compare it with the next one. And above all thank them for their help. Good technicians are like gold dust. Cheers Peter

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