First checkup

I'm scheduled for my first post PM checkup, not where it was planted since that is so far away, but got info from the company of a closer place to go. Can anybody tell me a little about what to expect? The PM was placed for 3rd degree AV block, brady in the 30s. I had no symptoms and was pretty surprised when this happened, but now I'm kinda lost in the medical jungle a guide would be helpful.

When I first learned I needed this thing, you guys were so helpful and supportive, I guess I just want to hear from some of you again.

4 Comments

RFLOL

by Zia - 2010-10-20 08:10:51

Hey Smitty

Are you sure the tech types will be able to do any checking after they get up from rolling on the floor? Seeing me run naked down the hall would not contribute to their sanity.

Anyway thanks so much for the good laugh and the great description of what happens. I've been procrastinating on this because I didn't want to go all the way back to Tucson (about 250 hwy miles & no air transp available) just for a checkup. Now I only need to go half as far and it sounds like a walk in the park with or w/o clothes on. Maybe I can get one of those phone monitor gadgets and save some mileage for next time.

Thanks again for your helpfulness


First Checkup

by SMITTY - 2010-10-20 08:10:55

Hi Zia,

The first thing they will do is have you take off all of your clothes. Then they make you run naked up and down the hallway for about 3 minutes to get your heart pumping real good. And now that I have attention I'll quit fibbing to you.

A pacemaker checkup is a lot like an EKG only I sit in a recliner rather than lie down. They place four electrodes (just like the ones used in an EKG) on your chest. Then the nurse/technician sits at their computer and gets some readings on what your pacemaker has been doing and what it has recorded. They then place a magnet over your pacemaker. The magnet you may feel. When they put it over mine it feels like a very irregular (and sometime hard) heart beat for a few (10 to 30 seconds) and after that you do not feel it at all. The N/T will then go back to the computer and get more readings. While the magnet is in place they can make changes in the settings on the pacemaker if any are needed. If they make any you will not feel a thing. Total time for my checkup run from 15 to 30 minutes.

The N/T is not likely to volunteer any information about what they see or do as that is usually left for the doctor to do.

When it is all done they will get a printout, or hard copy, of what they the computer has seen. I always ask for a copy of this as it contains some information I can understand and between that and the questions it provides me to ask Google I think I can keep up with a little of what is going on with my pacemaker.

Again, it is about like an EKG with a couple of steps added, but just as painless.

Good luck.

Smitty

Over the phone

by Beckes76 - 2010-10-21 03:10:43

You might want to ask to do check-ups over the phone. It is called CardioCare (I believe). I do it at my convenience and at home. I have a 24 hour window to do it. It is awesome. I call them to see what my results are and that is it. That takes about ten minutes. Check it out.

Becky

Clothes off or on?

by #1grandma - 2010-10-21 11:10:46



Good one, Smitty!!!

Sally

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