Bad experience

• by tammy11
• 2012-03-09 09:03:46
• Checkups & Settings
• 1517 views
• 5 comments

I'm 41 and had my pacemaker put in October of last year. I'm still struggling with getting the rate response set to where I like it. I went to the pacemaker clinic on Tuesday and met with the tech and the Medtronic rep. After several attempts to help me I left the office not feeling very well. I knew they turned on the atrial preference pacing, but what I didn't know was they changed my threshold rate from med/high to med/low. I was experiencing rapid heart rate during minimal activity, so they had me come in on Wednesday to turn off the preference pacing, but never changed back the threshold rate. I knew something wasn't right and called the cardio office Thursday to complain about it. I was told that all the settings were changed back to EXACTLY the way they were prior to Tuesday and to start taking a beta blocker to help lower my heart rate. I was told there was NO WAY the pacemaker was causing this problem. I wasn't buying it because I had them change the threshold once before and knew how it felt. They assured me this didn't happen and to take the beta blocker. Basically I felt forced to take it. I called the office today and had them fax me a copy of my last 4 pacer checks and sure enough the setting had been changed. When I called back the receptionist told me that I was over thinking this, and that I was topic of conversation yesterday, and I really need to quit thinking about my heart rate, and take a pill, and quit calling the office to complain. I was told the pacer tech was out, as well as the nurse. I then asked to speak with the office manager and he said she can't help you fix anything and I said and you being the receptionist can?? I was told the doctor would call me and he suggested I take a pill and wait for him to call. Good thing I didn't take the pill because he never called. I contacted a friend of mine who is a pacer tech and she had me come into her office and changed the setting back to med/high and now, NO MORE TACHYCARDIA. I'm so upset that they were going to force me to take medication to try and fix something without hearing me out. How many other people does this happen to? I was lucky enough to know better, just because I had felt that way once before, but to have a doctor not believe me just really upsets me. Always listen to what your instincts are telling you!!! I thank God that I have a friend that was able to help me today or I would be sitting here with a fast heart rate and a beta blocker not doing anything for it.