PM/Batt replacement ?

• by Dave H
• 2014-05-20 09:05:08
• Batteries & Leads
• 1450 views
• 1 comments

My message is 40% inquiry/60% rant. I've had a Medtronic 3-lead Consulta implanted 2years ago so I've got some time (4 -6 yrs - I'm being 100% paced) before the battery runs low. Checking the posts here, and my personal experience suggests that we all have about a 50% chance of choosing the correct Doc for any procedure. My history: An EP ignored my 125 pulse for 2 months (post atrial ablations) before he agreed to see me in clinic. A couple years earlier, his non-EP buddy gave me bacterial pneumonia during a TEE/cardioversion procedure. I replaced that cardiologist with one who decided to put me on Aspirin as an anticoagulant when a blood draw revealed my low platelet issue. Even I knew Aspirin is not the correct treatment as an anticoagulant. Replacement Doc agreed --- put me on Warfarin, but would not OK the Phillips at home monitoring. I agreed to use his clinic for INR checks. After four months his clinic had upped my warfarin dosage by 50%, and still could not bring me in INR range. I became suspicious about the accuracy of their "finger-stick" equipment. and talked my primay care Doc into OKing the at home device. I resumed the warfarin dosages I used in the past and Voila! My INR has been rock steady at 2.4 for weeks now. I have no need to report this event to my current cardiologist. When the day comes, what's the most productive route to finding a competent Doc for PM replacement? I've been thinking of tracking down the EP who actually implanted my PM - He did that chore as a "favor" for my original EP. It went without a hitch. Neighbor had the same Doc implant her PM --- also with no issues. He is not affiliated with the group I currently see, but I see no reason why not to request his services. Any thoughts, gang?

--Dave--