A lag during interrogation

pacer checks

by Tracey_E - 2017-11-15 18:53:34

It's normal to feel funky for a few seconds during the check, esp when they turn it down. The key to the machine controlling the pacer is the little hockey puck they place over the device to communicate. Worst case if the machine ever crashed you'd just move it out of the way and the pacer would go out of test mode and back to regular.

I've been paced since 1994, so quarterly checks all those years plus extras during annual visits and when something was going on. In other words, more checks than I could possibly count! It's never once malfunctioned. Sometimes it takes longer than others, but it's never locked up or shut down.  

Scary, Isn't it!

by NiceNiecey - 2017-11-16 02:22:07

I've experienced the same thing but my doctor, or the cardiac nurse doing the interrogation, has explained that they lower my heartrate to 30 BPM (the doctor may have 'turned it off' completely but the nurse isn't allowed to).  They tell me they are checking for escape rhythms which are God's backup mechanisms in the event our hearts fail to beat.  Obviously, the pacer is doing the beating (or some of it) for us.  But at 30 BPM I, too, begin to faint.  They bring me back very quickly and all is well.  I'm not sure your doctor meant what he said with his "the computer lagged for a few seconds" comment.  My nurse volunteered during my last interrogation in the office that she is extremely careful with those of us who are PM dependent (as opposed to those with a PM but not necessarily PM dependent).  Comforting to know!

Happy Thanksgiving.  We have much to be thankful for.

pacer checks

by tammyjk1021 - 2017-11-16 08:03:45

I used to get sick and faint as well.  Finally, I got a nurse that could do the check without putting me through all of that.  Another thing I started doing was bringing someone with me to occupy me by talking.  For whatever reason, it seemed to do the trick.  

I had the medtronic mica when it was still in testing so it was really scary for me thinking it may fail or something.  I was lucky enough to get someone from the medtronic team to do my tests the first year.  She explained to everyone that I was very sensitive ect.  and even went so far as to show my nurse how to interrogate my device.  Then, she would keep me talking about family, life ect while testing me.  

IMO, you shouldnt have to go through all of that.  Yes, it might be uncomfortable but you should not be put through that.  I would absolutely call Boston about it.  They may even send someone out to do your check next time.  

As for the power outage thing, I wouldnt worry.  If the power goes out, your PM is no longer under control of the evil wand. lol

Awful feeling

by Gotrhythm - 2017-11-17 14:15:02

People vary greatly in terms of how much they feel what happens as the tech fiddles with their pacemaker.

Me, I feel it a lot, and I am cursed with having an exaggerated startle reflex. The first few PM interrogations were horrendous for me. I kept begging the tech to warn me before she did stuff. I didn't handle asking her to be more sensitive well, and she handled it worse. She became defensive and huffy like I was the one doing something wrong. I never went back there.

Tammy is right. You shouldn't have to go through that and you don't. Later, I found out they can put in a caution that will show up at the start of every test, that tells the tech you have a strong reaction, and they can deal with it differently and in a way that takes your experience into account.

If I could do it over, before I left the practice, I would tell the doctor that the experience was so awful I was unwilling to repeat it for something that was just a test.

Very Grateful

by verne8 - 2017-11-17 15:23:32

Your replies have, as always, been helpful as well as supportive. That is why I love this group so, so much.

I called Boston Scientific and even they couldn't answer my main question. Their response was, "In 20 years of doing this, I've never heard of such a thing."

I understand that during the "test" you can feel like you are about to faint for a second or two which is NOT pleasant. What concerned me this last time was something different.

That awful feeling was lasting far too long and I really was about to pass out or...worse. What upset me was I asked the doctor, "What in the world was that?" His answer was the the programmer "lagged" for just a second. As I said in my first post, I didn't have the presence of mind to "push" further for an explanation at that moment but it's bothered me since..

What if the programmer DOES NOT return your rhythm to above 30 where it is tested at? Do you just die? Keel over?????? Someone suggested tossing the wand down. Well, my doctor only needs me to hold the wand in place for a few seconds and then he takes it because it is done by Bluetooth.

I tried asking Boston Scientific that if the programmer just "exploded" (a huge exaggeration to get my point across) would my PM go back to it's regular rhythm or would it stay at the test place in which case, I may be quite dead. I couldn't get them to grasp what I was asking. VERY FRUSTRATING to say the least...

Thanks again for the help... Guess I'll have to just put this in God's hands and call it good.

Had the same problem

by Theknotguy - 2017-11-18 09:44:38

Had the same or similar problem as you.  Would walk out of doctor's office with a headache and sometimes go into afib the next day.  Doctor, of course, told me it wasn't happening that way.  

Talked with the pacemaker tech who was doing the reading.  He said they were runniing up the ventrical side and that was giving me the weird feelings.  Made sure I always go the same tech for the readings and he'd go easy on the ventrical side.  Problem solved.  

Doc and I have a good rapport.  He sometimes forgets he doesn't have a pacemaker and I remind him.  "Hey, you don't know what it feels like doc!!!"  So we get along OK.  

Now, if I go to a different office and get a new or different tech I just tell 'em to take it easy on the ventrical test.  Don't give them a choice to get huffy or miffed as I've got the pacemaker and they don't.  It's my body and not theirs so they should be courteous. 

People, as patients, sometimes forget we have the ultimate say in what goes on.  So if you have a medical person who is going to work on you and you don't like their attitude or how they work on you, YOU can tell them to stop and not do the procedure.  You might end up with a nose-to-nose session with the doctor, but there's no reason to have un-necessary pain just because the other person doesn't like or can't do their job.  

Thank you Theknotguy...

by verne8 - 2017-11-18 11:35:33

Though we actually have top notch cardiologists here in ONE practice...it's the only game in town or even within 300 miles. So...I have to be really careful or I WILL BE without a cardiologist completely. They are good. They know they are good AND they know they are the only game in town. Not a great spot.

While I don't like how I feel, my real concern is WHAT IF THE PROGRAMMER stops working???? Does my heart rate stay at 30 and I'm a gonner OR does the interrogation stop and my PM returns to normal settings?

If the programmer stops working

by LondonAndy - 2017-11-19 04:15:59

As I understand it, when the "puck" (communication device) is placed over your pacemaker site it activates a switch to put the pacemaker into testing mode.  So if the programmer stopped working (extremely unlikely) then simply moving the puck away from you will return your pacemaker to normal operation.

But I am not a tech, just another (100% dependent) pacemaker recipient.

LondonAndy

by verne8 - 2017-11-19 18:47:52

Thank you for your help. That makes sense except once they put the wand over my PM for a few seconds it goes to Bluetooth and the wand is no longer needed. Sigh...You know you're in trouble when even the maker of your PM doesn't know the answer. Ugh...