Just saying Hello!

I just found your site&signed on.After reading some of the messages, I guess I've been lucky. My PM was installed& I volunteered for a research program in my area.The only thing I don't like about the pacer is the every other month phone checks.Are they really as good as an office check? They never tell you anything when their done but I guess since it's still beating I'm okay!
So far there have been no problems. I've had my PM since2004.Thanks for letting me talk.Till next time,
weezylou

5 Comments

saying hello

by luckyloo - 2007-06-10 09:06:00

hi weezy,

i was told they get a ton of info from the phone checks. i do them weekly. the only thing they can't do is check the leads by speeding each chamber up...you know those lovely tests that feel so wonderful :o(

luckyloo

Pacemaker Checkups

by SMITTY - 2007-06-10 11:06:32

Hello Wheezy,

Wellcome to the PM Club site.

Your message prompted me to rethink what I thought I knew about pacemaker checkups. I've had my PM for seven years and get a telephone checkup twice a year and have to go to the office a checkup twice a year. I have talked to the nurse/technicians about what they were doing, and thought I had a pretty good idea of what was going on. But, as I said, your question prompted to go looking and see what I could learn. The following is from the Medtronic website. While I have a Medtronic PM, I expect the procedure to be about the same for all makes.

I would have to say the most important thing I learned was I don't know much about what is going on during my PM checkups. Hope it helps you some.

Smitty

QWhat is pacemaker follow-up and why is it important?

A Pacemaker follow-up monitors the many elements involved in pacemaker performance including the pacemaker’s program settings, interaction with
your heart, and battery status. Pacemaker monitoring relies primarily on Electrocardiogram (ECG) testing. An ECG records the electrical activity of both your heart and pacemaker. An ECG can be done in the doctor’s
office, a hospital pacemaker clinic, or over the telephone.

QHow often should my pacemaker be checked?

A This is determined by your physician. Your follow-up schedule will vary depending on the type of pacemaker you have, your medical condition, and the usual practice of your pacemaker clinic or doctor’s office. Usually a pacemaker follow-up schedule is set up during your first visit to your doctor following the implantation of your pacemaker. Your follow-up schedule will change during the lifetime of your pacemaker with more frequent hecks as it nears its expected replacement time.

QWhat is telephone monitoring?

A It is a convenient method of transmitting an ECG by telephone. Your ECG is picked up and sent through a special telephone transmitter. It converts your pulse and pacemaker data into a signal that is recorded by an ECG receiver in the monitoring technician’s office. Your ECG is analyzed by the monitoring technician and then is sent to your physician.

QWho provides telephone monitoring?

A Telephone monitoring may be provided by a trained technician or nurse in your physician’s office or pacemaker clinic, or may be provided by a monitoring service company. Medtronic does not provide telephone
monitoring. The monitoring expense is usually submitted to the patient’s insurance company.

QHow is telephone monitoring arranged?

A If telephone monitoring is selected for you by your hysician, a prescription will be written for the frequency of the monitoring. A monitoring schedule is then set up by the monitoring frequency of the monitoring. A monitoring schedule is then set up by the monitoring service and you will be phoned at scheduled times for an ECG transmission.

YOUR PHYSICAN OR MONITORING SERVICE WILL ARRANGE FOR YOU TO RECEIVE THE
NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FOR TELEPHONE MONITORING.

QWill my pacemaker be checked in the doctor’s office and, if so, what may I expect?

A Your doctor will decide how often you should come into the office. Generally, if telephone monitoring is used, a comprehensive office pacemaker check is usually done once a year for patients with single chamber pacemakers, and twice a year for patients with dual chamber pacemakers. This thorough office visit provides a more detailed analysis of your pacemaker’s operation. The testing uses a piece of equipment called a programmer. The programmer wand is held over the skin of the pacemaker site. The programmer then receives information from the pacemaker. A comprehensive in-office pacemaker check usually lasts about an hour or less. Typically you may expect the following:

ECG Recordings As in pacemaker monitoring, an ECG will be recorded and interpreted by the technician or physician.

Magnet Check

A programmer magnet may be applied over your pacemaker causing it to pace at a set rate that disregards your heart’s natural beat. During the
magnet check, the technician can check some of the program settings of the pacemaker and the status of the pacemaker battery. Not all pacemaker patients will have a programmer magnet applied.

Thresholds Check

Testing will determine the least amount of energy (battery power) necessary to make your heart beat consistently. This is important for consistent pacing, and to maximize the pacemaker’s battery life.

Pacemaker Sensing Check

Besides pacing your heart, your pacemaker monitors your natural heart rhythm (sensing) by receiving the electrical signals generated by a naturally occurring heart beat. Therefore, the pacemaker’s able to help your heart when it is not beating normally, and leave your heart lone
when it is. During the pacemaker checkup, sensing is verified in either the atrium or ventricle for single chamber pacemakers, or both the atrium and the ventricle for dual chamber pacemakers.

Programming Check

The physician or technician will check the program settings of your pacemaker. If it is beneficial, your pacemaker settings can be changed to address changes in your lifestyle or your medical condition. If you have a rate responsive pacemaker, you may be asked to perform a physical activity. The periodic comprehensive in-office pacemaker check is best
suited to determine if your pacemaker is programmed for delivering the best therapy for you.

QHow can I learn more about my pacemaker?

A Your physician or cardiology nurse is best suited to answer questions about your pacemaker.

phone checks

by weezylou - 2007-06-11 02:06:53

Thanks thomast,
I didn't know you could request that! How come they never tell us about things like this? Afraid
we might ask questions?There are times when I get really tired being treated like every thing is "need to know basis"when it's my body.
Thanks again,weezylou

monthly phone checks

by thomast - 2007-06-11 10:06:03

When I have my phone check every 3 months , I have them send me a complete copy of the printout, along with the summary. After reading enough of them I am beginning to understand them. I then take them to the next visit with the Doctor and ask questions about them.

Pacer info.

by weezylou - 2007-06-11 12:06:41

Thanks for all the info.I should know a lot more than I do
considering my Dr. is not only a cardiologist but does PM clinical trials & testing. He's well known in the field, at least in my area(Milwaukee).
It's like the old saying,"Curiosity didn't kill the cat,
stupidity did'.I've been very lucky as far as my PM goes.
Odd little problems but whats the alternative,right?
Glad to know there's a place I can turn to for answers
from others like me instead of just doctors.
weezylou













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