change doctors?

Hi- I am an active 67-year-old in excellent physical condition from a small southern city. A few weeks ago I went to a cardiologist because I'd occasionally been feeling light-headed. Monitor recording disclosed pauses up to 3.65 seconds. The cardiologist told me that I had sick sinus syndrome and needed a pacemaker. Other doctors agreed, so I picked one of those docs to do the implantation and went in to him with a detailed list of my activities (backpacking, climbing to 20,000 feet, whitewater kayaking, regular intense aerobic and resistance training, etc.). He said he thought that I could return to that level of activity if I gave myself plenty of time to recover from the surgery. So I agreed to the surgery.

At the hospital just before the implantation, I asked the doctor if he could locate the device at a place on my body that would not get in the way of my backpack strap. He proceeded to give me an uninvited act-your-age lecture, saying that I had been living on the edge, and strongly implying that I needed to make a choice between the pacemaker and my previous way of life.

My two adult daughters were there in the room when I was speaking with the doctor. After he left, they agreed that I probably did need the surgery, but that I should change doctors afterwards. They felt like he was trying to close the sale, but I'm more concerned about his inconsistencies. Also, besides the mixed messages from him, I've gotten contradictory information from other people involved with my case, and I'm having a hard time figuring out how I should take care of myself for the next few months.

So, should I change doctors, and if so, how should I go about doing it? I live about an hour away from a big city with a major medical center. and I'm willing to travel farther than that. My goal would be to find someone who would (a) give specific and consistent answers to my specific questions, (2) give me specific and consistent directions for what to do and what not to do, (3) adjust the settings on my device to accommodate my activities, and generally (4) make clinical judgments rather than categorical judgments about my case.

6 Comments

Cleveland Clinic

by MSPACER - 2007-10-02 07:10:31

It's the Cleveland Clinic. They are supposed to be tops in the area. If I were you, I would change doctors. Your doctor should address all of your concerns, and answer questions that you have. He gave you a stupid answer. While you should be able to return to a lot of your activities, you will have to be a little more careful, especially if you do weight training. You don't want to pull or damage a lead. You will need a little time to recover, and the area will be uncomfortable with a backpack strap for a while, but you should be able to wear one after a few months. I'm not sure about climbing 20,000 feet though.

Hi!

by tcrabtree85 - 2007-10-02 09:10:54

I have no idea where you live but I recommend you to go to Mayo Clinic or to the hospital located in Ohio. I have been learning while on my stay how much my doctors didn't know things. I wish you luck. They may also be able to place a pm in your abdomen.... not sure though. You will be in my thoughts.

Blessings,
Tammy

Hi!

by tcrabtree85 - 2007-10-02 10:10:12

Sorry I don't know the name of the one in Ohio it's in Cleveland I think... Though I know if you look at some others posting it will show. I am at Mayo right now and they have really helped me already. Take care of yourself and good luck.
Tammy

hospital in Ohio

by ledvinka - 2007-10-02 10:10:55

Thanks for the suggestions, Tammy. I will follow up on them. Do you know the name of that hospital in Ohio?

update

by ledvinka - 2007-10-03 01:10:54

Thanks everyone for all your ideas. I am following up with Cleveland Clinic, Mayo, and a few closer places. I'll also look at any other places people think might be promising. My recovery has been pretty painless for the first week now. The PM raises my heart rate much higher than I'm used to (60-70 BPM resting and 130 BPM when I walk around the block), and my blood pressure has been high, but I think those things will get resolved in time as my body gets used to the PM and my doc adjusts the settings. Regarding placement of the PM: the doc said there was only one place he could put it, and he put it there. Time will tell whether it interferes. I went ahead and ordered the SoftTouch pad. I'm determined to do everything possible to get back to where I was with my activities, and I'll keep you posted.

water sports

by jhall - 2007-11-25 02:11:54

Having lived with these devices for 16yrs it's easy to almost forget they are there ,BUT let me relate an experience . Last Feb , had most recent of 4 pacers put in , in June I without thinking dove off my dock for a quick swim .Prehaps 3 ft. off water . An olympic drver by no means ,the impack knocked the pacer loose and down in my chest as my doc said it had not set in the tissue yet .Thankfull for extra lead coiled behind the unit it still works . so be aware of impact with water especialy if you have a recent device
jhall

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I had a pacemaker since 2002 and ever since then my life has been a total blessing.