PACEMAKER REPS

I keep seeing over and over that there are reps for pacemakers that some are meeting with or talking to them and having them check their pacemakers. How do you find a rep? I would appreciate all the info I could get, seems the doctor's don't tell you these things. I've had my pacemaker for 3 weeks now. I was feeling great at first, but now I get chest pains, sob, and I'm tired. Not sleeping well either. My doctor says this isn't normal so I had a chest xray done and a 24 hour holter. I'm waiting on results. Thanks for any info.

Margaret

3 Comments

SEEIN A PACEMAKER REPS

by SMITTY - 2007-10-25 01:10:22

Hello Margaret,

"How do you find a rep?" I'm afraid you could have a tough row to hoe on that one. OK, my cotton picking days showed up in that statement and if you are not familiar with that term, lets put it this way, you may have a difficult time seeing a manufacturer’s rep, mainly because your doctor would have to set you up to be seen by the rep.

Because I have been down this road, if it were I now, I would first contact the manufacturer of my pacemaker. I have and from what I have seen others say here, these people are very helpful. Remember, you may be a doctor’s patient, but you are that PM manufacturer's customer. Tell them what your problems are and see if you can get any advice on seeing a rep. My GUESS is they will refer you back to your doctor. In which case you can tell him you would like to see a rep. If he agrees that is a good idea, you are home free. If he doesn't agree, you may have to change doctors. I'm guessing a cardiologist implanted your PM and if so find an electrophysiologist and be sure he knows exactly what you want. It is entirely possible that an electrophysiologist can solve all your problems

It has long been my contention that just because a doctor has the surgical skills to implant a PM does not mean that doctor knows how to get you the best results from your PM. That pacemaker is a very sophisticated electronic device. I think a few days ago when replying to someone I equated expecting all doctors to know all the ins and outs of a PM is about like expecting an electrician to know all the ins and out of your computer. That doctor knows cardiology well enough to know you need a PM and he knows how to implant the device and thread the tiny wires called leads into your heart. While that electrician knows all about the electricity your computer must have to run, but when it comes to knowing about their operation, many of them would be about as lost as I am when I look inside my computer.

The best I can offer is keep calling that doctor whenever you think about it. If you can't sleep call that doctor during one of your sleepless times. No reason he should be able to sleep when you can't because of something he did. Another possible avenue for help is to contact by telephone or letter the administrator of the hospital where your PM was implanted and complain about the care you are getting from a doctor that is practicing medicine in their hospital. I can assure you that your reception from that administrator will be very cool, but that does not mean they will not say anything to the doctor. The first thing that goes through an administrator's mind when they get such call is to do whatever is necessary to avoid a possible law suit

I wish you the best,

Smitty

Interested...

by leila - 2007-10-25 01:10:53

I have also had chest pains and problems sleeping, ever since mine was implanted in January of 2006. If you get any information on this, please let me in on it! Thanks a bunch!

PM reps are essential

by maestro - 2007-10-26 06:10:16

I have a Medtronic PM, and I rely upon the M reps to ensure my PM is properly programmed.
The surgeon who installed the PM set the voltage higher than the manufacturer's maximum. I suffered for 19 months with the high voltage. It hurt.

The next surgeon I got turned the voltage down, but she raised the current level to 200% of the recommended maximum. She caused me atrial fibrillation which became dangerous and debilitating.

It was only thru the Medtronic customer service engineer and their Manuals on the web that I discovered the horrors of improper settings -- and what correct setting parameters are.

I now have a non-surgeon cardiologist and he always brings in a senior manufacturer's expert to consult on the PM settings. What a blessing.

Good luck. You need to stand up for your rights. I have never met a surgeon who is an electronics expert.

You know you're wired when...

Your signature looks like an EKG.

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I have an ICD which is both a pacer/defib. I have no problems with mine and it has saved my life.