Hello

Seems I haven't posted since 2010!

My concern is that my doctor called to say he has had 'an alert' from Medtronic and they are going to remove the whole she-bang
in January.

He told me to not stress over this, okayyyy. Why do they not just call the week or two days before??

I have tiny veins and it took forever for them to get an IV to put the pacemaker in so I am dreading the very idea of surgery.

Has anyone else had their Medtronic InSync 3 removed?

5 Comments

Leads too?

by heckboy - 2015-11-25 09:11:21

By the whole she-bang, does this mean leads and the generator? Hopefully it's just the generator, then your recovery will be relatively easy.

New Device

by Sylvia1 - 2015-11-25 11:11:06

I have just had a Boston Incepta ICD and leads removed and I have thin veins.I had this put in couple of years ago under local anthaestic and took a while to put in.The removal of it and leads was done under general anaesthetic and even though it took a fair amount of time to remove device and leads,my recovery was much better re any shoulder pain which I had first time around from all the prodding and pushing to get wires through my thin veins?

Lead removal and replacement

by heckboy - 2015-11-26 01:11:52

So you have no underlying heart rate? Maybe someone who has been externally paced will chime in. I've not had to be externally paced, but was told that it was a possibility.

I have had a lead extraction, which is a relatively risky procedure. Mine went smoothly and I was riding a camel in the Middle east a few weeks later.

I sympathize about the IV and had a similar hard time with my IV for my 1st PM. The nurse gave up after treating me like a pin cushion and they did it in the OR. For me, ripping the tape off my hairy arms is the worst part of all these procedures, so this last time, I shaved anywhere they might possible put tape to safe myself the agony. :)

Sorry you have to go through this...was there a recall? Seems like there should be some kind of compensation there for you.

Scary stuff & other things. lol

by Bionic Beat - 2015-11-26 02:11:19

I've had an AV ablation, so think my ventricles would struggle to beat for a very short period if the InSync goes OuttaSync.

Doctor was not too forth coming about the problem, just wanted to let me know they've booked me in for replacement. Totally out of the blue. He said he didn't want me to stress over it.

He's known me for many years, so put the emphasis on the letter was being mailed out.

I asked straight up what is the problem and what could I expect. Life is too short for beating about the bush IMO.

He's a lovely guy, told me that the chances are slim but some of these pms are suddenly and precipitously losing power, rendering patients unconscious.
Due to my ablation, there is little chance that I would regain consciousness to call for help.

My response was, you can do this any time you wish!!
Wish it was booked for next week.

Thanks for your reply.

.

All of it

by Bionic Beat - 2015-11-26 12:11:54

Yes, heckboy, the whole thing is to be replaced.

It was such an ordeal trying to just get the IV line in, four anaesthetists trying while the surgeon drank coffee and checked the clock.

I am pm dependent, so that is also a concern. I know they use an external pm but then read that it's threaded through the groin?? Thought they just hook it up but to what if it's being removed. Scary stuff from my pov.

Thanks for your replies heckboy and Sylvia1.

At least it's been done to others, eh??

You know you're wired when...

Lifetime warranty no longer gives peace of mind.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.