Hi all.
Its a good thing I have a sense of humor. I flew to the local medical center last week for my first follow-up since I had my node ablation and became completely pacer dependent. All has been going really well and it was supposed to be a simple interogation and perhaps a rate change. I lay down, the nurse wires me up and the doctor looks at the computer and says "Ok Great" Not what I wanted to hear. It turns out I have the latest and greatest Medtronic Adapta, so new that the Doctor's computer will not talk to the pacer. The computer needs a software upgrade. Since I was the one who joked about my pacer being Windows XP powered I find it really funny.
Bottom line:
Airfare to and from hospital $300.00
Lunch and taxi $32.00
Doctor having outdated software Priceless
John S

 

 

Sheesh, that's kind of pathetic, John. So will the EP or Medtronic deduct the $332 from your bill? Wonderful that you're able to conjure up a sense of humor about this! Thanks for sharing . . . gosh, the things we never think of in advance! :-) Cathryn

 

Hi John, We can all appreciate your sense of humor about a ridiculous set of circumstances. Why haven't Medtronic and the doctors thought about this in advance???????? Seems to me someone owes you $332.00 and a huge apology. Thanks for letting us laugh along with you.
Sharon

 

oh this is hilarious john. definetely ask them for the airfare and expenses. i am glad you are laughing because if you are basically okay then this is not a big one in the realm of things. good luck in getting a refund. jessie

 

Hello John, thank goodness you can laugh about it. You'd think that if they give you the latest and greatest pacer, they would consider that you might need to have it monitored somehow. Crazy people. How very shortsighted on their part. At least you are ok. Now about the expenses..... Maybe some freqent flyer miles would be a nice compensation package. Just a thought, pacergirl :)

 

Hi John, great that you can laugh about it - and make us laugh too. I too have an Adapta, the same model as yours and just received the Medtronic CareLink Monitor so I can do the phone monitoring instead of going to the tech every 3 months. It wasn't available until now. I think you are in Canada and I am not sure it is available outside USA but it is worth looking in to. No matter what, hopefully your doctor will be updated soon.

 

Hi John S,
I had a Medtronic Adapta implanted on March 6th. Before I was discharged from the hospital a rep from Medtronic came in and checked to see that everything was working and programmed correctly. I'm in the US - don't know if that relates to your situation.
I hope things in your area get updated soon.
I looked up the Adapta and found that it is the 'latest and greatest' and supposed to sense when your heart needs the extra help, but does nothing for the beats your heart can handle on its own.
M_Fox