Carolyn65

I had my first PM w/ablation on 10/2; a Boston Scientific Altrua. I went back to the cardiologist's for the first time today 10/9, a week later for a regular appt. Someone at the cardiolgist's office put a device/wand on my PM & did something on their computer. They said they liked to keep everyone at the same number they had been before their PM implant for the first 3 months after the PM implant. Mine is at 80; whatever this means. After my asking her, she said I should be able to do my every day routine, just not lift too much nor raise my arm high on my left side for 8 weeks. I "think" I feel OK, still just some tired like before. I forgot to ask if it was alright for me to be travelling by car for 2 weeks at a time alone, not knowing any symptoms to look for if any need for medical help. Before my PM I had not had the symtoms I have read here, such as passing out/faintness/short of breath, etc. I really thought the cardiologist who put in my PM would be looking at my implant area today and asking me questions, but I did not see him and was told by the person with the "wand" I would only need to see him once a year. I guess I have used up my next 3-4 years with the number of times I had seen him before PM implant. Anyway, my next visit with this person with the "wand" will be in 3 months. Does this all sound about normal? My implant scar is very nice, a little swollen and she suggested hot packs, but the scar itself is very nice. WARFARIN: I was 2.1 today at the coumadin check office. I had been 4.1 before the PM implant. The tech just keeps moving my mg. around; M/W is 2.5 mg. and the other days are 5 mg. I go back in a week for another blood check. The tech asked me what I was doing different, and I have not changed my eating habits. I am a widow who does not cook anymore much and eat alone, but I have not changed my eating habits. Can anyone relate to the wide range of 4.1 to 2.1? For 4 months I had stayed in the 2-3 point range until the last 2 months or so. Thank you for all your "comments" to me over the last four months. Without all of you and your questions/comments I could not have stayed as up to date as I am. Please keep your experiences on these two subjects going for me. ( : Carolyn G. ~ The Worrier

2 Comments

New pacer settings

by ElectricFrank - 2009-10-09 10:10:09

Depends on what your condition is and what settings they used when they finished the implant. The pacemaker comes from the factory set to "default settings". Since these have to handle almost any condition that could be encountered with any patient, they are set very conservative. In my case the HR limits were set to a lower limit of 70 and and upper limit of 120. As soon as I started going out for walks I noticed that my heart was skipping beats anytime I exceeded 120. I called the cardiologist office and told them I wanted an appt to change the upper limit to 145. After a bit of a fight they did that plus a couple of other changes I asked for. That made all the difference and I was able to get back to an active life.

This is just an observation.I notice that they keep changing your med, but want to leave the pacer alone. This leads me to think they aren't competent with the pacer and don't know what to do with the settings.

Anyway, if you have questions or problems insist on seeing the technical rep from the manufacturer. They are much more competent.

frank

pacer settings

by mendedheart - 2009-10-10 04:10:30

My Metronic Kappa 700 lasted seven & half years. My new Metronic Adapta was implamted & took over two months to set the correct settings for me. They went back to my old settings same as the Kappa. This one has many new features but my main settings are the same & all running smooth at this time.
But I did feel bad for the first two months with pulse120 at rest. It took two Metronic reps, Electrophysilogist all working to find the correct setting. My old Kappa was perfect but a long while before the new one was in good working order.

Good luck,
Mendedheart from Southern CA

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