"shocks"

Hello All,
Just got my PM May 2009, recenty been having what feels like little shock episodes, read some previous posts and sounds like it may be set to high or a lead problem.

So where do I start? I am going to contact Dr on Monday, should I request an xray so they can check the leads?

The first night they put in a external PM and went through my jugular (with the leads) - the next day they did the internal PM and the Dr did have a hard time with one of the leads ( I have two - I was awake enough to hear them talking and asked him the next day what the problem was).

Also, if there is a problem with the leads on their end.....I don't have insurance......and about $50,000 in bills, will they recharge me? Do I have any recourse on that or just go deeper in debt :-)~.

I'm 46 and got mine because of a slow heart rate. Started passing out, and my heart was pausing for up to 8 seconds.
Thanks to all.

4 Comments

Shocking Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2009-09-18 10:09:24

Hello SkyeHi,

If this is your first visit to the Pacemaker Club, let me say WELCOME Hope you find your visits useful.
.
You have your pacemaker for the same reason I got mine, low heart rate, so they tell me. I also have one that shocked the daylights out of me for several years, before I got that stopped. I've had mine for 9 years. While I can't tell what you need to do I can tell you my experience and what I would do if I were in your place.

First, I would not ask for specific tests (X-ray, etc) let them decide what needs to be done to find the cause of what is going on. However, on my first complaint they did do X-ray to see if the leads were in place. Then tell them the pacemaker is shocking you. I used to describe mine as feeling just like an electric shock but without the muscle contractions. When you do that my guess is they will do a pacemaker checkup to see if PM settings need to be altered. But each doctor has his own procedure for determining the cause of symptoms so what yours will do is anybodies guess right now.

I will say you should be prepared to hear them say "there is nothing wrong with the pacemaker and it is working fine) or something to that effect. If they do this be ready to stomp your feet and say d***** this thing is shocking me and I want it fixed. That may be a little more harsh than you will need, but the point is be prepared to insist that something be done. The bad part is they may not be able totally correct the problem the first time as, so far as I can tell, correcting such problems can be a lot of trial and error.

Of course I can't say what they may do if there is a defect with the pacemaker, or lead(s), so far as charging you. But you might think of the fact that you have doctors, hospital and manufacturer involved in defective devices, so you can flip a coin to decide what their response may be. Should worse come to worse, never forget that you always have the recourse of seeking advice from an attorney.

With that I'll stop and let others offer their advice.

I wish you the best,

Smitty

Same problem with shocking

by lama - 2009-09-18 11:09:09

My husband had the same problem with his, he was getting "shocked". I would lay beside him in bed and watch him jerk from it! We went to the dr's so many times and told them about it and they would always say its not shocking you. They would look at what the pm was doing and say nope, no shocks. The last time we went in (last week) we said fine then tell us what it is that feels like shocks. The dr said it was a nerve (I forget what he called it). The tech (not the normal tech, she had no clue, it was a tag along tech lol) said it was a setting in the pm. The tech tweaked the pm till he could recreate the "event", then changed that setting. Hasn't happened since. I wish I could tell you what setting they changed, but they don't seem willing to share much info at this office.

Good luck,

Wendy

Shocks

by ElectricFrank - 2009-09-18 11:09:38

I agree with Smitty on not telling them what to check. As far as the shocks are concerned there are a number of possible causes. You didn't say where you are feeling them. Unless you have an ICD (defibriator), which gives a lot more than little shocks, a pacemaker usually doesn't shock you. It is usually more like a muscle twitching somewhere.

A common related cause though is a rough area around the body of the pacer can irritate nerve endings and give a shock like feeling. Kind of like hitting your crazy bone on the elbow.

Just go in ready to describe what you are experiencing and make it clear that it is very uncomfortable. If they say to just give it time to settle down, ask how long, insist on a date, and write it down. I always carry a notepad or my dictation recorder. It would also be a good idea to ask about how long you can wait before having to pay for the whole thing yourself.

good luck,

frank

shocks

by SkyeHi - 2009-09-20 12:09:56

Thank you for the advice, I will do that.
Yes it's hard to describe the pain, it's enough to make me go "owww" out loud sometimes when it does it two or three times in a row, but it's not a severe sharp pain. If that makes sense. The pain is around or in the heart area, chest area.

I'm so afraid of having to go in and have it done again if they have to do it over? I'm just ready to ride my horses again and don't want to go through that
again :-( but of course if that's the option then I have to.

This is my first visit to this site and it is very imformative. When my dog got diabetes I learned more on line than from my vet visits. People that have been there and done that are the best source.

Lynne


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