transtelephonic transmitter

I went in today for my first 3 month check after having the pacemaker installed. The tech checked everything but didn't tell me any of the readings. Why do they make you ask the questions like; how much is it pacing? How long does it say the batteries have left etc. Anyway I asked about the transtelephonic transmitter and how do I get one. Mine should be coming in a couple of weeks. Does anyone know if that method of monitoring is as effective as actually going to the clinic? Also, is it possible in an electrical storm if lightning could go through the phone into the transmitter and then into my pacemaker. Maybe my questions sound kind of stupid, but I am new to all this.

10 Comments

No such thing as stupid questions!

by heartu - 2010-05-26 04:05:11

As far as I am concerned there is no such thing as a stupid question. This is not something you could just ask anyone about.

I just had to do a phone transmittal yesterday and the same info gets transmitted (as far as I know) as if you were in the doctor's office. When I had my office visit I asked for a copy of the initial and final report. The final includes what adjustments were made on the pm and your estimated battery life. I also got a copy of my ventricular histogram which showed the amount I was being sensed vs paced. Good to know.

About lightning going through the phone lines into the pacer, just make sure you do not transmit during an electrical storm. Personally I think your chances of getting struck by lightning are greater if you are outside taking a swing with a golf club during a lightning storm (I personally know someone this has happened to twice. You'd think he'd learned the first time. Must have 9 lives! LOL)

Good luck to you and ask anything you'd like. I am 3 month post pm today as well!

hi ananceti

by Hot Heart - 2010-05-26 04:05:36

Welcome to the site.

As heartu said no question is stupid, we all have our little doubts about things, and this is the place where we ask.

I dont know anything at all about phone interrogations, dont think we have them over here.

Look forward to your posts

HH

phone

by LS - 2010-05-26 06:05:50

I do the phone checks between office visits.
My second one is coming up next week.
It's very quick. I really doubt the lightening will come through the phone. Now I'm sure there is a very remote possibility of that happening, but have never heard of it.
Liz

RE: phone transmission

by sugar - 2010-05-26 07:05:03

Hi,

Good questions - I am scheduled to have my first one done in June - that may change because tomorrow I go on the 3 week tour with a monitor on. The only thing I have heard is that you need a landline. I would be interested in the shock possibility - we get alot of stormy weather here on Cape Cod. I can't believe someone was struck twice because of golfing and a storm. What the heck.
The person who does my regular testing in office isn't too informative either - I am not sure if they think we are all stupid and wouldn't understand what they are saying or what - I have asked for printouts like I would for an EKG and I still don't have them. I guess they get the same questions over and over - well then, they should have a brochure that explains item by item.
Let us know if you get any answers.
Good Luck, Sugar/Patty

Sugar

by LS - 2010-05-26 08:05:09

I've heard gold courses are one of the most dangerous places to be with an impending storm. Not to mention that lightening rod you're toting around with you! LOL
We live on a golf course & they have their own storm warning system with the sirens.
Liz

PM Checkups

by SMITTY - 2010-05-26 08:05:09


The nurse/technicians almost never volunteer any information for several reasons. They have a limited amount of time to do a checkup and if they volunteer information that can result in questions that will take time to answer. Those answers can result in more questions and on it goes. Also, you may ask a question they cannot answer which means they really prefer to keep the verbal exchanges to a minimum. Plus many patients do not understand things about their pacemaker except that is making their heart beat, so volunteering information to them can be waste of time. So, if you want to know what they see, ask questions and best of all request a copy of the checkup printout as most of them will answer many questions.

As for the telephone checkup, they get about the same information from it as they do during an office checkup. The major difference is the law does not allow them to make any changes in the pacemaker settings over the phone. As for it being as effective as going to the clinic I have to answer with a yes and no. In the telephone checkup they can download all information stored by the pacemaker since your last checkup. In my case they piddle with the settings to see if how my heart may responds, but I never know if all of that is beneficial or not but they can't do that over the telephone.

To sum this up in a few words, the office checkup is best, but the telephone checkup is good. The most important thing is for you to let the doctor know if you think you have a problem and let her/him decide if it is pacemaker related.

Good luck,

Smitty

Most knowledgeable answer

by NY Hiker - 2010-05-26 11:05:31

Here is the real scoop. Lightning is capable of coming through your phone during a storm and damaging the phone and equipment. It will not affect the pacer because it is like a cordless phone. It is not attached. It would be a good idea to install a surge protector between the phone line and the phone and equipment so this chance is minimized As for the other poster, by the time the sirens go off in may be too late. Lightning is capable of hitting about 10 miles off the storm. You could be standing in bright sunshine and be hit!

Depends

by ElectricFrank - 2010-05-27 01:05:06

It depends on the monitor. If it is one of the new wireless type it is no more a risk than being in a room with a cordless telephone. If it is one of the type that has a "puck" you put over the pacemaker site I wouldn't risk it. Sure there is no connection to your body, but depending on the lightning strike the voltage could easily be high enough to jump from the puck to you.

By the way don't depend on a surge protector. They are only designed to handle small voltage spikes. A lightning strike would scatter one of them all over the room.

As for the effectiveness of the phone vs office checkup, they measure the same things. The only issue might whether the tech would give as much attention to one of them as with a real patient in the office.

And finally, ask (or demand) that the office send you a copy of the report whether in the office or over the phone. Some of what you mentioned such as battery life is easily readable on the report. I have my cardio's office trained to mail me the report immediately after reading it.

PS, Any golfer who goes out on the course during a lightning storm deserves to become an example of natural selection.

frank

Lightening Strike

by J.B. - 2010-05-27 09:05:24

A lightening strike during a checkup is extremely unlikely. No matter if your monitor is hard-wired or cordless, you have the same risk using a cordless or wired phone. And you will be using that phone many times more frequent than having a pacemaker hooked to it.

If you are like most people that have their pacemaker checked out over the phone it is done twice a year and takes about 15 minutes. But say it is done once a month, pick you out a day and time of each month and see how many times you would be at risk from a lightening strike at one of those times. Sure it could happen on the next date and time you have selected, but you could also go a life time and never be within a 100 miles of a lightening strike at that time.

Personally I am more concerned about a meteorite falling on my head any time I step outside than I am of a lightening strike while I'm having my peacemaker checkup done by telephone.

J.B.

Frank

by LS - 2010-05-27 10:05:56

As usual, good info.
Boy, interesting about the "puck" & the possible voltage jump.
If they ever call for my interrogation when it's storming. I'll tell them I pass! LOL
Thanks Frank.
Liz

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