Gut Feeling

Went to get staples out today and I was shocked when all my questions and concerns were dismissed so quickly I was very disappointed. I have the hiccups once or twice a day for two weeks, severe heartburn at night and dizzy spells with any increase in activity. Besides that my incision site is soft and is almost like you can see a wire misplaced... I have a gut feeling something is wrong and yet the pacemaker nurse blew me off to come back in six weeks . should I be worried or just wait it out ... please any advice is welcome

8 Comments

Is it an emergency

by macoymom - 2010-06-04 11:06:27

is this urgent or should i wait till monday ...

Gut Feeling

by SMITTY - 2010-06-04 11:06:34

I
f you are worried you should not wait it out. If it were me and I had problems like you describe I would insist on seeing the doctor. So what if it is nothing to be concerned about. You have a new electronic device implanted in your body and you are entitled to the peace of mind it may be depriving you of having.

As for your symptoms, I have had hiccups caused by my PM. It seems that the impulse from the PM was impinging on a nerve and causing them. It took PM settings adjustments to help that problem although I still have them occasionally. As for your other symptoms, I definitely think you should see the doctor.

Now if you want some opinions from a very cynical pacemaker recipient, I can give you some.

First you are not the only one to ever get a response like the brush off you got, if that helps your feelings. I think there are several reasons for the responses like that. One is the person doing the checkup is not much more than a robot when it comes knowing how pacemakers work and doing checkups. They know that a pacemaker can make our heart beat when needed, but that may be the extent of their knowledge.

When it comes to doing checkups. They can do them because learning to do PM checkups is not much more complicated than you or me learning to use a complex computer program. We learn which keys to press to get certain responses and when we are through we hit a couple more keys and get a print out. But there are few of us that can tell exactly what took place to complete that work.

Now think about what your answer may be to the person that asked for an explanation of how the computer performed that work, if you didn't want them to know you were really a computer illiterate. Or what would you say if you were very busy; didn't have any time to spare and you were certain that any question you answered was sure to bring on an additional question.

Many of us are guilty of given the people (doctors, nurses and technicians) involved in the implanting and follow up of our pacemakers credit for knowing more than many of them actually know. That is not to say the cardiologist that implants the pacemaker is not a good doctor or a good surgeon. They can be both, but a pacemaker is a sophisticated electronic device, and too often some doctors implanting them have not yet mastered the TV remote.

That is why web sites such as this one are so valuable to many of us. I am not implying that the Pacemaker Club can substitute for a doctor or nurse/technician, but it is certainly a good adjunct. I have learned much more about pacemakers here than I have learned from the doctors and other personnel in the PM clinic where I got my pacemaker and checkups for the last ten years. Above all it has taught me a lot of the questions I need to ask.

Good luck to you,

Smitty

Call your doctor

by MSPACER - 2010-06-04 11:06:44

You should not be getting hiccups, heartburn, or dizzy. Insist on seeing the doctor.

I agree

by ElectricFrank - 2010-06-05 02:06:46

The problem isn't life threatening, but so what. If it is causing you more discomfort I would give them a call. Even if they don't do anything about it over the weekend they will at least know you expect attention.

When you see them make it clear you want your questions answered clearly and understandably. If they try to say that your symptoms are normal ask for it in writing. Often they are making up stories to get us off their back. But if they have to put it in writing where some other doc may see it, their approach changes.

Be sure to get a copy of your pre and post interogation report. This will document whether there is a potential lead problem.

It is important to get your relationship with the pacer people straightened out early on. It will make the difference between the pacer being a real help and having a pacer being a nightmare.

frank

I agree

by rvrs7081 - 2010-06-05 03:06:42

Both electric Frank and Smitty are so knowledgeable. I would listen to them and then there is common sense and common courtesy. Your medical staff should listen to you. Just tell them (as it suggested) that you insist on their diagnosis in writing. also date and time. If they refuse or blow you off, go higher. My doctor starts me out with asking for a list of questions, no matter how insignifigent. He answers them one by one. I have yet to reach his "record" of a patient who gave him 101 questions.
We have just gone through life altering surgery. I am tired of these techs who don't care. I don't expect them to be our best friends, but they are PAID and paid well to do their job.
Angry Ann

Agreed

by ShadowWeaver - 2010-06-05 08:06:37

Like the others, I agree that you need to speak directly to the doctor and get your questions answered. A pacemaker isn't a temporary thing and you need to have it set properly to where it impedes on your life as little as possible.

Soap Box 101

by Carolyn65 - 2010-06-06 11:06:48

Sometimes I feel like I am the only one in the world who gets the usual 'brush-off' from all Dr. offices, nurse personnel and all other 'medical' people with 'titles'. Thanks again Smitty and ElectricFrank for your 'comments'. You so 'hit the nail on the head'. I forget that these Dr.'s have gone to school 8+ or more years and still can't talk/explain. I am sure there are tons of great medical personnel in this ol' World, but why do I always get the ones that either don't talk, leave the room for a 'techie' to talk to you or 'brush me off' completely? Just one more case of 'Medical 101' ~

Smitty/ElectricFrank: Your comments, somehow, should make it to the 'general postings'. I think every PM Club member, newbies or 'oldies', should read and be reminded of your 'nail on the head' explanations. A lot of question/posts could be answered before they are written if your 'comments' could be read on the above subjects ~ ~ THANX again ~ ~

Bear Hugs to All ~
Carolyn G. in TEXAS ~ Gardens Are Abundant ~

General Postings

by ElectricFrank - 2010-06-07 02:06:38

Several of the sites I frequent have an area of "Sticky" threads which mean they stay at the top of the list. They are controlled by the moderator who decides what is appropriate. I don't know how that would work on this site.

Some candidates are:
Dealing with medical types
Experience of having a pacer implanted
Experience of a replacement
Rate Response
Upper/Lower limits

The posts shouldn't be too detailed, just enough to provide the kind of things we answer over and over. We don't want to lose the individual answers and variety the members give that makes this site so friendly and personal.

frank

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