frustrated
Hi there new friends,
veronika here. I am still having problems, being "wired" with a HR of 80. the EP put the rate up from 60 to 80. Since 4 days I try to reach him, I leave messages on the answering machine to see him and have my HR "tweaked" to 70 bpm. I phoned again yesterday and was upset that they did not get back to me. his secretary said: he is thinking about. I wish I could talk to him and find out why he put it to 80. I feel "propelled" and have trouble relaxing with 80 and told them so. hopefully it will get done soon or I am going sqirly!! thanks for listening.
anybody has trouble reaching the EP or being listened to???
5 Comments
heart rate
by nat36 - 2011-01-28 04:01:43
I went from 70 to 80 to help with some irregular beating and felt awful for the first couple of weeks but then once I got used to it I actually felt better. My only problem was at night. I felt like I could not relax and get any sleep. I went back and they gave me a night rate of 60 but then also changed my low rate back to 70. Well I felt bad all over again. I had a check up today and asked if they would raise it back to 80. Overall I liked it better once I got used it because I had more energy.
I also don't feel heard most of the time, so you are not alone:)
SAD!!!
by donb - 2011-01-28 06:01:53
Hi Veronika, It is truly sad to get the run-around but as Pookie said, you have to really get on them. As I get informed from my Cardiac nurse wife, "Chest Pain" are the 2 words that need to be heard from the patient. If you are not yet experiencing it, you are fortunate.
I have been in Cardiac Rehab as a stent patient also and worked out with a friend with very low HR and was told he neede a PM. After a whole year of me bugging him to get it done he finally saw he could'nt compete with me and got his PM. Guess What? It backfired as his HR from birth was always real low and with his PM pushing his HR up it would put him to his knees with chest pain. Well, our friendship got pretty weak as he blamed me for getting his PM.
He went round & round with his Dr. It took more than another year and 3 more Cardiologists to finally find one who would listen to his problem who finally got an EP to get his settings adjusted. They lowered his bottom rate and also turned OFF his rate response which was killing him. Long story, but actual true story. Get into ER, Chest pain, Need EP to get my PM settings set properly. End of Story. Good Luck!! donb
Be strong and firm
by Mongee - 2011-01-28 12:01:05
I know it's easier said then done, but you have to be very firm when trying to get your point across. Until I had my surgery (PM/ICD and heart surgery) I never said anything to doctors, I was always the one listening. I have finally learned....I come first when it comes to my health. I have been very lucky with all of my doctors, but if you haven't , I would call the doctor's office every 1/2 hour, after the first day he did not call you back. I am always telling my husband to do this and it does seem to work. We all have to remember, that the doctors are working for us, and they have to make time for their patients. And yes, I think it is a good idea to go into the office and wait...it might be a long wait, but you are there and the doctor would have to see you.
I really am not a witch, but I feel very strongly about standing up for your health.
Good luck and I hope all turns out well.
I can relate!!
by TalkinCardio - 2011-01-28 12:01:31
I've gone through the same run around! I called my EP's office one day and talked to the nurse and when I told her I wanted to come in the see about getting my PM settings changed. She said, "weren't you just here a couple of weeks ago?" I said, yes but I am having chest pain and I am SOB." She said, well did they tell you to call in if this was happening? I said, "no but wouldnt you think they would want to know I was having chest pain?" She said, ok, I'll leave a message for the tech to call you. Of course no one ever called me back and I'm sure she didnt leave a message. I could tell by the tone of her voice. It is so upsetting!! If it were one of their family members having the problem, they would take it a lot more seriously.
You know you're wired when...
Your kids call you Cyborg.
Member Quotes
We are very lucky to have these devices.
Yes
by Pookie - 2011-01-27 11:01:15
Yes, I have experienced having issues with my pacemaker and calling my cardiologist and he obviously didn't think it was a big deal so didn't call me back in what I thought was a reasonable time....so, I kept on calling until I drove his secretary nuts - then he was pretty quick in calling me back.
Veronika, keep calling. Tell whoever answers the phone how many times you have called and that you are not feeling comfortable at all and would like to be seen immediately. I am sure whoever you speak with will probably give you some kind of song & dance, but just politely remind them that it is you that is having these problems and you just need to have your pacemaker adjusted.
I don't know how many times I've said this on this site, and please don't take it the wrong way, but we have to be the squeaky wheel to get the grease - so call them every morning, and tell them you expect your doctor to call you back before the end of the day. You might also want to say that if your doctor cannot call you back perhaps someone who can help you - will.
Veronika, it's just not EPs or Cardiologists - it seems like it's almost every doctor these days. Why? Because they are so busy as the population keeps growing but do they hire more doctors? - Nope.
Stay strong while on the phone and don't take "I'll get the doctor to call you when he's available" - again, stress that you are a patient too and there is something wrong with your pacemaker. Just keep repeating yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't let yourself go squirley - make the secretary go nuts!!!!!!! And tell her if you don't hear back from him by the end of today, that you will be forced to come in to see him. I actually did that once AND it worked!!!!!!!!!!!
Be firm, polite, and don't take no for an answer.
Pookie