red, green, orange, or polk-a-dotted

Re: bedside heart moniter.

I have a biotonic (not spelled right) PM, and I have this device by the bed with a ’green’ light. It reads the PM nightly & sends it to the dr. Or this is what I understand it to do. Well lately it’ll start flashing ’orange’ or just be orange when I wake up (a deep color). So, I called the dr.

My instruction booklet had only said that if the TOP light is flashing, it’s a message from the dr and to call. But this is a different light. Well the PM Tech checks my record & sees nothing out of the ordinary. Says that if it turns RED, then I should call.

???? Who’s to say the deep orange isn’t really red? But at least she checked the records. I’m confused...I seem to a-fib enough that they are planning another ablation. So is this orange just a warning signal of a-fibs? Does anyone else have input on the moniter? Would like to hear from ya...thanks.

7 Comments

How fun!

by ReneeV2.0 - 2012-04-24 10:04:09

All those pretty colors sound lovely. :) lol

I agree with hurtheart that the cables may just need reseated and then rebooted.

Also... do you have FIOS for your phone? St Judes told me that their home monitoring system can have some issues communicating with FIOS.

Good Luck!

Hated that machine :)

by Shortcake - 2012-04-24 10:04:34

Hi Catteacher,
Three pacers ago, I was given the monitoring device that you are talking about. Before that I had an old Medtronic that you cradled the phone in for submitting your report, so that one was totally different. It drove me crazy because I was always watching those stupid colored lights. Mine did the same thing as you stated and I too called enough times to drive the pacer clinic nuts. There was never a problem in my pacer but come to find out the problem was with the monitor. They finally told me to ignore it and they would call me if there was a problem. Sure enough when my battery needed to be changed, they called. Thank goodness, I got a different monitor after that and have never had a problem again. My advice, if you have a concern, call and advise them this thing goes nuts with all the lights and tell them to call you if there is a problem. It really relieved me to find out I wasn't having problems, the monitor was.

Hope all goes well for you!
Susan

Biotronik monitor

by shockbox340 - 2012-04-24 11:04:34

Don't worry about the lights. If the doctor wants to contact you, they will call you. Depending on which model of monitor you have (Biotronik has four), yellow lights can mean that the monitor is actively sending or receiving information, or that the monitor is not able to connect via the phone line or the cellular network, or (most commonly) that the rechargable battery is charging.

If, for whatever reason, your monitor stops receiving transmission from your pacemaker, after a programmable number of days in a row (maximum 21) your doctor will receive an alert saying that you are "past due" for transmissions and they will call you to troubleshoot.

Biotronik's system is designed to be completely automated. Follow the setup instructions, and forget about it. I ask patients to glance at the lights once every week or two just to confirm they are still on (in other words, to make sure the power cord is still plugged in,etc.) and nothing else. If there is an issue, your doctor's office will contact you

Yellow Lights

by cgreen - 2012-04-25 01:04:28

I too have a biotronik dual chamber pacemaker. Mine was installed in June of 2011, they said at the time they installed the latest verison (I'm sure they probably have newer since then). While reading my book it said if the light turns yellow (the one that's usually green) that it's not getting a wireless signal so I needed to move the device until it turns green again. My "call light" hasn't ever lit up, but there have been a couple of times they have called just to see how things were going. I'm not sure what else it could be since they are getting transmissions, I would just suggest moving the device to a different area and unplugging it for a few minutes, then plug it in again and see if it lights up green.

Hope that helps!
:) Christy

these r true

by Catteacher - 2012-04-25 04:04:06

I too have read & seen where I should unplug or move the device... I've done both of those things. BUT when I've called the 800 #, they say they'll give the tech the message & I never have 'matched' up with one. After talking to the tech at the dr's office, it hasn't happened again. She checked the computer & said that things were "OK" as far as I was concerned. Yet, she must have adjusted something on her end.

Thanks!
~catteacher

thank you, thank you!

by Catteacher - 2012-04-25 05:04:10

Each one of your responses have been enlightening, I learned more from y'all than any one at my clinic. It's frustrating to NOT understand, yet they think you should know from the bits & peices they tell ya.

You've relieved me from worry : ) thanks, again.

catteacher

by walkerd - 2012-04-25 07:04:50

there should be a phone number to call in your booklet that came with the machine they should be able to help and answer any questions. I have a Medtronic also with carelink and I know they were very helpful to me when I first got mine. You have it for a reason so if its not working I wouldnt wait until my doctor calls I dont, that is why the company that makes them has a number for you to call if you have problems with the machine. Im sure they will help you to resolve the problem.

good luck
dave

You know you're wired when...

You know the difference between hardware and software.

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