Would like info

pacing

by Tracey_E - 2017-12-12 15:53:49

It's entirely possible it's working a lot of the time if your rate stays at 60. Ask, they can tell you what percentage of the time you pace. Does it go up on exertion? That's something to discuss, because it should. 

No reason why you can't play golf! Full contact sports are a bad idea, anything else is ok. 

Questions for a new pacer to ask

by LondonAndy - 2017-12-12 18:53:20

I know what you mean about not knowing what to ask, Jim: I had my pacemaker inserted as a "bonus operation" after surgical complications when I had open heart surgery for a replacement aortic valve.  They accidentally damaged the natural electrics of my heart, easily done in that area I gather, and now I am 100% paced.  As it was by far the minor procedure, I didn't even think about the pacemaker for 4 months or so, and then searched the Internet for information and found this wonderful site with lots of excellent advice from people like TraceyE.

There is not much to go on your profile. Did you get:

A. A pocket Pacemaker Information card?  This holds technical information about the device if ever you are in an accident or something, and you may be asked for it by security at airports, though I haven't been asked.  It folds to about credit card size.

B. A more detailed 2 page or more technical sheet about the pacemaker and your lead(s)?  You will need this if ever you need an MRI scan, to confirm it is "MRI conditioned" (or MRI proof to us non-medical bods). 

Apart from getting those if not already, I would ask:

1. If the pacemaker does not increase your pulse on exertion, ask if this is intended as a permanent setting or it they will be turning it on.  (They will know this as "rate response", and I think it is not always used in older patients who are assumed to be quite sedentary).  Rate response gives you more energy when walking briskly, running, swimming or whatever, so is normally a good thing.

2. If not obvious from your paperwork, ask if the device is "MRI conditioned"?  It can be pretty difficult to get an MRI scan even if the device IS MRI conditioned, as Radiologists are worried about doing damage to the device, and almost impossible if not.  This may not matter now, but useful to know for the future.

3. If you go shooting, check if the device has been inserted away from where the shotgun rests against your body. 

4. If you do arc welding, work with high voltage transformers or in a scrap yard with those big magnetic crane things that I would love to try driving, check if you can still do that. Probably not.

You will probably have a checkup at 6 months, and then 1 year, then annually until the checkup starts to show declining battery life, probably around 10 years time, when the frequency of checkups increases to keep an eye on this ready to replace it before it gets too low.

Not sure if this is all relevant, and welcome to the club!

PS: Your previous post, and 4 replies, is at: https://www.pacemakerclub.com/message/32292