ICD's

[Guest guest]

Dear Jeannie, Hugs, hugs and more hugs. I, for one, know first hand what your husband is going through. Both my father and brother have a difrillator. My father is on his second one and will need a replacement in a year or two. My dads is located in his lower left quad of the abdomen, while my brothers is located right below his left collar bone.. When my dad has his replaced for the third time, they will place the new one just below the left collar bone too.

They are made so much smaller these days...

I have seen my father get shocked and it is very scary. You have had more then your share of shocks at 155. Wow, I just can't imagine...*hugs* You are a very brave and strong person..Personally, I would have another dibrillator put in. Let the clinic write off your third of the cost. Can you get on Medical Assistance too? Maybe you can "nag" the hospital staff about cleanliness when you are there.

Just so you know...neither my dad nor my brother have had a staph infection and personally I think in today's world EVERYONE runs the risk of getting a staph infection no matter where they are or what you do to try and prevent it.

You hang in there Jeannie, I am positive you will make the correct decision... It is hard, that I know *hugs* Know that all of us are here for you 24/7. We have people from all over the world on this list and somebody is always up....just send an email to the list or to somebody personally if you need to chat...We love you Jeannie. *hugs*

Love, Chelle

Dear New Friends: I am just so upset with Medicare and it's cuts and now the

latest news on ICD's etc that I need to vent. Please forgive me.

I 'died' in Nov. 94 and a ICD (Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator) was

implanted into my waist and wired into my heart. This unit 'shocks' me back

into normal sinus rhythm. I have been 'shocked' 155 times to date and am on

my 3rd unit presently.

Now two things. Medicare in it's cuts has determined that one: they will

only pay 2/3rds of the unit implant cost (you need a new one every time your

battery runs low.) and two: It may not be an outpatient procedure any

longer. They made it an outpatient procedure in 1999. This is obviously an

attempt to reduce the quantity of implants.

The second news is that the doctors fear implanted patients are prone to a

possibiltiy of staph infection. The cure - remove the device.

Now here is my sunny future. I can replace the device at great expense (each

unit is about $78K) and get a 'possible' staph infection and die or... I can

remove the device and die.

Now from my perspective I have survived seven clinical deaths and have

survived Breast Cancer and recently (still recovering ) the loss of two of

my right lobes (lung) Cancer.

Do I sound like someone who wishes to die? Am I going to be given a Right to

Live? I really wonder.

I'm sorry about this rant but this is terrifying my hubby and I'm upset as

well. This is also for pacemaker patients as well (I now have a combo

device.)

What do you think?

[Guest guest]

Chelle: Thank you for listening. I have had so much stress in this poor ole body of mine that it just seems the last straw when the Gov't decides to play with it. I am on my 3rd defibrillator/pacemaker unit now. Soon I will be facing my fourth. They can't place mine in my subclavia as they collapsed during the double mastectomy. So I had open heart and the patch is sewn directly onto the surface of my heart. This means if I ever need any bypass etc surgeries - I can't have them. I'm praying for sucess with the artificial heart!

My unit is in my left waist pocket. It is way smaller than the 4lber I started with in 97. I'm a long time survivor at almost 7 years.

Thank you for being there. Love, Jeannie

Re: ICD's

Dear Jeannie, Hugs, hugs and more hugs. I, for one, know first hand what your husband is going through. Both my father and brother have a difrillator. My father is on his second one and will need a replacement in a year or two. My dads is located in his lower left quad of the abdomen, while my brothers is located

[Guest guest]

{{Huge Loving Hugs}} to both of you! My thoughts are with you all! Love, Barb

Re: ICD's

Dear Jeannie, Hugs, hugs and more hugs. I, for one, know first hand what your husband is going through. Both my father and brother have a difrillator. My father is on his second one and will need a replacement in a year or two. My dads is located in his lower left quad of the abdomen, while my brothers is located right below his left collar bone.. When my dad has his replaced for the third time, they will place the new one just below the left collar bone too. They are made so much smaller these days... I have seen my father get shocked and it is very scary. You have had more then your share of shocks at 155. Wow, I just can't imagine...*hugs* You are a very brave and strong person..Personally, I would have another dibrillator put in. Let the clinic write off your third of the cost. Can you get on Medical Assistance too? Maybe you can "nag" the hospital staff about cleanliness when you are there. Just so you know...neither my dad nor my brother have had a staph infection and personally I think in today's world EVERYONE runs the risk of getting a staph infection no matter where they are or what you do to try and prevent it. You hang in there Jeannie, I am positive you will make the correct decision... It is hard, that I know *hugs* Know that all of us are here for you 24/7. We have people from all over the world on this list and somebody is always up....just send an email to the list or to somebody personally if you need to chat...We love you Jeannie. *hugs* Love, Chelle

Dear New Friends: I am just so upset with Medicare and it's cuts and now the latest news on ICD's etc that I need to vent. Please forgive me. I 'died' in Nov. 94 and a ICD (Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillator) was implanted into my waist and wired into my heart. This unit 'shocks' me back into normal sinus rhythm. I have been 'shocked' 155 times to date and am on my 3rd unit presently. Now two things. Medicare in it's cuts has determined that one: they will only pay 2/3rds of the unit implant cost (you need a new one every time your battery runs low.) and two: It may not be an outpatient procedure any longer. They made it an outpatient procedure in 1999. This is obviously an attempt to reduce the quantity of implants. The second news is that the doctors fear implanted patients are prone to a possibiltiy of staph infection. The cure - remove the device. Now here is my sunny future. I can replace the device at great expense (each unit is about $78K) and get a 'possible' staph infection and die or... I can remove the device and die. Now from my perspective I have survived seven clinical deaths and have survived Breast Cancer and recently (still recovering ) the loss of two of my right lobes (lung) Cancer. Do I sound like someone who wishes to die? Am I going to be given a Right to Live? I really wonder. I'm sorry about this rant but this is terrifying my hubby and I'm upset as well. This is also for pacemaker patients as well (I now have a combo device.) What do you think? ~~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~~ The Being Sick CommunityMemorial Pagehttp://www.dreamwater.net/lovingmemory/Message Archives and Digest Attachment Pictures:-/messagesChat:- Scheduled Daily Chats at # on IRC DALnet./files/chat.htmBookmarks:-Add a website URL you have found useful./linksPersonal Complaints or problems:-Please contact a moderator email: -owner Subscription Details:-1) Individual email - means that every email sent to the list you receive.2) Daily Digest - sends you 25 messages in one single email for you to browse. This is an excellent option if you receive alot of email.3) Web only/No mail - means that you can pop into eGroups at your convenience and receive no email.To modify your subscription settings please visit:- /joinTo subscribe or unsubscribe please email:--subscribe -unsubscribe ~~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~~“Hold on to what is good, even if it's a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe, even if it's a tree that stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do even, if it's a long way from here. Hold on to your life, even if it's easier to let go." - Pueblo Prayer~~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~ *** ~~~~

[Guest guest]

I kept my first one (still have it) and I still have people ask to see it. Most can't believe how heavy it is.

I'm on my fourth one now and they just said the other day that I will need a new one in six months.

I am anxiously awaiting the one that will consolidate both my AICD and pacemaker into one.

BTW- regarding lead problems- when they went to replace my second AICD they found the leads had actually grown into the heart wall so they had to do open heart surgery to remove them. Now there is a trip you want to avoid at all costs.

Best of the New Year to you all!!!

[Guest guest]

hi hank,,,,

im hoping mine wont have to be replace for quite a long time....im lucky so

far in the fact that it has had to do nothing but be there for almost a

year now...no zaps or paces whatsoever since march....

but i did manage to get a copy of a chest xray taken a couple weeks after

the implant and i never miss a chance to show it to someone,,,,ive gotten a

lot of what the hell is thats.......

but when it does come time to replace it im definitely going to want

it....the insurance company paid a fortune for it....and im a firm beleiver

that the docs would sell it right back to medtronic and it would go right

overseas and sell for a fortune.....

even with all the tragedy in our country lately, it is still about greed,

power, and money...

good letter hank, and a very good suggestiion.....

bob in pa

At 04:23 PM 12/28/01 -0800, you wrote:

>How many of you have kept your old zapper when it was replaced?

>Mine was taking a bit too long to recharge (or recycle).

>Isn't it too bad that they can't recycle these with new batteries and

>give them to 3rd world countries or may be they could use them

>in some of the larger pets (Like a GREAT DANE). A Vet may know.

>

>To those who did keep their old one, I'll bet you couldn't resist

>passing

>it around to the group at coffee asking if they could identify what it

>was.

>After they had thoroughly examined it, I just love to see the expression

>on their

>faces when you tell them what it is and where it had been. See how many

>reach for a napkin to wipe their hands..... (GRIN)

>

>

>Hank

>

>

>

>

>

>

>Please visit the Zapper homepage at

>http://www.ZapLife.org

>

>

[Guest guest]

they do use defibrillators and pacmakers in cats and dogs of all sizes

stacie,18 p.s. one of are dogs had one before i got mine

[Guest guest]

How many of you have kept your old zapper when it was replaced?

Mine was taking a bit too long to recharge (or recycle).

Isn't it too bad that they can't recycle these with new batteries and

give them to 3rd world countries or may be they could use them

in some of the larger pets (Like a GREAT DANE). A Vet may know.

To those who did keep their old one, I'll bet you couldn't resist

passing

it around to the group at coffee asking if they could identify what it

was.

After they had thoroughly examined it, I just love to see the expression

on their

faces when you tell them what it is and where it had been. See how many

reach for a napkin to wipe their hands..... (GRIN)

Hank

[Guest guest]

I have had a few X-rays like that. You can even see the circuit board

and trace the wires in it!

J wrote:

> hi hank,,,,

>

> im hoping mine wont have to be replace for quite a long time....im lucky so

> far in the fact that it has had to do nothing but be there for almost a

> year now...no zaps or paces whatsoever since march....

>

> but i did manage to get a copy of a chest xray taken a couple weeks after

> the implant and i never miss a chance to show it to someone,,,,ive gotten a

> lot of what the hell is thats.......

>

> but when it does come time to replace it im definitely going to want

> it....the insurance company paid a fortune for it....and im a firm beleiver

> that the docs would sell it right back to medtronic and it would go right

> overseas and sell for a fortune.....

>

> even with all the tragedy in our country lately, it is still about greed,

> power, and money...

>

> good letter hank, and a very good suggestiion.....

>

> bob in pa

>

> At 04:23 PM 12/28/01 -0800, you wrote:

> >How many of you have kept your old zapper when it was replaced?

> >Mine was taking a bit too long to recharge (or recycle).

> >Isn't it too bad that they can't recycle these with new batteries and

> >give them to 3rd world countries or may be they could use them

> >in some of the larger pets (Like a GREAT DANE). A Vet may know.

> >

> >To those who did keep their old one, I'll bet you couldn't resist

> >passing

> >it around to the group at coffee asking if they could identify what it

> >was.

> >After they had thoroughly examined it, I just love to see the expression

> >on their

> >faces when you tell them what it is and where it had been. See how many

> >reach for a napkin to wipe their hands..... (GRIN)

> >

> >

> >Hank

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >Please visit the Zapper homepage at

> >http://www.ZapLife.org

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Thakx Gail; I really appriciate it. in the mean time i wish everybody in yhe and zapuk HEALTHY HAPPY WISHFULL AND LOVELY NEW YEAR .GOOD HEALTH GOOD LUCK AND GOOD HEART. TURK

Re: ICD's

I think mine was taking about 15 sec. to recharge. If I remember correctly 17 sec was the limit. (They could probably double that and still be safe). At Stanford they do it assembly line style. I think the nurse said that 35 operating rooms were doing replacements at that time, and there were about 30 on gurneys in the room with me waiting to be wheeled in. If they do that many a day there is not much that they haven't come across and must get pretty good at it. I went in about 10AM and was on my way home by 2PM. Mine lasted about 4 years. Hank Kathie Lazelle wrote: HANK <kg6ee@...> wrote: How many of you have kept your old zapper when it was replaced? Mine was taking a bit too long to recharge (or recycle). Isn't it too bad that they can't recycle these with new batteries and give them to 3rd world countries or may be they could use them in some of the larger pets (Like a GREAT DANE). A Vet may know. To those who did keep their old one, I'll bet you couldn't resist passing it around to the group at coffee asking if they could identify what it was. After they had thoroughly examined it, I just love to see the expression on their faces when you tell them what it is and where it had been. See how many reach for a napkin to wipe their hands..... (GRIN) Hank Hank, Did you have your's replaced because the capacitor was taking too long to recharge? How long did you have to stay in the hospital? Was it day surgery? Overnight? Or what? I have to have mine replaced for that reason. I have had mine for almost three years. And I only worried about the batteries running out. Now I hear about the capacitor!!?? Please visit the Zapper homepage at http://www.ZapLife.org

[Guest guest]

TURK;

Do you get the funny feeling that you and are the only ones in CT who have an ICD?

There are a couple in PA but the rest seem to be in CA - wonder if it is the weather? hehehe

Best Gail

Re: ICD's

I think mine was taking about 15 sec. to recharge. If I remember correctly 17 sec was the limit. (They could probably double that and still be safe). At Stanford they do it assembly line style. I think the nurse said that 35 operating rooms were doing replacements at that time, and there were about 30 on gurneys in the room with me waiting to be wheeled in. If they do that many a day there is not much that they haven't come across and must get pretty good at it. I went in about 10AM and was on my way home by 2PM. Mine lasted about 4 years. Hank Kathie Lazelle wrote: HANK <kg6ee@...> wrote: How many of you have kept your old zapper when it was replaced? Mine was taking a bit too long to recharge (or recycle). Isn't it too bad that they can't recycle these with new batteries and give them to 3rd world countries or may be they could use them in some of the larger pets (Like a GREAT DANE). A Vet may know. To those who did keep their old one, I'll bet you couldn't resist passing it around to the group at coffee asking if they could identify what it was. After they had thoroughly examined it, I just love to see the expression on their faces when you tell them what it is and where it had been. See how many reach for a napkin to wipe their hands..... (GRIN) Hank Hank, Did you have your's replaced because the capacitor was taking too long to recharge? How long did you have to stay in the hospital? Was it day surgery? Overnight? Or what? I have to have mine replaced for that reason. I have had mine for almost three years. And I only worried about the batteries running out. Now I hear about the capacitor!!?? Please visit the Zapper homepage at http://www.ZapLife.org

[Guest guest]

You are evil. Want to have some real fun tell them whre it has been and tat

they have a new procedure of removing it from your butt. Then watch theeir

faces. I thnk I have developed a sick sense of humor.

Sharon

[Guest guest]

Thanx for that wonderful explanation katie i appriciated. I just didt know gotta talk to my doc. but the way i got zapped i'd say mine is at 10sec's when i went into vtac it paced me 5 times which i could feel then no more than 5 or 10 sec zappppppppp there was the therapy so do speak .youknowwaddamean!........Love TURK

Re: ICD's

TURK <goturk1@...> wrote:

Hey Guys and Gals;

What is a capacitor and how do you recharge it . I have a Guidant Ventak Prizm ll pacemaker and a defib at the same time do i have to get anything charged let me know will you.Love TURK

Turk...[cool name} The way I understand it the capacitor charges up when you need a zap and it gives the battery the energy to zap you. I guess it's like when they use the paddles ...They turn it on to power up before they shock you. Mine was at 27 seconds and they said it should be at 10. Thats how long it would take before I got zapped if I went into VFib. They got mine down to 17 seconds . Did that help!#@#@!

Please visit the Zapper homepage at http://www.ZapLife.org