Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 mai_lin you as both a patient and a consumer have the right to be informed as to what's available to you in the marketplace. You shop around for a car why not a life saving device. Guidant was first, then came Medtronic so take it from there. Just like pill pushers, when they visit a doctors office they give them samples of new meds and often might behind the scenes suggest that if they promote their new drug the company will make sure they get advanced word on new products coming out. The same concept holds true for ICD,s Any given rep can walk in and suggest that if the Ep were to suggest a certain model they will make sure he gets first crack of the newest models coming out. I know this story too well as I almost got caught up in it. Griff Re: Fewer Zaps> Please visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 , I am sticking my nose in as had many different brands I also will stick with the medtronic. They have been a wonderful company and mad there self available to me when ever I have had a question. They even send you a sample of your icd which is a great conversatoion piece on the coffee tableLuagh laugh Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 Griff, are you sure guidaint was the first. My very first was a lily and I have all the papers. As I had to agree to give it back if I died! It was totally ecperimental at the time. Sharon in Ohio After reading several of your messages that I took with me to my Heart Specialist he wondered exactly what you back ground was as far as education and theroy on icd. Do you have any medical training? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 Great information yo must have wonderful insurance as mine will only let me use certain doctors and hospitals if they are going to pay their share. I have a PPO program with Qualchoice. I need there approval to breathe. They even fight me on meds. I am not afraid to tackle them or challenge them but in the end they make the big decisions. Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 ... not just another St. Jude (Ventritex) but the exact same model \o/ ... I discussed getting a Medtronic (which seemed to win my independant survey for longevity amongst my ICD support group members) but they told me there was a time when both companies were " farming out " the capcitors to outside sources and now they make 'em themselves in house cause of the problems they had... hopfully, I've gotten a good capacitor this time... time will tell JES in 'Jersey God Bless America and God bless the weatherman, it's not raining here for a change! > ugh - they gave you another St. Jude Jes? I hope they don't do that to me! > > > ----- Original Message ----- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 GMTA again Griff... after I sent my last post I'd wished I'd added that exact statement... but no need now that you've made it... it's true, you have the right... provided your EP team deals w/the manufacture... (sorta like choosing which car you want from your local dealership... you can only chose from the makes they carry)... mine seems to be in association w/both St. Jude and Medtronics so they were my 2 choices. JES in 'Jersey > Is you're pacing mode on or off? Have they ever, to your knowledge, > lowered your settings to determine whether or not you could be paced > out of a rhythm before it got out of hand? I'd be willing to bet not. > But that's enough said from me. I'm leaving this one alone. Be > Well Griff > > Re: Fewer Zaps > > > > > > > Please visit the Zapper homepage at > http://www.ZapLife.org > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 and another thing... I read the warranty card that came w/this new one... seems unit is under warranty for the first 3 yrs as far as battery goes... free replacement of ICD (apparently not free surgery/hsp costs) and the capacitor is covered 100% for first 3 yrs, 50% at 3 yrs and downward to 5 yrs... so I'd still have 'bout 12.5% left on this capacitor... and a St. Jude rep was there in EP lab to do another interrogation (just had it done Wed prior to surgery in EP's office) before unit was turned off and removed (don't recall a rep being there at last replacement surgery) so I'm thinking hsp may have gotten a prorated refund on old unit after all (that's the catch, refund goes to hsp... I'm thinking my ins co. will probably never see a cent of it ... get out the info package that you were given at the hsp and read it over... bet there's a warranty card in there somewhere JES in 'Jersey > Too late now, but for future reference you are a consumer as well as a patient and you have a say in what device you get. I've selected all three of mine after calling the tech services departments of the Big Three. Griff > Re: Re: Fewer Zaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 If you can't find the car of your choice you go to another dealership, or did I mean A different EP. Griff Re: Fewer Zaps> > > > > > > Please visit the Zapper homepage at> http://www.ZapLife.org > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 Sharon to the best of my knowledge CPI Guidant was the first full fledged manufacturer of the ICD as we know them today. The first ICD was developed by Muraski in the late 60's in an attempt to save the life of his best friend and chief cardiologist at the hospital where they both worked for. Due to it's size it was a great concept, but to large to implant. I believe it was in 72 that they implanted the first ICD in a human being in a trial study and that FDA approval came in 78 Not sure who made that one. Not a lot were implanted until the late 80's and early 90s My first one was a Guidant and they held the patent. My initial one was the model 1600 implanted in Nov. of 1991 Griff Re: Re: Fewer Zaps Griff, are you sure guidaint was the first. My very first was a lily and I have all the papers. As I had to agree to give it back if I died! It was totally ecperimental at the time. Sharon in Ohio After reading several of your messages that I took with me to my Heart Specialist he wondered exactly what you back ground was as far as education and theroy on icd. Do you have any medical training? Please visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 I do It's Medicare, can't beat it unless you can get medicaid ins and medicare benefits. Griff Re: Re: Fewer Zaps Great information yo must have wonderful insurance as mine will only let me use certain doctors and hospitals if they are going to pay their share. I have a PPO program with Qualchoice. I need there approval to breathe. They even fight me on meds. I am not afraid to tackle them or challenge them but in the end they make the big decisions. Sharon Please visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 You got a warranty card? On Friday, May 30, 2003, at 04:51 AM, JES wrote: > and another thing... I read the warranty card that came w/this new > one... seems unit is under warranty for the first 3 yrs as far as > battery goes... free replacement of ICD (apparently not free > surgery/hsp costs) and the capacitor is covered 100% for first 3 yrs, > 50% at 3 yrs and downward to 5 yrs... so I'd still have 'bout 12.5% > left on this capacitor... and a St. Jude rep was there in EP lab to > do another interrogation (just had it done Wed prior to surgery in > EP's office) before unit was turned off and removed (don't recall a > rep being there at last replacement surgery) so I'm thinking hsp may > have gotten a prorated refund on old unit after all (that's the > catch, refund goes to hsp... I'm thinking my ins co. will probably > never see a cent of it ... get out the info package that you were > given at the hsp and read it over... bet there's a warranty card in > there somewhere > JES in 'Jersey > > >> Too late now, but for future reference you are a consumer as well > as a patient and you have a say in what device you get. I've selected > all three of mine after calling the tech services departments of the > Big Three. Griff >> Re: Re: Fewer Zaps > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 My unit is a Guidant and I'm very happy with it so far. It's only been 3 years, though, so I'll have to see how long the battery lasts. The interrogation shows that the ICD provides enough overdrive pacing so that I have never gotten shocked. In a recent issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, an article said that an ICD provides low voltage cardioversion 70% of the time, which lets patients avoid getting shocked. On Friday, May 30, 2003, at 07:05 AM, GORDON GRIFFITH wrote: > Sharon to the best of my knowledge CPI Guidant was the first full > fledged manufacturer of the ICD as we know them today. The first ICD > was developed by Muraski in the late 60's in an attempt to > save the life of his best friend and chief cardiologist at the > hospital where they both worked for. Due to it's size it was a great > concept, but to large to implant. I believe it was in 72 that they > implanted the first ICD in a human being in a trial study and that FDA > approval came in 78 Not sure who made that one. Not a lot were > implanted until the late 80's and early 90s My first one was a Guidant > and they held the patent. My initial one was the model 1600 implanted > in Nov. of 1991          Griff                  ----- Original > Message ----- > > From: IIPistacio@... > > Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 8:37 AM > Subject: Re: Re: Fewer Zaps > > Griff, are you sure guidaint was the first. My very first was a lily > and I have all the papers. As I had to agree to give it back if I > died! It was totally ecperimental at the time. Sharon in Ohio > > After reading several of your messages that I took with me to my Heart > Specialist he wondered exactly what you back ground was as far as > education and theroy on icd. Do you have any medical training? > > Please visit the Zapper homepage at > http://www.ZapLife.org > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 , all three of my devices have been Guidant. I think they're the greatest, but as you've read they're like cards you can't convince a Ford man to buy a Chevy all of a sudden. Had I started out with a Mrdtronic device I'd be just as adamant about it. Be well and GO GUIDANT!!! Re: Re: Fewer ZapsGriff, are you sure guidaint was the first. My very first was a lily and I have all the papers. As I had to agree to give it back if I died! It was totally ecperimental at the time. Sharon in OhioAfter reading several of your messages that I took with me to my Heart Specialist he wondered exactly what you back ground was as far as education and theroy on icd. Do you have any medical training?Please visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 This "Ford" man has a Guidant - no problems in the 3 months I have had it. No shocks yet. The ablation and the device pacing has been a God-send! Was Guidant originally part of CarboMedics? By the way, this "Ford" man has never had a Chevy, but I sure love my Mitsubishi 3000GT! Tommy Ford -----Original Message-----From: GORDON GRIFFITH [mailto:cacps2@...]Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 11:17 AM Subject: Re: Re: Fewer Zaps , all three of my devices have been Guidant. I think they're the greatest, but as you've read they're like cards you can't convince a Ford man to buy a Chevy all of a sudden. Had I started out with a Mrdtronic device I'd be just as adamant about it. Be well and GO GUIDANT!!! Re: Re: Fewer ZapsGriff, are you sure guidaint was the first. My very first was a lily and I have all the papers. As I had to agree to give it back if I died! It was totally ecperimental at the time. Sharon in OhioAfter reading several of your messages that I took with me to my Heart Specialist he wondered exactly what you back ground was as far as education and theroy on icd. Do you have any medical training?Please visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 30, 2003 Report Share Posted May 30, 2003 Tommy, not sure about who guidant was prior to being guidant it was originally CPI Guidant. Maybe the CPI is a clue to your question. Give ablation a while before rushing to judgment, I've had two of those suckers and I'll keep my mouth shut about that although I covered it in my handbook. Great choice you have in ICDs and cars. Stay well Griff Drop by my site sometime and see what you think. http://groups.msn.com/ElectrifyingTalesandLivingWithYourNewICD type it just as shown. Re: Re: Fewer ZapsGriff, are you sure guidaint was the first. My very first was a lily and I have all the papers. As I had to agree to give it back if I died! It was totally ecperimental at the time. Sharon in OhioAfter reading several of your messages that I took with me to my Heart Specialist he wondered exactly what you back ground was as far as education and theroy on icd. Do you have any medical training?Please visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2003 Report Share Posted June 1, 2003 I have a Guidant too. I can say I am quite happy with the tech people. I had some detailed questions to ask about HAM radio operations, as my husband, two daughters and I are all HAMs. They were really good about getting back to me right away. But that wasn't waht I wanted to say . . . You all have been talking about battery life but you have missed a factor. Individual people can actually effect the longevity of the battery with their own electrical fields. My only way of describing this is to tell you this, my husband can't wear a watch because they die on him after about two weeks. I've seen this myself, I didn't believe him and kept buying him watches. Then I thought it was stuff where he worked, so he wore it only at home. Still died. We have played with an ohmmeter and we know that he has a hugely high resistence and I have a very low resistance. People are all different is, I guess, the point of this. A unit that lasts 7 years in one body, may only last 4 in a different one and it isn't because the unit is not as good, it is because the body is different. Bridget > My unit is a Guidant and I'm very happy with it so far. It's only been > 3 years, though, so I'll have to see how long the battery lasts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2003 Report Share Posted June 1, 2003 ----- Original Message ----- From: " Bridget " > Individual people can actually affect > the longevity of the battery with their > own electrical fields. Bridget: You women just like to always have a current boyfriend and a husband that lets you charge things. Best. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2003 Report Share Posted June 1, 2003 Bridget, When I got my Medtronic 7 years ago No one said a thing. I mentioned it to them, but at the time I don't think they had much experience in that area. I am sure I had a lot of RF in the shack. I never noticed anything, even up as high as 1.5KW Hank (KG6EE) Bridget wrote: I have a Guidant too. I can say I am quite happy with the tech people. I had some detailed questions to ask about HAM radio operations, as my husband, two daughters and I are all HAMs. They were really good about getting back to me right away. But that wasn't waht I wanted to say . . . You all have been talking about battery life but you have missed a factor. Individual people can actually effect the longevity of the battery with their own electrical fields. My only way of describing this is to tell you this, my husband can't wear a watch because they die on him after about two weeks. I've seen this myself, I didn't believe him and kept buying him watches. Then I thought it was stuff where he worked, so he wore it only at home. Still died. We have played with an ohmmeter and we know that he has a hugely high resistence and I have a very low resistance. People are all different is, I guess, the point of this. A unit that lasts 7 years in one body, may only last 4 in a different one and it isn't because the unit is not as good, it is because the body is different. Bridget > My unit is a Guidant and I'm very happy with it so far. It's only been > 3 years, though, so I'll have to see how long the battery lasts Please visit the Zapper homepage at http://www.ZapLife.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2003 Report Share Posted June 2, 2003 Nah Bill, I just get a charge out of my husband! Bridget > > Bridget: > > You women just like to always have a current boyfriend and a husband that > lets you charge things. > > Best. > > Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 2, 2003 Report Share Posted June 2, 2003 That's pretty much what they told me. Said as long as the antennae were outside for the bigger rigs, not to worry. They did recommend I not accompany my husband to any broadcast tower sites or at least stay out of the buildings and in the car. There can be lots of leakage there as I already knew and with the higher power commercial transmitters, that could get into some danger zones. Bridget N8OIK married to W8MBF and mother of KC8UGF and KC8UGE > Bridget, > When I got my Medtronic 7 years ago No one said a thing. I mentioned it > to them, > but at the time I don't think they had much experience in that area. I > am sure I had a > lot of RF in the shack. I never noticed anything, even up as high as > 1.5KW > > > Hank (KG6EE) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 13, 2003 Report Share Posted June 13, 2003 Hello People: I guess everyone is going on vaca because posts have dropped lately. anyway here is a potential conversation subject thanks to Mr. Dave Thibodeau. I don't know if anybody paid attention to this article that sent us but i made a copy and emailed it to my doctor and now, in conjunction with Guidant( i think because mine is Guidant ventak Prism ll) they asked me if i would be willing to join a study i said as long as i you promise i wont get shocked often i would agree. they said it is going to be a lab study and maybe after a while(since i have been crying like a baby about my meds making me tired all the time) reduce my meds and maybe then they can set my ICD much higher and i would take less meds and be happier (he guesses) if it doesn't work i would be back to normal dosages like b4. Any thoughts? C'mon people let's get involved and make these people work on this kind of stuff so our lives will be better. Believe it or not we are one of the fatest growing communities in the world so they have to accomodate us for a change. ) TURK http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/cb_headline.cgi? & story_file=bw.051703/231375002 & directory=/google & header_file=header.htm & footer_file= Fewer Zaps This study suggests that adjustments to your ICD may reduce the number of Zaps by 70 %http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/cb_headline.cgi? & story_file=bw.051703/231375002 & directory=/google & header_file=header.htm & footer_file=Dave ThibodeauPlease visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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