Re: Re: Turk: St Jude recall.

October 18, 2005

At first I heard that devices made prior to nov 2001 were recalled by Guidant, then they added more to them but i dont recall the details of it. I know that we had quite a few people here that needed changing. However in my opinion all this recalls are a part of the bussiness. The amount of times these devices saves lives versus amount of people died is very small so I think it comes with the package when you have a heart problem. TURK

sumnerred <redsumner@...> wrote:

> > >>> > >> First off.... Happy Birthday, ! Just to ease your mind a> > > little, I> > >> am a 38 yr. old woman who has had an ICD for 11 years and after> > > being on> > >> sotalol for over 5 years it has treated me great! The only> > > downfall I> > >> see to it is that it has significantly thinning out my hair.> > > (beats the> > >> alternative). I've been shock free for 5 years now.. !!! And> > > before> > >> that I had 7 shocks in about 10 minutes due to a defective > defib.> > > I can> > >> only imagine the terror you were going through with all those> > > shocks. I> > >> know

personally when I did receive a shock it takes me so much > time> > > to> > >> get over mentally vs. physically.> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >> Best of luck on the sotalol!> > >>> > >> (Indiana)> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >> _____> > >>> > >> From: [mailto: ] > On> > > Behalf> > >> Of Red Sumner> > >> Sent: Sunday, October 16, 2005 6:37 PM> > >> Zaplist> > >> Subject: Attention group: I was not exactly "Struck" > by> > >> lightening !> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >> Hi group,> > >>> > >>

43 from Maine here.> > >>> > >> Have not been active on the group the past year but would like > to> > > share> > >> (And clarify) my latest adventure that my caring and wonderful > mom> > >> posted here. :-)> > >>> > >> Quick history, I am on my 3rd device, (First one implanted > January> > > 6th> > >> 1994 and was diagnosed with ARVD)> > >>> > >> Before Friday evening July 22, I had been shocked a total of 8 > or 9> > >> times in almost 12 years.> > >>> > >> In fact July 28 2005 would have been my "Three years not being> > > shocked> > >> anniversary."> > >>> > >> Every time I have been shocked in the past there was a reason I> > > could>

> >> chalk it up to. (Mostly physical overexertion in general,> > > especially on> > >> humid days and of course extreme stress is good for an > occasional> > > bout> > >> of VT as well)> > >>> > >> Well, it was humid Friday evening July 22 and the forecast was > for> > > heavy> > >> thundershowers.> > >>> > >> I just got my boat prepared for a regular summer tradition of> > > spending a> > >> relaxing Saturday on big and beautiful Lake Sebago in Maine.> > >>> > >> I was tired from a long week of work, but otherwise I was OK and> > > really> > >> looking forward to boating the next day, it was going to be> > > beautiful> > >> weather wise..> > >>> > >> I

was home with just my 2 dogs as my wife out running errands.> > >>> > >> I just covered my boat and the storm came on quick, in a matter > of> > > just> > >> 2 minutes, it was thundering and lighting outside to beat the > band.> > >>> > >> I went in the house and in 5 minutes lost power.> > >>> > >> It was around 6:30 PM and I was sitting on the couch with my > Boxer> > >> Bailee who is not afraid of anything in the world, well, except> > >> lightning that is.> > >>> > >> She is so terrified of lightning that she shakes like a leaf and> > > gets> > >> under foot if you attempt to walk across the room,. Also her > little> > >> heart beats 300 miles an hour as well.> > >>> > >> I was

relaxed and hugging my scared dog when I realized the > plants> > > under> > >> the porch were missing out on some free rain.> > >>> > >> So I got up and went out the door bare foot and in the midst of> > > lighting> > >> that was striking within 2 and 3 miles away 3 or 4 times a > minute.> > >>> > >> But heck, I was only walking outside 10 feet off of my front > porch> > > to> > >> very quickly put down the two hanging plants that I was carrying> > >>> > >> Well here is were the truth and the legend (My Moms posted > version)> > > of> > >> the story diverge from one another.> > >>> > >> While I was putting the plants down to the ground, I got a > shiver of> > >> voltage that ran

through me as tree 60 feet away from me got > struck> > > by> > >> lightening. I was not struck by a bolt of lightening as was > implied.> > >>> > >> I did actually see a spark of electricity run up my arm, it was > real> > >> freaky and tickled like being exposed to a low voltage current.> > > (And I> > >> was)> > >>> > >> Anyhow, I ran into the house and was a little anxious from the > weird> > >> thing that just occurred.> > >>> > >> I knew I was exposed to a small portion of the lightning strike > on> > > the> > >> tree.> > >>> > >> I am now sitting back on the couch, tell my dog Bailee "That > was a> > >> little scary, don't think I will do that again.">

> >>> > >> I will guess somewhere between 30 seconds and 1 minute passed > since> > > my> > >> near brush with lightening and the onset of my first arrhythmia> > > began> > >>> > >> I bared down and coughed,the first arrhythmia stopped, but not > for> > > more> > >> than 20 seconds or so and the next one was not going away so I> > > braced> > >> myself and the shock came...ouch.....OK, is my heart now back > in a> > >> normal sinus rhythm? Oh shoot, here comes another attack of> > >> VT........Zap time again.> > >>> > >> By now I am lying on the floor my heart rhythm is completely > wacky.> > > And> > >> I am receiving repeated shocks and I could not even get to the > one> >

>> corded phone in my office at the far end of my house to call an> > >> ambulance. (There is no cell phone service on the coast were I > live> > >> either)> > >>> > >> I remember the story of a member of this group who was somewhere> > >> secluded and dragged himself into the car and drove many miles > all> > > the> > >> while getting zapped every so often. Anyway, I really take my > hat> > > of to> > >> that gent. As I could not get myself 40 feet to the other side > of> > > the> > >> house.> > >>> > >> So, I lay on the floor trying to relax. (Like how can I do that > in> > > this> > >> situation)> > >>> > >> My wife should be home any minute !> >

>>> > >> 6.....7........8.........9.........10........11........12 or so> > > shocks> > >> over a 30 minute period and still no sound of the wife driving > the> > > pick> > >> up truck pulling into the yard.> > >>> > >> Now I am thinking is my wife going to find me dead on the floor> > > still> > >> getting zapped every 20 seconds or so?> > >>> > >> I decide to yell help hoping against odds that maybe a neighbor > will> > >> here me> > >>> > >> I yell help, oh no here comes another zap...ouch> > >>> > >> Finally, I here the familiar F150 V8 pulling into the yard .> > >>> > >> Thank God, I am going to be rescued.> > >>> > >> Then I get zapped

again...ouch.....> > >>> > >> Waiting, waiting, waiting, oh come on what are you doing honey > I am> > >> thinking?> > >>> > >> Finally I hear the sound of the truck door close and after > maybe 15> > > to> > >> 30 seconds I yell HELP.> > >>> > >> Then I get zapped again.> > >>> > >> Finally, I hear my neighbor yell over, "Is everything OK?" I > yell> > > NO !!!> > >>> > >> Zapped again !> > >>> > >> And in walks my next door neighbor who happens to drive the same> > > truck> > >> as my wife.> > >>> > >> By now it is night and he can't locate the phone in my house in > the> > > dark> > >> or find my flashlight

that I know is just sitting on the table, > so> > > he> > >> can see the phone to call an ambulance.> > >>> > >> Finally he says, "I will go next door to my house and call > them."> > >>> > >> The minute he walked out the door I got zapped again...ouch> > >>> > >> In a few minutes I hear him walking up the walkway and I get yet> > > another> > >> Zap....ouch.... He says an ambulance is on the way.> > >>> > >> Of course unknown to us, a tree had been struck by lightning on > the> > >> coastal road to our house and both the ambulance and my wife > were> > >> rerouted around the long way to get there, about a 15 mile > detour.> > >>> > >> Anyhow the Fireman got there quick and I got a couple of

ativan> > > that was> > >> in a drawer into me, my heart would not stay in a normal rhythm > and> > > I> > >> was having runs of VT that were under the 200bpm programmed> > > threshold of> > >> my device.> > >>> > >> I had dozens of runs of 180bpm VT for the next 7 or 8 hours > until> > > the> > >> V-tack storm I finally snapped and I went into a normal heart> > > rhythm.> > >> (Well, what passes for normal for me anyhow)> > >>> > >> It was a very scary night and the ER Drs. were pretty scared > too and> > >> that is never a heartening thought, pun intended.> > >>> > >> Next day I get an ambulance ride from my local southern Maine> > > hospital> > >> down to New England

Medical Center to see my old friend EP Dr. > Mark> > >> Estes and 5 days later and another medication to add to my list,> > > Sotalol> > >> and I am on my way home.> > >>> > >> I am tolerating it well and hopefully will get some mileage out > of> > > this> > >> drug.> > >>> > >> I remember from when I was active in this group that many people> > > did not> > >> tolerate Sotalol well and some actually preferred Amiodarone > over> > > it. (I> > >> see there are a lot of possible long term side effects from> > > Amiodarone)> > >> Of course what is good for my condition may not be good for > someones> > >> elses different condition.> > >>> > >> I did not tolerate Ameoderone

well, it has been almost 3 months > out> > > of> > >> the hospital and I still have pain and black lumps on my ciens > were> > > the> > >> three IV's were placed for Amiodarone and after 5 or 6 hours of> > > taking> > >> it by IV,the area would swell and hurt a lot.> > >>> > >> Sorry for this long letter, no one is probably still even > reading> > > this> > >> much too long thread.> > >>> > >> I want to say sorry to Duffy and any members of the group > who> > >> thought I would have a fantastic story of being struck by a > bolt of> > >> lightning.> > >>> > >> My Mom inadvertently got a little carried away by implying I was> > >> directly "Struck" by lightening.>

> >>> > >> I do believe the low energy residual lightning voltage I > received> > > sent> > >> my heart into this episode, although most of the Drs. think > only the> > >> fact that it got my adrenaline going contributed to this scary> > > episode.> > >>> > >> Why wouldn't electrostatic energy in the air have a possible > effect> > > on> > >> my heart that has a electrical short circuit problem to begin > with.> > >>> > >> The way I see it, it is very much so possible.> > >>> > >> I also apologize for not e-mailing earlier to set the record> > > straight,> > >> but I got a lot going on and also I am still dealing with my > latest> > >> health wrinkle.> > >>> > >> Best

wishes to all,> > >>> > >> 43 (Just today) from Maine> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >> Please visit the Zapper homepage at> > >> http://www.ZapLife.org> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>

October 19, 2005

has a recall (Guidant) unit. Don't feel comfortable with it as it has not done what it should have a couple of times. But he is in a situation where we have no choice but to "deal with it". This is the first time since Sat I have been able to get on line. I was away for a while with mom. Found out that I can not leave alone to long. Lack of o2 to brain is really starting to show. His memory is getting really crappy. It seems he has gone past the CRS stage. He will show a couple of events when he goes in for a 6 mo check, but when you look at the other....

Gail Attention group: I was not exactly "Struck" > by> > >> lightening !> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >> Hi group,> > >>> > >> 43 from Maine here.> > >>> > >> Have not been active on the group the past year but would like > to> > > share> > >> (And clarify) my latest adventure that my caring and wonderful > mom> > >> posted here. :-)> > >>> > >> Quick history, I am on my 3rd device, (First one implanted > January> > > 6th> > >> 1994 and was diagnosed with ARVD)> > >>> > >> Before Friday evening July 22, I had been shocked a total of 8 > or 9> > >> times in almost 12 years.> > >>> > >> In fact July 28 2005 would have been my "Three years not being> > > shocked> > >> anniversary."> > >>> > >> Every time I have been shocked in the past there was a reason I> > > could> > >> chalk it up to. (Mostly physical overexertion in general,> > > especially on> > >> humid days and of course extreme stress is good for an > occasional> > > bout> > >> of VT as well)> > >>> > >> Well, it was humid Friday evening July 22 and the forecast was > for> > > heavy> > >> thundershowers.> > >>> > >> I just got my boat prepared for a regular summer tradition of> > > spending a> > >> relaxing Saturday on big and beautiful Lake Sebago in Maine.> > >>> > >> I was tired from a long week of work, but otherwise I was OK and> > > really> > >> looking forward to boating the next day, it was going to be> > > beautiful> > >> weather wise..> > >>> > >> I was home with just my 2 dogs as my wife out running errands.> > >>> > >> I just covered my boat and the storm came on quick, in a matter > of> > > just> > >> 2 minutes, it was thundering and lighting outside to beat the > band.> > >>> > >> I went in the house and in 5 minutes lost power.> > >>> > >> It was around 6:30 PM and I was sitting on the couch with my > Boxer> > >> Bailee who is not afraid of anything in the world, well, except> > >> lightning that is.> > >>> > >> She is so terrified of lightning that she shakes like a leaf and> > > gets> > >> under foot if you attempt to walk across the room,. Also her > little> > >> heart beats 300 miles an hour as well.> > >>> > >> I was relaxed and hugging my scared dog when I realized the > plants> > > under> > >> the porch were missing out on some free rain.> > >>> > >> So I got up and went out the door bare foot and in the midst of> > > lighting> > >> that was striking within 2 and 3 miles away 3 or 4 times a > minute.> > >>> > >> But heck, I was only walking outside 10 feet off of my front > porch> > > to> > >> very quickly put down the two hanging plants that I was carrying> > >>> > >> Well here is were the truth and the legend (My Moms posted > version)> > > of> > >> the story diverge from one another.> > >>> > >> While I was putting the plants down to the ground, I got a > shiver of> > >> voltage that ran through me as tree 60 feet away from me got > struck> > > by> > >> lightening. I was not struck by a bolt of lightening as was > implied.> > >>> > >> I did actually see a spark of electricity run up my arm, it was > real> > >> freaky and tickled like being exposed to a low voltage current.> > > (And I> > >> was)> > >>> > >> Anyhow, I ran into the house and was a little anxious from the > weird> > >> thing that just occurred.> > >>> > >> I knew I was exposed to a small portion of the lightning strike > on> > > the> > >> tree.> > >>> > >> I am now sitting back on the couch, tell my dog Bailee "That > was a> > >> little scary, don't think I will do that again."> > >>> > >> I will guess somewhere between 30 seconds and 1 minute passed > since> > > my> > >> near brush with lightening and the onset of my first arrhythmia> > > began> > >>> > >> I bared down and coughed,the first arrhythmia stopped, but not > for> > > more> > >> than 20 seconds or so and the next one was not going away so I> > > braced> > >> myself and the shock came...ouch.....OK, is my heart now back > in a> > >> normal sinus rhythm? Oh shoot, here comes another attack of> > >> VT........Zap time again.> > >>> > >> By now I am lying on the floor my heart rhythm is completely > wacky.> > > And> > >> I am receiving repeated shocks and I could not even get to the > one> > >> corded phone in my office at the far end of my house to call an> > >> ambulance. (There is no cell phone service on the coast were I > live> > >> either)> > >>> > >> I remember the story of a member of this group who was somewhere> > >> secluded and dragged himself into the car and drove many miles > all> > > the> > >> while getting zapped every so often. Anyway, I really take my > hat> > > of to> > >> that gent. As I could not get myself 40 feet to the other side > of> > > the> > >> house.> > >>> > >> So, I lay on the floor trying to relax. (Like how can I do that > in> > > this> > >> situation)> > >>> > >> My wife should be home any minute !> > >>> > >> 6.....7........8.........9.........10........11........12 or so> > > shocks> > >> over a 30 minute period and still no sound of the wife driving > the> > > pick> > >> up truck pulling into the yard.> > >>> > >> Now I am thinking is my wife going to find me dead on the floor> > > still> > >> getting zapped every 20 seconds or so?> > >>> > >> I decide to yell help hoping against odds that maybe a neighbor > will> > >> here me> > >>> > >> I yell help, oh no here comes another zap...ouch> > >>> > >> Finally, I here the familiar F150 V8 pulling into the yard .> > >>> > >> Thank God, I am going to be rescued.> > >>> > >> Then I get zapped again...ouch.....> > >>> > >> Waiting, waiting, waiting, oh come on what are you doing honey > I am> > >> thinking?> > >>> > >> Finally I hear the sound of the truck door close and after > maybe 15> > > to> > >> 30 seconds I yell HELP.> > >>> > >> Then I get zapped again.> > >>> > >> Finally, I hear my neighbor yell over, "Is everything OK?" I > yell> > > NO !!!> > >>> > >> Zapped again !> > >>> > >> And in walks my next door neighbor who happens to drive the same> > > truck> > >> as my wife.> > >>> > >> By now it is night and he can't locate the phone in my house in > the> > > dark> > >> or find my flashlight that I know is just sitting on the table, > so> > > he> > >> can see the phone to call an ambulance.> > >>> > >> Finally he says, "I will go next door to my house and call > them."> > >>> > >> The minute he walked out the door I got zapped again...ouch> > >>> > >> In a few minutes I hear him walking up the walkway and I get yet> > > another> > >> Zap....ouch.... He says an ambulance is on the way.> > >>> > >> Of course unknown to us, a tree had been struck by lightning on > the> > >> coastal road to our house and both the ambulance and my wife > were> > >> rerouted around the long way to get there, about a 15 mile > detour.> > >>> > >> Anyhow the Fireman got there quick and I got a couple of ativan> > > that was> > >> in a drawer into me, my heart would not stay in a normal rhythm > and> > > I> > >> was having runs of VT that were under the 200bpm programmed> > > threshold of> > >> my device.> > >>> > >> I had dozens of runs of 180bpm VT for the next 7 or 8 hours > until> > > the> > >> V-tack storm I finally snapped and I went into a normal heart> > > rhythm.> > >> (Well, what passes for normal for me anyhow)> > >>> > >> It was a very scary night and the ER Drs. were pretty scared > too and> > >> that is never a heartening thought, pun intended.> > >>> > >> Next day I get an ambulance ride from my local southern Maine> > > hospital> > >> down to New England Medical Center to see my old friend EP Dr. > Mark> > >> Estes and 5 days later and another medication to add to my list,> > > Sotalol> > >> and I am on my way home.> > >>> > >> I am tolerating it well and hopefully will get some mileage out > of> > > this> > >> drug.> > >>> > >> I remember from when I was active in this group that many people> > > did not> > >> tolerate Sotalol well and some actually preferred Amiodarone > over> > > it. (I> > >> see there are a lot of possible long term side effects from> > > Amiodarone)> > >> Of course what is good for my condition may not be good for > someones> > >> elses different condition.> > >>> > >> I did not tolerate Ameoderone well, it has been almost 3 months > out> > > of> > >> the hospital and I still have pain and black lumps on my ciens > were> > > the> > >> three IV's were placed for Amiodarone and after 5 or 6 hours of> > > taking> > >> it by IV,the area would swell and hurt a lot.> > >>> > >> Sorry for this long letter, no one is probably still even > reading> > > this> > >> much too long thread.> > >>> > >> I want to say sorry to Duffy and any members of the group > who> > >> thought I would have a fantastic story of being struck by a > bolt of> > >> lightning.> > >>> > >> My Mom inadvertently got a little carried away by implying I was> > >> directly "Struck" by lightening.> > >>> > >> I do believe the low energy residual lightning voltage I > received> > > sent> > >> my heart into this episode, although most of the Drs. think > only the> > >> fact that it got my adrenaline going contributed to this scary> > > episode.> > >>> > >> Why wouldn't electrostatic energy in the air have a possible > effect> > > on> > >> my heart that has a electrical short circuit problem to begin > with.> > >>> > >> The way I see it, it is very much so possible.> > >>> > >> I also apologize for not e-mailing earlier to set the record> > > straight,> > >> but I got a lot going on and also I am still dealing with my > latest> > >> health wrinkle.> > >>> > >> Best wishes to all,> > >>> > >> 43 (Just today) from Maine> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >> Please visit the Zapper homepage at> > >> http://www.ZapLife.org> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>

October 19, 2005

Hi Gail:

I am sorry to hear about s roughing it lately. By the way what is CRS stage? I hope things get better very soon, you know you got my prayers. Love TURKcharade799@... wrote:

has a recall (Guidant) unit. Don't feel comfortable with it as it has not done what it should have a couple of times. But he is in a situation where we have no choice but to "deal with it". This is the first time since Sat I have been able to get on line. I was away for a while with mom. Found out that I can not leave alone to long. Lack of o2 to brain is really starting to show. His memory is getting really crappy. It seems he has gone past the CRS stage. He will show a couple of events when he goes in for a 6 mo check, but when you look at the other....

Gail Attention group: I was not exactly "Struck" > by> > >> lightening !> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >> Hi group,> > >>> > >>