Doug’s videos are a great tool in assisting patient’s understanding of their devices, their limitations and overall dos and don’ts. That’s where device manufacturers fall short in their responsibilities to their patients.
Amazing that this video is over 6 years old. I just had a pacemaker implant (Medtronics) on December 12, 2023. My Dr didn't education me on most of what Doug is saying nor did anyone else. It's been just over 4 weeks and I'm doing as much watching/reading as I can on my own to educate myself on all this. The anxiety, depression was never discussed. Thinking every time something feels weird in my body I may need the ER or worse, die. I know this will take getting used to but Medtronics and the Dr can asssit in these feelings and concerns. I joined a Facebook support group and someone referred me to Doug's videos. They've been very educational and helpful soThank you!
I would love to make this so much more viewed. Ppl just don’t know the emotional and psychological side of cardiac failure and health. I’ve learned first hand this year!!!!
Doctors can play a big role in how patients deal with the psychological aspects of this as well. In my case, I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis and it was later found to be affecting the heart. My cardiologist threw multiple things at me at once without explaining anything too well. As a result, I put off the implantation surgery for 6 months while I did research and educated myself. Thanks to that, I went into the surgery much better prepared psychologically than I otherwise would have been. Mine was a primary implant put in mainly for preventative purposes, so I had the luxury of time. As your story illustrates, not all patients have that luxury.
I got the Cobalt CRT-D a month ago and have watched all your videos. I finally got around to seeing your story. The most helpful info I got was from your videos. You explained more in depth than the doctors and device reps. It reduced a lot of my stress over getting the device.
I had tachycardia I didnt know I had, and pneumonia 2 years ago I thought was just bronchitis, I went to the doctor for the coughing etc and she found tachycardia which concerned her a lot more, 129 bpm just sitting in the chair. I was treated for the tachycardia with a cardioversion, and the pneumonia as well, but the testing etc found the mitral valve regurgitation I knew for along time I had, apparently got worse over time and probably caused the tachycardia. So they put me on blood thinners but I talked to the cardiologist and said I didn't want to be on medication forever, and that I wanted to put mitral valve repair/replacement on the table for discussion as a permanent fix. So after an agiogram that found everything good, I went for the mitral valve repair, anuloplasty ring and the Cox MAZE IV procedure to fix the tachycardia. When I woke up in the recovery room the nurse said I had to go back in the morning for a pacemaker, the MAZE procedure didn't do the job, I wasn't thrilled by that revelation and it was totally unexpected, no real explanation of why or anything. I got the dual Medtronic and it paces about 75% of the time, after 2 years it has 9.9 years left on the battery. Other than the bedside monitor nothing really changed after the recovery psychologic-wise etc., I dont take any medications or thinners. Only thing I'm not thrilled by is how it seems they have this bedside monitor set up like a cash cow with every I guess 2-3 months it sends it's data and then I get the almost $200 bill in the mail to pay out of pocket.
