Going to get one of these inserted in my chest next week. Anybody have any experience with one of these? Thanks in advance.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sigfan Roy,

My defibrillator records everything and if it's within certain parameters transmits that info to my device technician via a device that sits on the headboard of my bed.

I had a Medtronic continuous loop monitor implanted about a month ago. It is a monitor only, not a pacemaker or defibrillator. It communicates with a device on my nightstand and I also have a small device I keep handy that, if I start having an episode, I hold up next to where the implant is and press a button until I get an audible signal and a green light. This will alert the technician and/or my cardiac electrophysiologist to watch the next seven minutes of the tape.

I have a brother that had one implanted about 4-5 years ago. His has the defibrillator and monitors and notifies his doctors if he has a problem.
So far no serious problems. He has had it shock him once when his dog got out and he went chasing him through the woods.
After follow up testing, he seems to be fine.
You can see a bump under the skin at the location but it hasn't seemed to bother him. I think the battery lasts about ten years and that requires a minor surgical procedure for whatever they replace.

Boattrash1 did they put you out to insert the recorder? How did that go? Any issues with it since you got it?

SigfanRoy, it is kind of a twilight sedation, like for a colonoscopy. Propafol is our friend. Nothing to it.
As Sjtill said it only takes a couple minutes. In my case I was in pre op for about an hour and a half and then in the procedure room for another hour and a half. But that was only because my doctor had a couple other more pressing issues he was dealing with.
As Sjtill also said in a thread I started about this same thing, someone cares about your heart, good for you!

Thanks Doc sjtill and Booattrash1. That matches what my docs and nurse said but they also wanted me to have someone to drive me home in case I had to be sedated. Was just curious Doc if you ever heard of one needing full on knock out?

Sorry I missed your thread and thanks guys for the info.

My pacemaker is bluetooth enabled and communicates with a monitoring device at my bedside. It creates a report daily for my doctor and flags anything outside the norm. Once in a while I can feel a little something when it pulses, but not very often. A great life saver !

quote:

Was just curious Doc if you ever heard of one needing full on knock out?

Never heard of it. I've been present at a few pacemaker insertions, but never did enough to do them on a regular basis.
Between sedation like Versed and local anesthetic, I don't think you'll be bothered at all.

And hey boattrash--glad that encouragement helped!

Thanks Doc sjtill. Was all set for yesterday but the nurse called and said the insurance denied the procedure so my doc is going to have to re submit or appeal.

Hopefully I will get it inserted after Christmas.

Thanks again.

After an almost 4 month delay to get approval from the insurance company I had my loop recorder installed today.

All the prep of regular surgery but the actual procedure took about 10 minutes. Got a shot of lidocaine and then he made the incision and pressed the monitor in underneath my skin.

They said it would be like a bee sting but I would say it was quite a bit worse and I wasn't expecting so much pressure to be applied in order to insert it. Didn't last too long but it was pretty uncomfortable. I was going to get some Versed in the IV but they made it sound like it was nothing so I said I was good to go without it. When they take it out (battery lasts 3 years) I will definitely ask for some of the Versed to take that edge off.

Now hopefully the docs can figure out what is going on and what type of procedure (most likely another ablation) needs to be done.

My father had one that was also a pacemaker (I think - maybe it was a defibrillator.) It worked very well for him.

My Dad had a defibrillator, I have a combo defibrillator/Pacemaker. Mine has never activated, but my Dad had his turned off after 2 instances. The experience is not a pleasant one!

My 22 year old daughter has had one for about 6 months now, and has had no issues with it.