Made me feel much better. About to receive MRI.

@xjtothejenna

3 ай бұрын

I have an ICD also and they are pushing for the MRI. Please let me know how it went for you!!! This video helped me a lot as well.

Great video! I have one lead that's not MRI approved says the tech, but my Electrophysiologist said it was ok, I respectfully declined the MRI, I trust the tech more. Thank you, Doug! Awesome info, I wish the doctors would inform us like this

I had a CRT-D device implanted last month, and your videos were very useful. My next appointment is in January, and I already have a few questions to ask the doctor and the technician just from watching your videos & the interactions with your viewers. Thank you.

I just had a biventricular pacemaker implanted with an a/v node ablation. I've been comfortable with the science and my medical staff. But you re video are the best Ive seen as far as my confidence in your knowledge and your presentation just makes me feel more confidence for my long term recovery and the life ahead. Thank you very much for sharing your time and knowledge.

@DouglasRachac

4 жыл бұрын

Michael - Thanks so much for the kind words. I appreciate it! And good luck with your continued recovery!

@michaeltrapp1

4 жыл бұрын

@@DouglasRachac Mr Rachac, earlier this evening I was watching another of your videos. You were doing a presentation at Medtronics regarding being a patient after the implantation. Really good talk. I'm a sponge at this point in my life, though I've always loved learning. Though I do have to admit that I certainly feel closer to this subject than many of the areas I've studied. It's quite different when the subject matter is what is keeping me pushing down on grass rather than pushing grass up. in a fine coincidence i received a text notification and it was that you had replied to my comment. Thank you for your response and it's obvious that you feel these issues as much as any of us. When I stated I had "just had a/v node ablation w/biventricular pacemaker" I wasn't kidding. Procedure was done Friday 1/3/20. I was released from the hospital on Sat 1/4/20. I was feeling kind of shaky at that time, but by yesterday, I was feeling much better and today even more so. I still have a long way to go. I have to get my weight down and work on a better diet. I've had my own construction/remodel business for a number of years and have had several injuries (a couple quite severe) that I just put my head down and plowed ahead and worked on through. I think this time I'm going to do things a little differently. I'm going to begin a physical training regimen and start looking into diet issues. I quit smoking, drinking and acting foolish. I think I can get my self back in shape and hopefully give my heart a hand in possibly repairing some of the CHF that I have. I have COPD after 50 yrs smoking but, I can still maintain a pulse ox of around 90 without oxygen and I think I can get that up some with correct therapy. I've spent too many years thinking about this job or that project and did not take my health into account. I've seen now how my selfishness can hurt my family. So I plan to do better. I've no fear of death. I'm in absolutely no hurry to pass on though. I don't want to die badly. I believe from what I've been learning I can have another good 10 to 20 years of enjoying family, friends, and a lighter load of work. I do not plan to stop working. I love it. But I am going to prioritize life better. And hearing from someone such as yourself who has your base of knowledge and similar experiences that hopefully I can model some of my actions after, that's really outstanding. I really appreciate your sharing and the caring way of living you exhibit. Thank you very much. I'm wishing the very best for you and the beautiful family you showed the photos of during your presentation. You sons and wife are lucky. So are you and I with the technology and knowledge that hard working, brilliant people have developed to help us through times like this. Again, thank you, Michael Trapp DFW TX

Great video Douglas! Learning so much from these.

Thank you for posting this …it totally was weighing on my mind

I have a Medtronic Strata Valve programmable shunt for my hydrocephalus and all I was told that it would change my setting. I would have to get the setting checked out before and after going through an MRI.

Extremely helpful. Thank you!

Thanks for you great videos! I am headed for some form of ICD around 3 Mar 22. Your videos and a few others have settled my fears for the whole process. I am an older Retired Marine who had 5 by-passes in 1999 and of course Veterans Affairs will be doing my procedure. Of course like anyone I am not looking forward to my first shock but it is what it is!

@ALPHAJACK78

2 жыл бұрын

I've had mine in for 7 yrs, just had another lead put in, and new battery with no problems, but my advice is if they tell you that you need an angiogram, I will never have another one done. The last one they did, they pulled out the catheter to fast, and caused my heart to go into defib, and my device shocked me, at least I know it works. You've had 5 bypasses, so your pipes are clean, no worries, Semper Fi, and thank you for your service, sir!

Glad I saw your video! My cardiologist and I are going to be talking about a CRT-D next week and even though he’s told it’d be safe, hearing it explained like this helps. I’m a brain cancer survivor so I have MRI’s done about 4 times a year 😅

I really thank you very much for all the effort you put in your videos. I learned a lot. Even though I’m in Obstetrician/gynecologist I have never been exposed to any of this. For me it’s all new and your doctor never takes the time to explain anything. My sincere Thanks to you

I have a Medtronic icd fitted September 2015 and recently had a TIA had to have CT scan as the icd was not MRI compatible the leads were MRI safe but not the icd something about serial numbers your video helped understand Thankyou

I just got my Medtronic pacemaker August 2023, so I should be okay (I hope) for my upcoming MRI.

Have a BS PM, approved only for horizontal MRIs. Have you heard any gossip about devices (any manufacturer) getting approved for vertical MRIs?

Hi Doug. I had a CRT/D installed 6 months ago. They just ordered a echocardiogram. I am not concerned about the procedure, but I'm wondering if there are any specific alterations in the procedure that they need to do to perform the echo? Thank you very much for your time I really enjoy your videos. Ed.

@DouglasRachac

2 ай бұрын

Hi Ed, thanks for watching! There are no extra precautions to take with an echo. I get one myself every 3-5 years. Echos and CT scans are no problem. The only scan we need to pay attention for is an MRI. Hope that helps!

Thanks for this informative video. I want to know, at the time of getting a pacemaker.. do we really have to mention for MRI safe pacemaker or by default all pacemakers now a days are MRI safe?

@DouglasRachac

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the comment Suresh! We're in the transition period for MRI devices right now. Any new devices on the market will be MRI safe, but its still best to ask, just to make sure.

Is there a date that all leads became MRI safe or is it case by case? In other words did they stop using the early MRI unsafe leads by a certain date in time or were they just slowly phased out? My first ICD was put in in 2007. I had a blown back disk in 2012, and they couldn't do an MRI because my ICD wasn't MRI compatable. Ironically I had lead fractures while recovering from back surgery, inappropriate shocks. long story, but my third ICD is MRI compatable , I assume the leads too...

@DouglasRachac

4 жыл бұрын

desotopete There isn’t a specific date when leads became MRI safe. The different companies redesigned their leads at different times, but many older leads have now been retroactively labeled as MRI safe. So, if you were once told your system was not MRI compatible it’s worth asking again as there’s a change it is now labeled as MRI safe.

It's cool the new generation of ICD and crt-d devices are mri conditional... cardaic rhythm management devices are cool..

Such a great video! Can you pls explain why they sometimes put magnet on devices?

@DouglasRachac

Жыл бұрын

Hi M A, thanks for watching! There are several reasons a clinic or doctor might use a magnet on a device. With pacemakers there are some tests where they’ll get better, clearer results of the pacemaker is pacing at a constant rate. And the big reason to use a magnet with defibs is to disable the shock function during surgeries. The last thing anyone wants during a delicate surgery is for your device to go off causing your body to jolt. So they use a magnet and monitor you with other equipment to keep you safe.

I really want to get an MRI for my brain but I have I believe surgical clips from gallbladder surgery but I don’t know what type of clips they used so I don’t know if it’s safe to proceed with it

@DouglasRachac

2 жыл бұрын

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with that product. I think your best bet is to talk to your physician and have their office do the necessary research to determine if an MRI is safe for you.

You mentioned something at the end of this video that I really need help with: there are institutions that will do MRI's on systems that aren't approved. That. I need to know where those institutions are/names of them. I don't have a cardio implant. I have a high cervical implant C1 to the sub occipital for facial pain. All components are MRI conditional (Penta Lead, IPG etc). But lead location is a no no. Still yet, I need MRI's. I know of Mayo and Pittsburgh. Do you know any other locations?

@DouglasRachac

Жыл бұрын

I’m sorry, I don’t know the names of specific institutions. But they are usually large teaching or University hospitals. You want to ask their MRI department if they have an “off-label” MRI protocol, and if it covers your particular lead placement. Best of luck to you. I hope you find what you’re looking for.

@rumblersgear3369

Жыл бұрын

@@DouglasRachac off label! Thank you!

Things i wanna know is can some 1 still be under a hood of a car with and ICD Defibrillator, Pacemaker? Also can stress etc plus getting angry to the point where the person has to punch something set off the device. i really would like to know cus i feel like stress would if stressed enough and i feel like people with out ICD Defibrillator devices don't know anything they just assume

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Keifer, yes you can be near a running engine, just keep your device 12 inches away from the device. In other words, don't lay down on top of a running engine. As for stress and anger affecting your heart rate, it certainly can, but it's not likely to result in a shock (if that is what you're worried about). There are some conditions where being startled or excited can cause arrhythmias. You will need to ask your doctor if you have one of those conditions. If so, it's best to avoid scenarios where you would be startled or stressed.

@keifer4146

3 жыл бұрын

@@DouglasRachac I recently was just in the hospital on April 1st, 2021 and they said it was Afib way i found out was when i had my finger pulse reader what ever it was i notice it was 160s 190s and finally called the ambulance and got to the hospital in time. glade i caught it before reaching that pint before my device went off. i don't ever wanna rely on some device if they say i gotta. i rather be happy and know i can use a finger device that reads and says the number is beyond 100. just didn't have a great time in the hospital.

I had an ICD placed in 2017. And it fired seven times appropriately. October 2, 2019 my cardiologist recommended that I get a MRI. He recommended that I get it with Anesthesia. Since I had received a shock three weeks earlier. I walked into the MRI and the Boston scientific representative turned off my ICD and place it into protective mode. Based on the Boston scientific cardiology form I should never been admitted for a MRI. The Boston scientific rap schedule the time off for 24 hours and left the premises. 30 minutes each of the scan I started going to ventricular fibrillation and was not recognized for 13 minutes until another representative arrived and had to turn my device on. By that time I had suffered major heart failure renal failure. Required intubation. Pulmonary contusion and spitting blood. Able to anticoagulate. It was horrible to say the least. I felt like I was dying and they were not able to help me no one

@umieomandam33

2 жыл бұрын

My son had the mri with contrast before the icd implanted but due of the shortness of breath he did not make it, we cannot re schedule yet the mri until he has the device icd implanted, the cadiologist doctor ask me to reschedule again the mri but it sounds scary to me after i read this .

stainless steel plate is fixed in leg tibia can i do mri for knee for same leg

@DouglasRachac

4 ай бұрын

I’m sorry, I’m just not familiar enough with plates. It’s always best to ask your doctor about something like this. I have a titanium plate in my arm and am able to get MRIs, but it’s safest to ask a professional.

Are the batteries for an ICD really expensive?

@DouglasRachac

4 жыл бұрын

M.G. Umbras Unfortunately, the batteries can’t be purchased separately. The entire device is hermetically sealed, so when a battery reaches the end of its life the entire device needs to be replaced. Depending on what your are having implanted prices can go from a few thousand dollars (pacemakers) to $30,000 or more (CRT-D devices).

So... can I safely use an MRI to see what my titanium skull implants look like? Or will they pick up the energy like an antenna & fry my brain? Sorry, your antenna comment left me worried.

@DouglasRachac

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Virginia, I don't know the answer to that question. From what I understand, as it pertains to device safety in an MR field, it's not the titanium casing that is a safety concern. And, also, the MRI will not get a clear picture of the device because of the titanium casing. So, I'm not sure you'd get a good image of your skull plates with an MRI. But, you'd have to ask your doctor and/or MRI technician for a better answer. Sorry.

Hey dough can you tell me Laser radiations can effect MRI device or not? I am 25 yrs old and want laser treatment for skin aesthetic purpose but not sure that laser is causing some disturbance with my device or not so if you know something regarding this plz guide me. Thank you in Advance

@DouglasRachac

Жыл бұрын

I’m not sure if this is the same thing, but you can have laser hair removal done as long as the machine that generates the laser is kept at least 6 inches/15 cm away from your device.

Is there a fee for being switched to "MRI safe mode"?

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

pmh9 No, there shouldn’t be. Some MRI clinics are able to make the switch themselves, but most contact your device manufacturer and they send a rep out to the MRI clinic. Any “fee” should be included in the costs of your MRI and shouldn’t cost you anything separately out of pocket.

@pmh9

3 жыл бұрын

@@DouglasRachac Thank you!

Hello sir, i am your new subscriber, I have interest to watch your vedeos about icd because my son had it, he has dilated cardiomyopathy , this device was inplanted may 05,2022 , this device is only a donation from florida, i heard that this device icd is very expensive,and i am worried of the cost when the time comes that it needs to replace,anyways your vedeos is help me a lot and i ask my son to watch ,he is 16 year old, he has a problem if pulmonary infusion and his stomach a bit bigger but the doctor prescribe the medicine for pepee,i hope everything back to normal,,how long or years before you replace your device? Thank you

@DouglasRachac

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Umie! I hope your son is feeling better after his defibrillator implant. My implant was in 2015, and I still have 4-5 years left before I will need a new one. I send my best wishes to you and your family.

@umieomandam33

2 жыл бұрын

@@DouglasRachac thank you so much, like wise with you❤️ please keep posting

I have a stainless pin in my hip. Can I have an MRI for prostate cancer?

@DouglasRachac

Жыл бұрын

Hi Billy, thanks for watching. It's best to tell your doctor and your MRI technician about any foreign object you may have in your body. From what I understand pins, hips and joints are made with a non-magnetic material, like Titanium. They won't move or be affected by the MRI, but they might interfere with the quality of the image the technician gets. So, again, make sure to tell them about any implanted items you have in your body.

@billyjohnson9166

Жыл бұрын

@@DouglasRachac thanks for your reply

What about tooth braces

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry Alan, I don't know the answer to that. You'll have to check with your Orthodontist to find out if braces are MRI safe.

What my husband is needing to know is if a titanium stapes in his ear will move during an mri. Being that titanium doesn’t pick up on these displays.

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

From what I understand titanium is a non-ferrous metal, and so is not magnetic. The staples should be fine, but its always best to ask a healthcare professional before undergoing an MRI.

It's cool the new generation of ICD and crt-d devices are mri conditional... cardaic rhythm management devices are cool..