Hi Doug - Love how informative your videos have been! Just got my CRT-D a few days ago and as I'm in the more tech savy/comfortable demographic was given the option for a Medtronic App for my phone that acts as my monitor - so easy, convenient, and I carry it around all the time anyway I totally get the required time it needs to download. Thank you for being such a strong patient advocate in the industry and encouraging them to think beyond the device itself!

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Heather! I appreciate the comment, and thanks for watching!

Thank you so much for sharing all this information via your videos. I am 2 weeks post emergency pm implant and find your videos very informative and reassuring as I’m sure many others do.

I just got pacemaker a few weeks back. I've been told I will get a home monitor device..thanks for video.

Thanks for your series of videos, they've been very reassuring and I now feel comfortable enough to proceed with my PM implantation.

Thank you so much for this video. Really helps so I can explain and understand to teach my stepdad about his new pace maker.

Thank you! These videos are great!

Doing good job very informative you know more than the heart specialist do thanks for helping me with my bedside monitor knowing how it works now

Very useful information thank you🙏

Thank you sir! This video helped me a lot with understanding how to use this machine and the nature of it as well. Thanks again and happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, sir!

Wow! $260 for a fourth transmission. Thankfully I live in Canada. I have had an ICD implanted about 8 weeks ago and just received my Medtronic device (looks exactly like yours shown in the video) - the implanted device, the surgery to implant and the home monitoring device and transmissions are all completely free. I really don't understand how Americans can deal with their insurance and medical costs. Thanks for a great video.

@rklrkl64

2 жыл бұрын

I'm the same here in the UK - just got my Medtronic MyCarelink identical to the one in this video and don't have to pay a penny extra for the device or any of its transmissions. Yes, UK folks pay National Insurance as a small percentage of their wages to cover NHS costs and may have to pay for prescriptions (£9.35 each or a yearly "pass" for any number of prescriptions is £108.10), although there are complete prescription exemptions for anyone outside the ages 16-60, if they're pregnant or with a long term serious illness (plus Wales and Scotland have free prescriptions for everyone!). Considering a transmission costs pennies/cents to send via 4G, a $260 charge is almost criminal in my books! As for security issues, some CVEs have been reported for the Medtronic MyCarelink device, but Medtronic do periodic firmware updates over the air (the instruction manual specifically mentions them).

@barb3384

Жыл бұрын

Just had a ICD implanted two weeks ago. Never heard of this, I am going in tomorrow so they can scan my defibrillator to make sure everything is working right.

@barb3384

Жыл бұрын

After visiting the tech, I am getting one also free, live in Canada

@grasshole1606

Жыл бұрын

We only pay sales tax on goods, generally 6=8%. No VAT, or GST, I believe they are called. It's a pay me now, or pay me later thing. There were a lot of Canadian pts at my old cardiologist's office in Upstate N,Y, that payed cash, so they could receive treatment on their time table. We each think our system is the better. Is any system perfect? NO, it's just what your used to. Both sides work. Dont shoot the messenger.

@wagwag630

Жыл бұрын

American healthcare is very expensive and it's like living in a third world country, it has got so bad, even with insurance and a referral from the ER it may takes months, or even going out of state to find a doctor.

Thank you for this video. My ICD was implanted this past June. I have a Boston Scientific ICD with the Lattitude monitor and while I know the basics of how they work, I was wondering if I need to take the monitor with me when my husband and I go on vacation to Hawaii next month. I'm going to leave it home, since I too, seldom have any issues (so far).

Great video, I usually travel with mine

@Beowulf245

3 жыл бұрын

Hey, I have a question. Do you have to set up your monitor in any way after you unplug it and then plug it in again when travelling? Or do you just plug it in and it starts working again?

It would have been nice to have include the codes for trouble problems, for example low battery.

Thank u so much. I meant the little blue light where the green orange and blue light are on the top of the reader that looks like the telephone should this blue light Be on always. Thank you.

A few months ago, I returned from a trip to Italy. I didn’t take the remote monitor with me. My ICD and monitor must have had a chat because I suddenly heard that European police-ambulance siren that we all know from movies and tv. It turned out that I had two afib episodes (in beautiful Venice, of all places), and the ICD was trying to spread the news! It was actually the first (and hopefully, only) afib episode I’ve had since my ablation in 2019. I also have vfib, but haven’t had any therapies for ventricular since 2001. This is my third ICD. Fun fun fun!

@aubralewis1458

8 ай бұрын

That’s hilarious! Old EP lab nurse here with a shiny new pacer. I did not see that coming!

@wotan10950

8 ай бұрын

@@aubralewis1458I’m happy to say that I returned to Italy this past Spring. No problems whatsoever. I guess the lesson is try to maintain a balanced lifestyle (whatever that means), don’t overdo it, don’t push past your boundaries. By coincidence, I’m having a new electric oven-range delivered today, to replace a malfunctioning gas model. Everyone told me to get an induction model instead, but I tried to explain that induction and ICDs don’t mix. There’s a bit of controversy about that, but my cardiologists maintain that it isn’t worth the risk.

Thanks good to know. I didn’t really know what they meant when they said I don’t need a box because I have the app.!❤

Thanks Doug. Great video, very informative, much better than my cardiologist. I now understand why and how a magnetic field might interfere with pacemakers. I wonder if you have an answer to my problem. I live in a rural area with almost inexistent cell coverage. I even bought an amplifier to no avail. The local Medtronic office sent me a new Carelink device but I still cannot send the data. However, I do have an internet connection through my land line and I simply do not understand why that option is not available. Or is it? Is there, to your knowledge, a way of transmitting the data via the internet possibly with some other device? Thanks for your work!

@DouglasRachac

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Pietro, I'm sorry I am not sure if there is a way to transmit via the internet. You can call Medtronic Patient Services and they should be able to answer that for you. If there is no way to do that I'll share with you something my parents did with my dad's pacemaker. They were up at their cabin during a regularly scheduled transmission. They too are in an area with no cell coverage. They left his bedside monitor plugged in at the cabin overnight in order to receive the device data. Then the next morning they took the remote monitor (and it's power cord) "into town" to run errands. They ate lunch at a local pizza joint and asked for a table near an outlet. They plugged in the remote monitor and it found the cell signal and transmitted the data while they ate lunch. It may be a bit of a hassle, but it is a workaround you can use, at least until your next device which will be Bluetooth enabled. Then anytime you get back into a coverage area your phone will just automatically send the data from your device.

Excellent information. I never knew the implanted pace maker. Saves information to send to the monitor. Should a blue light on the reader always show. So I know it is working??. .?. Thanks appreciate it

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Barbara, thanks for watching! If you have the Medtronic bedside monitor the screen should be blank/off the majority of the time. When the screen is blue it usually means the monitor is downloading new software.

I am going to insert BIVICD next week. I am working in Manufacutring in IBM. I am wondering if it is going any problem with my BIVICD interction at my work? Thank You for the Info.

@DouglasRachac

4 жыл бұрын

Vrbas Mejdan, Generally there isn’t much you won’t be able to do. If you work with large magnets or heavy machinery just keep your device at least 12 inches away from any magnets or machinery. I know of people who work in banks and at casinos (large magnetic locks) and who work on assembly lines (large machinery) and they are at no risk. If you’d like the definitive word, contact the Patient Services Number listed on your Patient ID card and they will be able to answer any questions you might have.

What kind of Internet service do I need to have? My house is at the bottom of the hill of my neighborhood with lots of big trees and don't always get good reception. Am I going to need a power booster or something?

Thanks for the informative/great videos. My bedside monitor from Medtronics looks different from the one on this video. It is circular with a green light in the center. I would imagine it functions in the same manner as the one you go over.

@DouglasRachac

Жыл бұрын

Hi Steven, thanks for watching the video. Yes, the newer monitors work much the same way. They also transmit data through a server to your doctor’s office when needed. You can also push the button on the top (when asked to do so by your doctor) to manually send a transmission.

@stevenschiffer653

Жыл бұрын

@@DouglasRachac Thanks again. You have really helped put my mind at ease. What you do is really appreciated.

What sort of range can the implant have transmitting to the monitor? Between wanting my charging phone within reach of where I sleep and outlet availability it would be convenient to operate a monitor on more distant furniture within the room. I haven't been told which brand or model of subcutaneous ICD I'll be getting in a few days. I don't know if mine will have any audible tones in response to a magnet override or being overdue phoning home. Also, with a Bluetooth link would that preclude the simultaneous use of that smart phone with other devices like earpieces or cordless speakers? Any idea if left front pants pocket or the normal tee shirt pocket would be a safe distance for carrying a smartphone with a subcutaneous ICD? I think the phone's battery and/or stereo speakers while carrying the phone in a typical tee shirt pocket might be pretty close to the lead where the lead is horizontal between the ICD and the sternum. Of course I have no idea where the phone's antennas are located.

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Robert, Thanks for watching! You have a lot of good questions here. Let me see if I can answer them for you. First off, the general recommendation for your bedside monitor is within 10 feet. As long as you can set your cell phone on the other side of the monitor (not in a direct line between you and the monitor) you shouldn't have a problem. The monitor, though, doesn't **have** to be next to your bed. That's the most convenient place, but as long as the monitor is in a room or area where you spend an extended period of time, you'll be fine. Your device will try to communicate with your monitor, and if it doesn't find it your device will try again every few minutes for 3 days. If it doesn't find your monitor in 3 days your device will save the data and send it the next time its able to communicate with your monitor. So, if you spend 20-30 minutes in your bathroom getting ready every morning, that would work. Or, if you eat breakfast every day in the kitchen, or spend time watching TV every night, those would be good places to put your monitor so it can connect with your device. A bluetooth connection would not prevent you from using the phone with another bluetooth item, like a speaker. If you're getting the SICD (it's placed on your left side and is only available through Boston Scientific at the moment) you can have your phone in your pants pocket without a problem. You'll have to ask about the shirt pocket as I'm not entirely familiar with that specific product. If you're getting a traditional ICD (placed in the upper chest) you'll want to avoid putting your phone in the shirt pocket directly over your device. I hope that answers your questions.

Due to your video I discovered why my device toned while in Iceland. Went to the hospital and they said all was fine. Turns out that the bag I was carrying and a magnet on the bag was causing the issue.

@DouglasRachac

4 жыл бұрын

Excellent! I’m so glad to hear it was helpful.

I would love to ask a few questions of you privately sometime related to my step-dad’s pacemaker!!

@DouglasRachac

4 жыл бұрын

Not a problem Nicole. I'd be happy to answer any questions. You can message me directly on Facebook Messenger (Douglas Rachac) or on Twitter (@HankEPants).

Hello Douglas we have a bedside devise, Medronics for my husband.. Yes. it is monitored at the Dr's office. Recently it started beeping, prior to that Dr's office called because they've noticed there was a trigger, which could be fluid around his heart?? he has been bed ridden for a few months. Can u advise?? Thank you so much🙏😊

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Pia, I responded to your question in the comment section of another video. I hope you found that. In summary, with his device emitting that tone, your husband should be seen by a heart specialist in the near future. Best of luck!

We followed hundreds of pts. at our office and would never even consider billing someone for extra remote monitoring. Some pts. have an emotional need for the reassurance it provides, esp. when the implanted device is new for them.

@DouglasRachac

Жыл бұрын

I am glad to hear this. To be honest, I don’t believe my charges are the clinic’s fault. My insurance only covers in-office interrogations. If I visited the office 4 times a year my insurance would cover it, but when I have a remote transmission they do not.

@wholeNwon

Жыл бұрын

@@DouglasRachac Our contract with one ins. co. required us to bill for the service deductible/copay.. We told those pts. that we were required to bill but they were not required to pay. Those who weren't covered for remote monitoring were simply not charged.

Hi sorry silly question does it interfere with mobile phones it says keep 6 feet away from mobile/ any equipment tv /computer ? in book let,?

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Adib, thanks for watching. No, the remote monitor won’t interfere with your mobile devices or tablets. But, phones and tablets have been studied and found, in some rare cases, to interfere with the data transfer between your device and the remote monitor. So it’s recommended that when you go to sleep you charge your phone and tablet a few feet away from the remote monitor. I hope that helps!

Hey, I have a question. Do you have to set up your remote monitor in any way after you unplug it and then plug it in again when travelling? Or do you just plug it in and it starts working?

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

Hi D.V., if you unplug and move your monitor it should work on its own after you plug it back in. It may take a few minutes to reboot, but there isn’t anything else you will need to do.

@Beowulf245

3 жыл бұрын

@@DouglasRachac Thank you for your prompt reply. Much appreciated!

My Medtronic monitors during the night. If I get up or sit up in bed the blue light starts to flash for a few seconds. What is happening?

Hello,please how long did it take you before you could fully raise your hands up?

@DouglasRachac

Жыл бұрын

Most doctors recommend waiting 6-8 weeks before raising your elbow above your shoulder. You should continue to move your arm below your shoulder during these 6-8 weeks, though. After the 6-8 weeks you can move your arm normally.

I used remote monitoring on my last device Boston scientific first and second generation latitude monitor.. looking forward to my new monitor from medtronic and new device ID card to arrive

My mom had one that work through her home phone so does this work through a cell now.

@DouglasRachac

2 жыл бұрын

Calvin, the newer devices do work with an app now, but your mom would have to have one of the new Bluetooth enabled devices to be able to use the app. If she doesn’t she is like me and will need to wait until her next device replacement to upgrade to the app.

I am a house painter and while cleaning and painting our basement floor my defibulater started beeping loudly for about 15 seconds today three times even after resting for a couple of hrs. My monitor is at my bedside. Looks just like yours. The veterans hospital not assure why. I will be 85 this November. I am still working as a painter and drywall contracting small repairs.

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

Hi John, Thanks for watching. I hope this information is helpful to you. Medtronic ICDs are able to make 3 different sounds. You can hear the three sounds in this video made by Medtronic: kzread.info/dash/bejne/p2xm3LeJp5unk5c.html&t If the sound that you heard was the third sound in this video, the single long solid beep, then it makes sense that Veteran's Hospital couldn't tell you what was wrong. That is because the single solid tone just means you are working close to a magnet, and that the magnet got within 5-6 inches of your device. This tone is just a warning for the patient, so it won't show up on any reports when your hospital downloads your device information. Here's the really good news; the solid tone is just a warning. Magnets can't hurt your device, but they do temporarily alter how your device works, so it's a good idea to keep magnets at least 6 inches away from your device. As a painter I can see several places where there might be a magnet. Some paint cans have magnets to hold paint brushes. Some scaffolding have magnets attached to them. Magnets can really be anywhere. But, again, they aren't harmful to your device, and that tone is just a warning to you that you are too close to a magnet. If that was not the sound you heard, if what you heard was one of the first 2 tones in that video above, it means there is an issue with your device that will require further study, and that can only be done at your doctor's office or at the hospital. Good luck! Please let me know if we figured this one out.

@homebrewer7

3 жыл бұрын

@@DouglasRachac just got out of hospital My defibrillator went off 5 times yesterday including waking me at 12:00 and 4am. I got up headed for the hospital. Sounded like a British ambulance and very loud. They had to reprogram it. It was recording my heart beat like one beat was three and it could not communicate with the monitor. Battery week in monitor I am getting a new monitor probably. The veterans hospital pays for this. The doctor says I am doing great.

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

@@homebrewer7 Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. Our devices sometimes are set up a little too sensitive and they pick up other parts of the heart beat they aren't supposed to. With a little reprogramming you should be all set. I'm sorry to hear you were shocked so many times. I hope you are resting comfortably now.

@homebrewer7

3 жыл бұрын

@@DouglasRachac it woke woke me up in the middle of the night so went in to the veteran hosp 4 am. Drove in. They reprogramed my device so it would stop recording 3 beats to one and my monitor battery is very low. The company may send me a new one. I was back to painting a ladies deck very vigorously and all is good.

@homebrewer7

3 жыл бұрын

@@DouglasRachac I was not shocked. The device screamed like a British ambulance. No shocking. I was told that my defibrillator could not communicate with the monitor so gay upset and started hollering. Hahaha. Thanks for responding. I won't bother you again.

Thanks so much I have ICD....and have a monitor .I do a transmission once a month just so whoever knows I'm still alive and ticking😂❤

How long do they leave loop recorder in?

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Peggy, it depends. The newest loop recorders have a battery life of 4 years, and they will leave it in as long as it takes to make a proper diagnosis. Hopefully it doesn't need to be in for 4 years to make that diagnosis, but it does happen from time to time. Some people only have it in for a few weeks, others for months or years. It just depends on the situation.

I have a Medtronic bedside thing, what I don't really like is how they have this set up like an ongoing cash cow, with every couple of months it sends data in and then I get the bill for close to $200 in the mail I have to pay out of pocket, it's supposed to send on the 28th, tempted to unplug it for a few weeks

@DouglasRachac

Жыл бұрын

Hi Hobby, thanks for watching. Yes, the America healthcare system is not the greatest. I too get charged about $250 everytime my remote monitor transmits. That money goes to the clinics, though, not Medtronic. The med-tech companies all lose money providing remote monitoring services because they give it away free to the patients and clinics. The clinics are able to bill for the review and on-going monitoring of devices. Remote monitoring is not required for your device to operate normally. But it is a nice feature to have so your clinic can watch out for any anomalies that might pop up. One thing you can do is mention the costs to your clinic and ask if you can switch to a schedule that transmits data every 6 months instead of every 3. That way you cut the number of remote transmissions in half, but still have the benefit of remote monitoring just in case your device picks up something off that your clinic should look at.

So does it monitor in real time?? If so why do you need to do a manual reading??

I had a pace maker the 1st of January spent 9 wks in the hospital a wk after surgery another cardiogist went in cleaned arteries and put stents in, which I thought should've been done 1st. When got out of hospital a month later I had to go back for Afib, they sent me home with a monitor doctor doesn't seem concerned when my heart rate drops below 40 or jumps up to 120 plus. Now the want to put a watchman device in, has anyone else had these many problems with a pace maker??? I struggle every day, now on oxygen 24/7 never had to use it b4 surgery. This was 2nd opinion doctor because 1st one keep saying nothing wrong with my heart, now my daughter's want a 3rd opinion. Each surgery gets worse battling my BP and heart rate oxygen levels are normal. I've had ultrasound done recently for up coming surgery at another hospital they referred me to any advice would be helpful thank you.

@DouglasRachac

Жыл бұрын

I’m sorry to hear you’re going through all of this Donna. Some heart conditions are extremely hard to get under control. If 2 doctors are suggesting different treatment I would also seek a 3rd opinion just to make sure the next surgery is the right one. I’m sorry, I wish I could offer you more of an answer. Best of luck to you with your decision.

Personally, I'd prefer WiFi connection rather than cell, because we may not know what provider it's connected with. Not all providers are good. With our own cells, we KNOW the coverage and if travelling, it's easy enough to enable your cell as a "hot spot" and have the unit connect. Mind you, I don't know if the units are hard coded for WiFi or if there's an Android App that would allow the patient to manually configure for the hot spot connection.

Do you have to keep the monitor by your bedside ?

@DouglasRachac

10 ай бұрын

Hi Jenny, no, it doesn’t have to be by your bed, t but that’s the most convenient place. It can be anywhere you spend a little time every day. If you have coffee in the kitchen every morning it could be there, or if you work in a home office it could be there. It just needs to be somewhere where the implanted device has a few minutes to connect with the monitor and transmit data, if needed.

my care link showing 3248 error what it is

@DouglasRachac

3 жыл бұрын

Yamini, error code 3248 means the hand held reader that sits on top of your monitor needs to be recharged. Just pick up up and set it back down in it’s holder. That should get it to recharge again.

I have a loop recorder. 3 questions. Why are the lights flashing on the handset? My screen shows a body with a signal going out and a red x 🤔 and last, it seems to do that all the time. Is it transmitting something

@DouglasRachac

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Debi, Thanks for watching! It's possible that your transmitter is having trouble connecting to a cellular signal. Try moving it to a different part of the room or house, plug it in and give it a few minutes to see if that red X goes away. If not, your best course of action would be to call the device manufacturer. They can help you trouble shoot.

My device is not working

@DouglasRachac

7 ай бұрын

Hi Cynthia, it’s best to talk to your doctor about this. Let them know exactly what you’re feeling and hopefully they can reprogram your device to help you feel better.

I have Bluetooth. No wifi yet though lol!