First Degree Fetal Heart Block May be Reversible

Here's an article about a researcher at Yale who believes that First Degree Fetal Heart Block may be reversible.

Talk About Getting Wires Crossed

Here's a short but somewhat scary article about the President of the University of Arizona having heart surgery because his pacemaker wires poked a hole in his heart. The last paragraph of the article is a little strange as well.

New Digital Pacemaker Developed

Vitatron, a Dutch company involved in the production of pacemakers has developed a digital pacemaker which is expected to improve the quality of life besides saving life of a patient.

New Developments in Biological Pacemaker Research

The results of research at Johns Hoplins in Baltimore were released today and show great promise in creating a biological alternative to implanted pacemakers. Scientists used fibroblasts, which are common connective tissues found throughout the body and combined them with regular heart muscle cells to create cells that generate electrical current. When implanted in guinea pigs with artificially slow hearts, their heart rate was quadrupled.

2005 Heart Walk

On October 23 my daughter Victoria and I will be walking in the annual American Heart Association's Heart Walk. My employer is sponsoring several teams this year and we all have personal goals of raising $200 for the AHA.

As most of you know, I received a pacemaker implant back in January of 2004. Even though I'm no longer dependent on the pacemaker, I still have a keen interest in keeping up with research in heart disease, which the American Heart Association is a great supporter of. I'm also in the beginning stages of a long term plan to change my life style from fat couch potato to healthy outdoors stud. I started on September 13, and in the last 23 days I've dropped 20 pounds and I'm walking almost 2 miles a day.

I'm asking all my friends, family, and strangers who happen to stumble over this blog to consider making a donation to the American Heart Association by clicking on this link.

Thanks in advance from Alan, Marissa, and Victoria.

Please feel free to post the link to my AHA website on your blog or website. Every donation helps. Here's the full link:

http://nashvilleheartwalk.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=92623&u=92623-102082421

Guidant Pacemaker Woes

More problems have been reported with Guidant pacemakers and ICDs. They're making recommendations that devices be replaced for patients that are completely dependent on them.

Lyme Disease

Here's an interesting article about Lyme Disease that mentions the link to heart block. I have a high degree of suspicion that Lyme Disease is what caused my heart block, and the high doses of antibiotics I received after the pacemaker implant cleared it up and the heart block then disappeared.

Dual vs. Single Chamber Pacemakers

Here's an article discussing some research done on Dual vs. Single Chamber Pacemakers. I have a dual chambered, but the upper lead is believed to be misplaced so the pacemaker is set to operate in ventricular mode only. It might be a bigger deal if I was dependent on the pacemaker, but the cardiologist didn't seem too concerned about it.

Fifty Years of Pacemakers

Here's an article from Forbes.com that discusses pacemakers in general and some of the results regarding life expectancy.

14 Months

It's been 14 months since I had the pacemaker implanted. There's still no signs of the Heart Block returning, so I basically have a rather expensive heart monitor installed. I haven't been back to the cardiologist lately, but will probably schedule a visit at the 18 or 24 month mark.

I have to admit I'm still a little bitter about having a pacemaker for a condition that quickly disappeared. I still harbor some feelings that maybe there was a rush to get it implanted without completely diagnosing the causes. Everyone keeps telling me to be grateful that I have the pacemaker, but they don't have to feel a hard metallic lump every morning in the shower when they're soaping up their chest like I do. I still don't think I've gone an entire day without noticing it or thinking about it, but I have come to accept it for the most part.

HCA Overcharges Uninsured Patients

As many of you know, my recent hospital stay ran up a very large bill, especially with Summit Medical Center which is owned and operated by HCA. I already knew this, but here's more proof that I am being vastly overcharged for my stay there and the surgery. Here's a report from Consejos de Latinos that hopefully will help me with my situation as well

New Medtronic Pacemaker Trial

Looks like Medtronic is trying to expand the potential market for pacemakers by implanting devices into patients that aren't showing severe symptoms yet.

Bodyheat Powered Pacemaker Battery

Hopefully they'll have this pacemaker technology developed and tested by the time I need my battery replaced in about 8 years.

A Canadian Story

The events that happened to this gentleman in Toronto sound eerily familiar to me. I hope I do as well in keeping my fitness level up. I walked about 2 miles total today to get my chest x-ray to check on my aortic pacemaker lead. I should find out more later this week.

Hmmm

This man's claim that a cell phone tower is interferring with his pacemaker sounds a little suspicious to me. Of course we don't really get a lot of detail like model he has implanted. It also strikes me as odd that he moved out before they even turned the tower on.

Shopping Around

One of the unfortunate circumstances surrounding my episode of heart block in January was that I did not have insurance coverage. I'm still not covered for heart block, and my cardiologist recently asked me to have some chest x-rays to check on the aortic lead that might be out of place.

The cardiologist referred me to Summit Medical Center, where his office is located, to have the chest x-rays performed. Since the doctor was leaving on vacation he told me I could have it done anytime in the next week or so. It occured to me that since Summit and HCA are notorious for overcharging the uninsured, I might want to get a few price quotes before I start writing checks.

I called Summit first and they wanted $245.00 for the procedure. I then called a place my friend Paul told me about called Premier Radiology, and they offered to do it for $71.25 if I pay them upfront. That includes interpretation and even sending the film to the cardiologist by courier if necessary.

So I saved about 70% just by making a few phone calls. It always pays to shop around.

A Lucky Young Man

The story of a young boy in Pennsylvania who nearly died from ventricular tachycardia and now suffers from heart block.

Pacemaker Club

This is a great resource for people who have pacemakers. It helps to hear stories from other people who are walking cybernetic organisms.

Dealing With It

I went for my 3 month manufacturer check-up last Monday for my pacemaker. Several interesting things came up. The first is that my aortic lead is probably misplaced. The second is that my Heart Block has resolved. A follow-up visit to the cardiologist on Friday didn't really settle anything. I have to have a chest x-ray this week and speak with my doctor next week about options concerning the aortic lead.

I was unsettled about the findings that the Heart Block had resolved. We still don't know why exactly I had heart block in the first place. My doctor's opinion is that my weight combined with severe sleep apnea at the time caused it. At any rate the hardest pill for me to swallow is the fact that pacemakers and leads are not removed, even if the condition is resolved. I guess this caused me to finally face up to the fact that at age 36 I can look forward to ALWAYS having a pacemaker inside me. I still haven't completely dealt with it internally. The doctor and several other people have told me to be "thankful" that I have the pacemaker. I can see why they say that, but it still sticks in my craw for now.

Pacemakers and MRI Interaction

Looks like it still might not be advisable to undergo an MRI if you have a pacemaker. A new study indicates that the pacemaker leads could be overheated at the point where the leads interface with the heart.

A more technical analysis can be read here. Warning, it has a somewhat graphic picture of a pacemaker and lead attached to a heart.