The story begins with the heart attack in this post.
The saga continues, a couple of weeks ago, in the middle of the night, after over an hour of experiencing intense heart palpitations, I drove myself to the ER. It didn't take long for the Dr. to determine that I shouldn't be taking 3 beta blockers [to control blood pressure] simultaneously. The cardiologist, who had implanted the stent in May, came in to see me that day, and confirmed, when he had prescribed the 3rd drug, I should've quit taking the other 2, and blamed the miscommunication on his office.
Lesson #1 - Always question the Dr. or nurse when a new Rx is being prescribed. - What is it for, should other Rx-s currently taking, be continued or halted??
The following day, when the nurses came through on shift change, I had the incoming nurse write 'Go Home' on the white board under Goals for Today. When I finally saw the cardiologist [he implanted a stent that morning], when I began to discuss being released, the Dr. made a phone call, and walked out of the room. Later, I would learn he had called an electro-physiologist to have a pacemaker implanted in me the next day.
Lesson #2 - You have a right to release yourself from a health care facility. And I should've done it, then and there!!!
Of course, my primary concern was the diveability of the device to be implanted. I was assured by the assistant to the implanting Dr., the rep from Medtronic would answer my concern, prior to the procedure. They were wheeling me into an elevator as I met the implanting Dr.! The Dr. briefed me, the rep assured me I would "be able to dive to 100 fsw" and I signed the consent forms as my chest was being shaved and scrubbed.
Lesson #3 - If you have not been thoroughly briefed, all questions answered, and consent form signed at least 2 hours prior to the procedure, call 'time out'. If necessary, have the procedure rescheduled.
I was released the following day, and the day after read the literature, which came with the pacemaker and the home monitoring unit. I noticed the following language "If you plan to scuba dive, discuss your medical condition with your doctor. General recommendations about scuba diving vary depending on many factors." Then 20 pages later under, 'medical procedures that require some precautions - Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy' - "This procedure can damage your heart device and leads." WHOA??? WHAT THE HELL???
So, I go online and try to navigate the maze of the Medtronic website, no luck. I call the Medtronic '800' patient line, they're helpful, say they will email the recommended limitations of the device, along with supporting information. The supporting information is pdf copy of the 'patient manual', I already have. But the body of the email contains the bad news. Following the standard, only your doctor ... yada yada yada - "Medtronic implanted heart devices are cycle tested to 4 ATA during product development. This is equivalent to approximately 100 feet diving depth. No device damage has been observed during testing."
Then [emphasis is Medtronics] - "Per Medtronic labeling, exposure to pressure exceeding 2.5 ATA (approximately 50 feet of seawater) may affect device function or cause device damage." THE SOB LIED TO ME!!! In other words the device isn't suitable for a table 6 recompression therapy for DCS, much less diving.
Lesson #4 - NEVER trust a manufacturers rep, do your due diligence, require answers to decision dependent questions, in writing, from a reliable source.
Now I have to find a different pacemaker, that's compatible with diving. I email DAN a request to provide a list of devices which would be suitable for diving. Two days later, I get "DAN doesn't maintain a list of specific devices such as pacemakers. Your best option is to discuss your interests with your cardiologist, then get from him a list of devices and manufacturers he typically uses." Already tried that, I ended up with an expensive piece of useless junk in my chest. My previous experience, just confirmed my impression of my cardiologist, the closest he got to scuba diving was wading in the Ganges. Luckily, after searching online, I found St. Jude Medical, who makes a pacemaker tested to 7 ATA.
All I need now is a new cardiologist/electro-physiologist to take out the junk and implant a new device that will allow me to continue diving. Maybe DAN can help. Sorry, we only have one in Philly & one in Lakeland, Fl, who are cardiologists and trained in hyperbaric medicine. DAN did provide their contact information and said they would be happy to consult with my new cardiologist if needed.
Lesson #5 - Don't put your health in a blind trust with your Dr. You must be proactive, and be willing to do the back ground work your Dr. doesn't have to do for their non-diving patients.
Hopefully, by this time next month, the new pacemaker will be implanted and I'll be planning my 2nd rehab. I've got a dive trip planned for March 2017.
Still wanting to DIVE MY @$$ OFF !!!