sawdust_128
NC
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Joined: 04/26/2007
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SparV wrote:Hi Sawdust
I found this link that was pretty interesting.
Ralph
There are only about 1500 of us that have this at this point. It is a great concept but at present is relatively under-developed in terms of functionality.
Sawdust_128
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SparV
Woodstock GA
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What experiences have you had? Pro's and con's?
See you on the road and travel safe.
Ralph. (SparV)
Woodstock, GA.
1998 Holiday Rambler Vacationer/1998 Jeep Wrangler
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RV's and More and Heart Smart Advice Blog and Sarc Family Blog.
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sawdust_128
NC
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SparV wrote:What experiences have you had? Pro's and con's?
Here's the two biggest in each category:
Pros:
1. Easy to install and setup.
2. Documentation set is excellent.
Cons:
1. Never really sure that anything is being doine with the data.
2. Although they say it is easy to travel with (i.e., take with you), it is not that all travel friendly. Poor support of communications other that hard land-lines. Point: It could not support a patirnt on an extended boondocking expedition.
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SparV
Woodstock GA
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So you can only transmit via phone line!!! They need to make them wireless freindly, lol!!!
I've seen a few patients around the hospital with them on. I also had a friend in Clarksville TN that wore one for a time.
Have you found any other folks wearing them?
Ralph
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sawdust_128
NC
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SparV wrote:So you can only transmit via phone line!!! They need to make them wireless friendly, lol!!!
I've seen a few patients around the hospital with them on. I also had a friend in Clarksville TN that wore one for a time.
Have you found any other folks wearing them?
Ralph
I believe that you are talking about something entirely different, maybe the patient wireless heart monitors/EKG they use in cardio units?. The device I am talking about is a desktop unit about the size of a small telephone. This unit goes with you to your home or office, somewhere you will be on a regular basis. It has a touch screen display that you use to activate it and select various precoded functions. It has an antenna on it. The antenna is used to communicate wireless to your implant. The process is called "Interrogation". The implants have small memories (along with the transmitter/receiver units) in them that record some data elements. The Latitude at pre-programmed times, communicates to your implant to collect the data (within about 15 ft.). The Latitude then calls Guidant/Boston Scientific to upload the data. The data is processed to a report and sent to your electro-cardiologist via email. At present, the upload can only occur in the U.S. and only via hard phone line.
Making this wireless friendly is exactly the reason I asked my original question. I would like to see it wireless as well as IP-phone friendly. I would also add SPOT-friendly "Spot Satellite Personal Messenger" as this device provides virtually full coverage in North America, Europe and Australia and also covers portions of South America, northern Africa and northeastern Asia, along with thousands of miles of offshore areas.
I think that they told me that I was #3 in the world to have this technology implanted. I believe that the number is now around 1500. The electrocardiologists are still thrilled with the toy. There have been times when I have to remind them that I don't care if they're happy that the implant technology is working unless it is making me feel better.
I am concerned about this device because as it is right now, if I were to boondock for several weeks at a time, I would not be able to get cardio data back to my cardiologist. I would have to make trips to a location where there was a land phone line.
I have contacted Boston Scientific and they indicate that they have no plans to enhance the communications capacities of this device. I am now preparing a letter to the pricipal investigators of the research team. Their concept of taking this thing traveling is to plug it in to the phone in your hotel. Yeah Right! I was hoping to find some other users who may have been or currently are feeling somewhat limited by this device as support for my letter.
Yep the life of a cyborg is getting better.
I hope that clears it up some.
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lbrandt
Springfield, MO
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I had my first heart attack 3/31/1990 followed by 3 in 1997 2/26-5/30-9/23. Glad that year was over.
Got my first Stints 9/4/2003 (they finaly made some small enough for me.) They are 2.25mm
More stints in 1/24/2007, 4/3/2007 and finally a quad by-pass 7/17/2007. Feel great now and we are still on the road.
Larry & Ann Brandt
Where we are http://map.datastormusers.com/user1.cfm?user=6253
1999 NRV Tradewinds 7371, W/300 CAT. if it ain't a CAT it must be a dog
01 PT Cruiser
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BREWCO
Heart of Georgia
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Heart Transplant May 2004 almost four years now.
Pace Maker installed May 10, 2004
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Card35
Seguin, Tx
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My problem caught before heart attack. Open heart surgery to repair heart valve and single bypass - both 3 years ago. 73 yrs young in 2 months and still travelling. Enjoy!!
AF Ret & Enjoyin
2005 Cardinal 33TS/LX
2005 GMC 3500CC Dually 8.1/Allison
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SparV
Woodstock GA
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Wow new members to the Heart Club, lol!!
I hope everyone is well?
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Teacher's Pet
SD.. Fulltimers. Goshen IN summers
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Teacher's Pet 4/14/05 wrote:3 attacks in 1 week January 1998, 40% damage, 2 stents. Teacher's Pet since March 2000 as a house husband on Doctor's orders. Pacemaker Defibrillator March 2003, recalled February 11, 2005 replaced February 14, 2005.
Hey was on 1st page of this thread and still here. Into our 3rd year of fulltiming. If you are on the road and need regular lab work get some lab work prescriptions from your doctor and use Labcorp. I've used them from one end of I-10 to the other, Great Lakes to the Rio Grande Valley with few problems. I just give them my insurance cards, South Dakota address and the fax number for my doctor and usually in under 10 minutes we're on our way.
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