Comments on: Medtronic recall issued due to defibrillator lead problems raises questions for many http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/ Saiontz & Kirk personal injury and medical malpractice lawyers. Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:43:40 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: marcus http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-95228 marcus Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:07:15 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-95228 I got my ICD put in 2006. on 11-22-09, at work I was shocked 9 times before they turned it off in the emergency room. they told me lead falure. The shocks did not cause any health issues, but just scared the hell out of me.They replaced the lead and ICD. I am only 40 and in good shape. I do 3 miles of brisk walk a day and medication. My heart has made some improvements. do not be affaid of the ICD because it may save your life some day. I meet people who had the ICD for years and had problems with it, they are still alive; and some the ICD saved his or her life. Please enjoy your life, ask god for peace, then you will be alright. God bless you all and Merry Christmas 12/04/09 I got my ICD put in 2006. on 11-22-09, at work I was shocked 9 times before they turned it off in the emergency room. they told me lead falure. The shocks did not cause any health issues, but just scared the hell out of me.They replaced the lead and ICD. I am only 40 and in good shape. I do 3 miles of brisk walk a day and medication. My heart has made some improvements. do not be affaid of the ICD because it may save your life some day. I meet people who had the ICD for years and had problems with it, they are still alive; and some the ICD saved his or her life. Please enjoy your life, ask god for peace, then you will be alright. God bless you all and Merry Christmas 12/04/09

]]> By: Joy http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-86774 Joy Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:35:10 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-86774 I'm 33 & have had 4 ICD's since 2004. The first one, the lead didn't take, secound one, it was suppose to go off, but didn't. The third one, woke me up at 4am shocking me. Worst feeling ever!!! It shocked me 36 times before they could turn it off. My head has never been so mest up, until this happened. So, I wounder if I would be able to call 911 while this thing shocks me. Will my phone blow up when I get shocked? I know the EMT's felt me get shocked. And driving or just being in public and have this thing shock me again. Getting shocked by a life saving device for no reason is the most tramatic thing for anyone to go through. Good luck to everyone that has one of these devices. I’m 33 & have had 4 ICD’s since 2004. The first one, the lead didn’t take, secound one, it was suppose to go off, but didn’t. The third one, woke me up at 4am shocking me. Worst feeling ever!!! It shocked me 36 times before they could turn it off. My head has never been so mest up, until this happened.

So, I wounder if I would be able to call 911 while this thing shocks me. Will my phone blow up when I get shocked? I know the EMT’s felt me get shocked. And driving or just being in public and have this thing shock me again. Getting shocked by a life saving device for no reason is the most tramatic thing for anyone to go through. Good luck to everyone that has one of these devices.

]]> By: Mavis http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-71105 Mavis Thu, 21 May 2009 19:25:56 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-71105 My husband had a Medtronic defibrillator put in Dec 08 March of this year he had to go back in because of a blip coming up on his monitor. So after a 270 mile trip back to the hospital, they installed a new unit. It seems their was a problem with the lead in the other wich could have produced a shock, of course we wouldnt have known if the shock was from the faulty lead or a real heart problem. Now this is two hospital stays, and we have to pay $500 deductable for the Dec 08 visit and now the Mar 09 visit another $500 deduct. We cant afford this everytime their is a problem. When I called Medtronic to inquire what there responsibility was, I was told they would re-view the case if it was indeed their product was at fault. In other words "dont call us we will call you" I am worried when my husband drives, he is 81 ,if he has a shock will he be capable of pulling off the road? Wow! all this is really bad. My husband had a Medtronic defibrillator put in Dec 08 March of this year he had to go back in because of a blip coming up on his monitor. So after a 270 mile trip back to the hospital, they installed a new unit. It seems their was a problem with the lead in the other wich could have produced a shock, of course we wouldnt have known if the shock was from the faulty lead or a real heart problem. Now this is two hospital stays, and we have to pay $500 deductable for the Dec 08 visit and now the Mar 09 visit another $500 deduct. We cant afford this everytime their is a problem. When I called Medtronic to inquire what there responsibility was, I was told they would re-view the case if it was indeed their product was at fault. In other words “dont call us we will call you” I am worried when my husband drives, he is 81 ,if he has a shock will he be capable of pulling off the road? Wow! all this is really bad.

]]> By: james http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-71100 james Thu, 21 May 2009 16:49:24 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-71100 what are the alternative treatments?can't get a straight answer from the electro guys who want to make 40k a pop. does vt qualify for a must implant of a device? what are the alternative treatments?can’t get a straight answer from the electro guys who want to make 40k a pop. does vt qualify for a must implant of a device?

]]> By: desiree http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-67648 desiree Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:50:21 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-67648 i am 29 years old and had a defibrillator placed in me when i was 28,,after nine heart stents placed in.ever since i got this thing placed in me i've had nothing but trouble.fisrst it got infected then began to shock me.i talked to the dr who just says everything is fine just keep monitoring it.i'm to youg to have this on my mind,,it worries me daily and greatly affects my life and future. i am 29 years old and had a defibrillator placed in me when i was 28,,after nine heart stents placed in.ever since i got this thing placed in me i’ve had nothing but trouble.fisrst it got infected then began to shock me.i talked to the dr who just says everything is fine just keep monitoring it.i’m to youg to have this on my mind,,it worries me daily and greatly affects my life and future.

]]> By: Diane http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-65115 Diane Thu, 12 Feb 2009 23:02:48 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-65115 My dad had a defective defibrillator so it was 'repaired'. Now there is some sort of concern about the battery being to strong for the pacemaker - so basically if it goes off, due to the power, he would die??? Does anyone know anything about this concern that seems to be cropping up? My dad had a defective defibrillator so it was ‘repaired’. Now there is some sort of concern about the battery being to strong for the pacemaker – so basically if it goes off, due to the power, he would die??? Does anyone know anything about this concern that seems to be cropping up?

]]> By: Cathy http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-62096 Cathy Thu, 18 Dec 2008 19:47:32 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-62096 I have had the PaceMaker/Defib for almost 3 years I recieved a letter from Medtronic about the lead fracture possibility. They made it sound like it was a slight chance but to contact my heart spec.. I did, they also treated it as, just come by at your convenience and we will check it, it won't take 2 minutes. I did that on an occasion a few weeks later when I was near the office. My doctors were in surgery, so I said I would come back. Before I could get back in, early on a Monday morning about 5:30 a.m. I was awaken by this kick in my chest that made me feel as if I had been struck by lightening from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. (I knew what had happened, because I had that experience on one other occasion, as soon as I could gather myself enough I leaned over to pick up my phone by the bed, it happened again. I had a very hard time even pushing the buttons on my phone to call my daughter, She said I will be right there. I tried to get up and it happened 2 more times, I was terrified and I knew I could not go by car, I thought I was dying right there in my bed. It happened two more times. I tried very hard to call the ambulance, I could barely speak I felt as if the life was just going out of my body, they could not understand me, finally i could not even hold the phone. The firemen and my daughter arrived together, of course she was just terrified. The ambulance shortly after. They rushed me to the closest hospital. Once there, we tried multiple times to give my Medtronic card to them, which did not matter to them. (They are supposed to call Medtronic as soon as a person arrives) After conferring with my heart doctor they determined that it was more than likely a fractured lead, and then called Medtronic who came within a half hour and turned it off. So I was in the ER about 6 hours before it was turned off. I feel that this is a very serious problem and is a very tramatic experience, 6 months since that horrible morning I still have what i refer to as night terrors and I am jarred out of a deep sleep thinking it is happening again. It is so real, there have been times I have called my daughter and she has come back to stay with me the rest of the night. This is not an easy fix. My doctor was very sympathetic the first visit and we had surgery the next day, he even said he wasn't even going to charge me, he felt so bad for what I had been through. Well I do not know what he did not charge me for because I have been billed for every single thing anyone has even thought I needed done. I sure hope this has been helpful to someone, I would never want this to happen to another. Merry Christmas to everyone. I have had the PaceMaker/Defib for almost 3 years I recieved a letter from Medtronic about the lead fracture possibility. They made it sound like it was a slight chance but to contact my heart spec.. I did, they also treated it as, just come by at your convenience and we will check it, it won’t take 2 minutes. I did that on an occasion a few weeks later when I was near the office. My doctors were in surgery, so I said I would come back. Before I could get back in, early on a Monday morning about 5:30 a.m. I was awaken by this kick in my chest that made me feel as if I had been struck by lightening from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. (I knew what had happened, because I had that experience on one other occasion, as soon as I could gather myself enough I leaned over to pick up my phone by the bed, it happened again. I had a very hard time even pushing the buttons on my phone to call my daughter, She said I will be right there. I tried to get up and it happened 2 more times, I was terrified and I knew I could not go by car, I thought I was dying right there in my bed. It happened two more times. I tried very hard to call the ambulance, I could barely speak I felt as if the life was just going out of my body, they could not understand me, finally i could not even hold the phone. The firemen and my daughter arrived together, of course she was just terrified. The ambulance shortly after. They rushed me to the closest hospital. Once there, we tried multiple times to give my Medtronic card to them, which did not matter to them. (They are supposed to call Medtronic as soon as a person arrives) After conferring with my heart doctor they determined that it was more than likely a fractured lead, and then called Medtronic who came within a half hour and turned it off. So I was in the ER about 6 hours before it was turned off. I feel that this is a very serious problem and is a very tramatic experience, 6 months since that horrible morning I still have what i refer to as night terrors and I am jarred out of a deep sleep thinking it is happening again. It is so real, there have been times I have called my daughter and she has come back to stay with me the rest of the night. This is not an easy fix. My doctor was very sympathetic the first visit and we had surgery the next day, he even said he wasn’t even going to charge me, he felt so bad for what I had been through. Well I do not know what he did not charge me for because I have been billed for every single thing anyone has even thought I needed done. I sure hope this has been helpful to someone, I would never want this to happen to another. Merry Christmas to everyone.

]]> By: burn http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-55545 burn Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:49:33 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-55545 Such was the case with my father. The pacemaker was going wonky, perhaps because it had 2 leads and one of the leads did not connect properly and was hanging. Anyways it would pace up to 300bpm. After being treated by ambulance twice, they installed a defib. in him instead of replacing the faulty pacemaker. The defib. failed to work after 3 years. NOTE: after the install of the difib. his health steadily declined. When a electro/mechanical part is broken it should be replaced, not monitored and controlled by another electro/mechanical part. He has passed away. The machinery was a waste of time and great pain to him. Such was the case with my father. The pacemaker was going wonky, perhaps because it had 2 leads and one of the leads did not connect properly and was hanging. Anyways it would pace up to 300bpm. After being treated by ambulance twice, they installed a defib. in him instead of replacing the faulty pacemaker. The defib. failed to work after 3 years. NOTE: after the install of the difib. his health steadily declined. When a electro/mechanical part is broken it should be replaced, not monitored and controlled by another electro/mechanical part. He has passed away. The machinery was a waste of time and great pain to him.

]]> By: JJG http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-43314 JJG Fri, 11 Apr 2008 23:44:33 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-43314 I'd like my ICD removed and the leads capped. Any chance? I’d like my ICD removed and the leads capped. Any chance?

]]> By: Pat Campbell http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-36931 Pat Campbell Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:40:31 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-36931 I am concerned about getting truthful information from my cardiologist. We are told by Medtronics, and by the FDA that if we have questions we should consult our doctor. I went to my doctor with a list of what I thought were important, relevant questions to help me manage the problem and decide if I should have the lead replaced. My doctor was more interested in telling me that I didn't have a problem, he was more interested in defending himself, in downplaying the issue, than answering my questions. In fact he did give me answers that contradicted information given already by Medtronics. I believe he was more interested in protecting himself from lawsuit than in helping me. I was more interested in protecting myself and not at all intersted in suing him.....but what is a patient to do. Medtronics says check with your doctor. Your doctor is defensive and possibly not answering questions in your best interst!! When I called another cardiologist and asked for a consultation for second opinion on the recalled defibrillator, there was hesitation, but I was granted an appointment. I have not yet had my consultation but I am hoping that it will be helpful. Pat C. I am concerned about getting truthful information from my cardiologist. We are told by Medtronics, and by the FDA that if we have questions we should consult our doctor. I went to my doctor with a list of what I thought were important, relevant questions to help me manage the problem and decide if I should have the lead replaced. My doctor was more interested in telling me that I didn’t have a problem, he was more interested in defending himself, in downplaying the issue, than answering my questions. In fact he did give me answers that contradicted information given already by Medtronics. I believe he was more interested in protecting himself from lawsuit than in helping me. I was more interested in protecting myself and not at all intersted in suing him…..but what is a patient to do. Medtronics says check with your doctor. Your doctor is defensive and possibly not answering questions in your best interst!! When I called another cardiologist and asked for a consultation for second opinion on the recalled defibrillator, there was hesitation, but I was granted an appointment. I have not yet had my consultation but I am hoping that it will be helpful. Pat C.

]]> By: carolyn http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-35361 carolyn Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:36:18 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-35361 i have the device and my concerns are like everyone will it give shock and when not give shock and i'm also on medication, i went into congestive heart failure, i've never in my life every been sick are any problems but this changed my life.i am hoping this get resolved,i worry because i think i will have heart attack its really scary.and i have grandchildren i try and talk to everyday on regulard bases thinking something might happen to me. i have the device and my concerns are like everyone will it give shock and when not give shock and i’m also on medication, i went into congestive heart failure, i’ve never in my life every been sick are any problems but this changed my life.i am hoping this get resolved,i worry because i think i will have heart attack its really scary.and i have grandchildren i try and talk to everyday on regulard bases thinking something might happen to me.

]]> By: Kathy http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-34492 Kathy Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:58:04 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-34492 My husband has one and it is on recall and so does his sister in law and does Medtronic understand what this is doing to not only our loved one but to the family? We don't know how they feel but we see the fear on their faces and it is killing the family to watch and see what is going to happen. My husband has one and it is on recall and so does his sister in law and does Medtronic understand what this is doing to not only our loved one but to the family? We don’t know how they feel but we see the fear on their faces and it is killing the family to watch and see what is going to happen.

]]> By: Linda http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-33645 Linda Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:58:42 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-33645 My husband had his difibrillator implanted July 30,2007 he dies from complications on August 20,2007 3 weeks later. He also had the drug coated stent implanted in April of 2007 My husband had his difibrillator implanted July 30,2007 he dies from complications on August 20,2007 3 weeks later. He also had the drug coated stent implanted in April of 2007

]]> By: wendy http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/comment-page-1/#comment-33266 wendy Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:01:14 +0000 http://www.youhavealawyer.com/blog/2008/01/02/medtronic-recall-defibrillator-problems/#comment-33266 I was on the patch for three years now,I have a rash on my chast called pityriasis rosea. The rash is frequently preceded by a "herald patch" and will not go a way like a virus. I 26 years old and it looks bad. I was on the patch for three years now,I have a rash on my chast called pityriasis rosea. The rash is frequently preceded by a “herald patch” and will not go a way like a virus. I 26 years old and it looks bad.

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