hi everyone

[milliepeed]

hi u know me as misfireing i lost my password so i opend a new account i was wondering can the vns effect you heart in any way my med dr thinks it may. I fainted the other day when i got up too fast and i tried to explain that it was do to meds and pain bills combined and he wont listen and says i shouldnt drive or work i was in a car accident which wasnt my fault not a bad one but i called my nuroligist and wanted to see her to make sure my vns was ok and they think i shouldnt drive since i fainted but its up to me they said but it was just a dizzy spell from geting up to fast to cause me to faint from meds what shall i do. any advice i see my nuroligist tomarrow. :Really Mad:

[labrat]

Your Neurologist can probably best advise you. Let us know what he| she says!

[Dispatch]

:D HI Millie!

Labrat is correct, your Neuro can best advise you. I will add though that VNS can cause cardiac issues. Please refer to your Patient manual regarding this. If you don't have one, you can access both Patient & Physician manuals from the main page of the board.

I am hoping Dennis100 (another Moderator) will jump in on this one because he developed asystole from VNS and his heart actually quit beating. There are multiple MAUDE reports filed with the FDA regarding cardiac issues.

If this were me, I would not drive until the issue is resolved. Best to be safe than sorry.

Please do keep us well updated and hang in there. I am thinking about you & sending good thoughts your way.

Take care!
B)

[Birdbomb]

Welcome back! Been a while since we last saw you. Dispatch :Yeah That: pretty much covered everything. Take care and keep us posted.

[milliepeed]

ok thanks im geting a heart vest on were they will moniyer my heart for 24 hrs then a stess test done and an electrocardiogram done this week and see the cardiologist next month but my neurologist said its up to me on driving that most likely its my arthritis meds causing me to get dizz when standing and one says it can cause fainting so i will run it threw her today and see what she says. I cant afford to be missing work any more or i will lose my jop too so im alittle scared. :wacko: :So Sad: :Really Mad:

[milliepeed]

well i went to my nuroligist and she reported me to the dmv and know i cant drive again she said my battery to my vns is going out and it needs to be replaced which sucks ive only had it in 3 years im surpised it went out so soon and quick but i hope it dont take to long for them to get me in to the docter i see to get the surgery done. She said that once its done then i will have pappers to give her to sign saying i can drive again so we will see how long this takes anyone hear had theres done how long did it take for u to get back in to your surgen and get it replaced and what is it going to be like geting it replaced is it bad or easy and any proplems that will come up. :Tantrum: :Really Mad:

[Dispatch]

:D HI Millie!

Oh my goodness, you have a bunch to deal with. I wish you the best of luck and God speed for a quick resolve.

If your device was on a high setting, the battery will depleat quicker. Labrat has had hers replaced, so she can tell you about her experiences. It would be my opinion your docs would want this done ASAP so you will continue to have the therapy. I do know it is another surgery to replace the generator-the whole generator gets replaced, not a simple battery switch-out. I am sure it would be similiar to implant regarding risks such as infection, etc.

If this were me, I would wait to have a replacement till I saw the cardiologist and done the testing, etc. I say this because if it is VNS causing you cardiac issues, you may want to reconsider this as a treatment option for you. If it is meds causing you to faint, the docs can adjust your meds.

How much success have you had with VNS?

Take Care!
B)

[milliepeed]

Ive had great results with the vns ive been seziure free and my trd is better too but i think the docter is just concernd for nothing just a little worried i hope i get it replace quick because i need to get back to drive and work im about to lose my job for being off so much and all this we will have to see my vns is high they have it set to the highest setings they said it cant go any higher in settings so yea thats why its going out so fast i guess. Im just so depressed i cant drive,work or go anywere right know my depression is geting bad and i cant take it much more im lonley and board and so depressed and scared of haveing sezuires again.

[Dispatch]

:D Hey Millie!

Hang tight and be diligent in getting what you need done to feel better! Thinking about ya!

Take care!
B)

[oreo]

Good luck milliepeed....hope they get all the tests done and that the results let you move on to have a new generator implanted since it has helped you so much!

[milliepeed]

Im going to see my surgen on tuesday to see him then get my operation apointment for the implant of the battery im a little scared i have no idea if its going to hurt or what to expect i was just so surprised it went out in three years my setings are i think at 2.75 if i remmber right which is high maybe thats why they said its at the highest it can be at that im there first paitant with one set this high but i hope it goes good and i have no proplems i didnt when i had the first implant done so hopefully i wont this time. Thanks for all the support i need it im scared and made because they had to get me driveing privligaes taken tell i get it replaced.

[labrat]

I am set at 2.75 and my battery has been replaced twice.

It isn't painful to replace the battery. The neck isn't involved.

[milliepeed]

well thats good to know that its not painfull have u had heart proplems at all do to yours being so high my nuroligist said very unlikely she has not had any patiants have heart proplems do to the vns how long have u had yours lab rat and how long did they last before they went out on u.

[milliepeed]

well i seen my surgeon and he said that it will be soon they have to get in touch with cybronics to get a rep to come when he does the surgery to replace my battery. I am a little scared though because he said that i wont be under general Anthiathia that it will only be local that scares me that it may hurt and i may be awake or somewhat awake has anyone had this done under local and can say what its like. He did say the batteries are alot smaller know then mine so thats good i hope it dont take to long to get a rep up hear to get it done i dont know why he wants one but he does he said he will most likely turn it on to it original settings that day he will have to see from the reps or docter.

[Dispatch]

:D HI Millie!

Good news that your doc is moving on this.

I in now way want to discourage you with the following. Your Neurologist may have never had a patient who developed cardiac issues from VNS, however, it is in the manuals, and there have been multiple Maude reports regarding this issue. If this were me, I'd get a second opinion & a cardiac workup.

I was under general anesthesia for implant and removal, so I am not knowledgeable regarding having any of this done under a local.

I don't understand why you keep being told "battery replacement". The whole generator will be replaced. The newer generators are smaller.

Considering this is more $$$ for Cyberonics, they most likely will move quickly to get you the new generator.

I hope all continues to go smooth for you. Please do keep us updated.

Take Care!
B)

[milliepeed]

hi i got my surgery date for november 13 at 9:30 and i have to see my nuroligist monday so cybronics can check to make sure my leads ant broken not just the battery going dead so im happy its all going smooth so far and quick im glade i will keep u all informed on what happens monday and the surgery friday k. :D :Great!:

[Dispatch]

:D HI Millie!

Good on you! Wishing you the best of luck for your upcoming surgery and Gods Speed healing! Please do keep us updated!

Take care!
B)

[oreo]

Wishing you the best during surgery and recovery! :Great!:

[milliepeed]

well i found out that at my nuroligists office the cybronics rep came out and checked my battery and lead and said there fine that i dont need surgery for replacement yet that i got at least two to three years left still that my docter didnt check it right so the surgery was cancled so no surgery and the docter never reported me to the dmv eaither so things are fine im so glade no surgery or lose of drivers liscence yea. :D

[Dispatch]

:D HI Millie!

Well, not having to have surgery right now is good news! WHOOP on still having a drivers license, that helps with your depression I'm sure.

So what's up with all the cardiac testing? Any news on those yet?

Take care!
B)

[milliepeed]

no not yet i go see the cardioligist on the 16th to find out my test results so i will let u know on that issue also and im signing up for the ampasador program to be able to help new people geting the vns and maybe go to confences and give speeches on my experince on how good its helped me so i can show it does help some people that there are good cases out there not just bad cases ive had great benifits from my vns ive been sezuire free and my trd is so much better im on less meds and doing alot better now with the vns it has really improved my qulity of life alot i can drive now and work part time but i still get ssi but im not haveing sezuires all the time and my kid dont have to see it no more and she dont have to see me so depressed were i want to die every day and crying all the time, i still have my down days and thoughts of suicide but hardly at all just hear and there not like i was everyday i know i will never be 100% depression free i will still have my days of depression and days i wish i were dead but at least its not every day thank god for the vns i say for me.

[Dispatch]

:D

Good luck with the ambassador (SP?) program. Let us know how it works out for you.

Take care!
B)

[milliepeed]

hi everyone i got my results back on my heart test and its normal so my heart is fine and im happy so nothing to wrry there. :)

[Dispatch]

:D HI Millie!

Good news! I bet you are happy! So, are the issues then surrounding medication then?

Take care!
B)