On 10/7/2017 2:48 PM, U.S. Janet B. wrote:
>
> My M-I-L needed a pacemaker a couple of weeks ago. She's in her
> mid-90s. Are you sure? That's big-time serious, right?
> At the office visit when they told her this, they said they could do
> it the next day. No special prep. You're kidding us, right? We
> heard what kind was going to be installed and looked it up. It's
> about half the size of a triple A battery. It was inserted through
> her groin. A little after she woke up they had her walking and she
> immediately felt so much better, stronger etc. They sent her home the
> next day. She was informed that she would have to have regular checks
> of her pacemaker. That makes sense, right? Guess what? The doctor's
> office sends her a card in the mail. She holds it to her chest for 5
> minutes. In a little while the doctor's office calls and tells her
> that the pacemaker is working fine.
> Today we found out that she has joined a exercise class and they had
> her on an elliptical. Wow, just wow.
> Janet US
>

Amazing what they can do. My wife has a combo pacemaker/defibrillator
that was slid in a small incision. Hers calls home while she is asleep.
There is a phone module next to the bed and it has a range of about 5
feet. They kepy her overnight.

Fortunately, we have good insurance. The total billing was just over
$200,000, but the Medicare approved amount paid was about $35,000. That
was for a 30 hour hospital stay.