Had a St. Jude Identity pacemaker model 5370 implanted in 2003. Said 7 year battery life. Now 100% dependent, upper and lower. Does anyone know if this pacemaker gives you a warning or notice before going into backup mode? The seven year period will be up in 5 or 6 months. When you're 100%, you get a bit nervous when your doctor isn't forthcoming. Thanks for your help. Ginnie

 

 

I have no idea. I did not even know that PM gave you a warning before going into back up mode. How does it give you a warning? Does it beep etc. There is so much to these PMs that are not explained to you when you go down the PM route.

Can anyone explain please?

 

I didn't know that you received warnings (after having a pacemaker almost 7 years!) but read several postings under "batteries & leads" where members wrote about this. Sounds like a great safety valve. One wrote that "when the back up mode comes in, it means the PM is still working but not fully functional. You can tell ehen you get to this mode because you feel very tired." Another stated that a Medtronic gives out certain warning tones, and someone wrote that you could select your own tone. I'd like warning tones personally because I often feel tired from work. Hope someone else who knows more will respond. Ginnie

 

Probably the most direct way to handle this is call St. Jude directly and ask them about your specific model. Personally, I would not worry about it, you will KNOW when it is time for a new battery-remember, pacemaker's are a big business and battery replacement is right up there in the profit arena.

With a slight smirk, I write, let your family members know about your battery concerns-absolutely airtight and great malpractice suit in the event I'm wrong ;-)

(I've read where at least the Medtronic ICD models will sound a 10 second "alarm" that will go off daily-I can't imagine that St Jude does not have a similar type thing)

 

I have a St Jude Identity and no it does not have any warning. The new "Accent" I'm hopefully getting in May of 2010 will certainly have a beep warning system and it's wireless! Cool!
Call St. Jude, I did one time and they are lovely people.
Cheers,
Pacergirl

 

Your doctor should not only be forthcoming, but he should be "firstcoming" about the battery situation. This is one of those situations where it is up to you to be insistent. I have a similar situation with my Medtronic and I have talked it over extensively with both cardiologist and Medtronics rep. In my case I let them know that I am very active and am often away from immediate medical help when camping in the back country. In those situations I can't tolerate having the pacer go into backup mode when I need the energy to walk for several miles.

At first I was getting the "We'll take care of it" thing, but with a bit of firm insistence they took time to go over their plans and what to expect.

frank

 

Thanks, mrag and pacergirl, for suggesting this. Customer Service routes you to Technical, you give them your model and serial number and they tell you all about it. Mine notifies the doctor thru the telephone checks and gives you 2 to 3 months warning before conking out. Like Frank, would like to have more but this should do. Thanks to everyone for your help. Ginnie

 

St Jude has a back up mode warning on the internet that states that if you have an ICD with defibrillator the defibrillator will not function in backup mode...call your doctor, they got a copy of this warninig in 2005..Type in St jude Medical BVVI mode and you should get the warning sent to docotors
papaknight

 

if your doctor doesnt know or isnt telling you maybe it is time for a new doctor. I have a medtronic, well on my third, never had a beep or anything. It does go into a safety mode where it runs at a fixed pace. The last one was at 65 bpm no matter what so you really did feel it when climbing stairs or something. I could also hear and feel my heart beats like i could as a kid before I had my first pacer. But the doc had already known from phone checks and/or a pacer check that it was time. The handful of times I have asked medtronic questions directly they have been very good, I dont know about St. Jude, I would hope you could find someone there that will tell you what the doctor wont. If there is a risk of the unit being faulty, based on the way the world is today with lawsuits, I would assume they would have replaced it already, before it was needed.