I'm not normally a joiner, but I am a little desperate (okay, maybe more than a little) - I got my pacemaker on April 15th and was told the battery life is 10 - 12 years - I went to my first check on May 8th and the readout says - 4.50-6.25 years - I find this disconcerting at best - how can I conserve on the battery? I am 47 years old and freaked out by the quick drain of the battery - I am worried what it's going to say in a couple of weeks when I return to the doctor - any advice will be appreciated - Help!!!

 

 

Hi, Susan.

Do you know how often you are pacing (% of pacemaker use)? Many things can effect battery life. Things like your settings, how much you use the pacemaker, or what the voltage is set at for capture. Obviously, the more you pace the more battery you use. Hmmm. I'm sure some others will chime in, too, on this matter. I wonder if a faulty lead could also be a culprit? It seems these days most pacers last around 5 years because of all the bells and whistles pacemakers have these days--all these gizmos within the pacemaker drain the battery.

Hope this helps a little...
ela-girl

 

Ela-girl is right -- it varies a lot for many reasons. When PMs are first implanted, the voltage is normally set rather high until they make sure it is settled and capturing well. At a 2-week, or 3-week or 6-week post op check (dpending on when you next see the doc) they'll likely turn the voltage down and that will improve the estimated life. They'll also continue to make setting adjustments, and if they turn off the Rate Response, or turn down the beats-per-minute setting, or set the Sleep Mode on a lower number -- or any number of other things -- you may also see changes in the projected battery life. Don't get discouraged yet.

Having said that, I'd also say that the really important thing to focus on is not battery life, but how you feel. You want the settings that make you as symptom-free as possible, with as much energy as possible, and having a heartbeat that will allow you to do the things you were able to do before when you were fully healthy. If that means you need a replacement pacemaker every 5 years instead of every 10 years, you should figure out how to accept that happily. Quality of life is what's most important. I was 50 when I got my first PM (now I'm 51) so I know how you feel about it, though. I did have my voltage turned down, beats-per-minute turned down, Sleep Mode turned on to 45 bpm at night for 6 hours, and Rate Response turned off. That extended my estimated battery life quite a bit, and because I"m still symptom-free and have plenty of energy for running, biking, kayaking, mountain climbing, etc my doctor and I are both happy with those settings. But everyone is different. So use the "search" feature on this site to learn everything you can about settings, talk to your doctor about how you are feeling (in terms of any symptoms) and let us hear back after your next doctor visit, so we'll kinow if any of this made a difference.
Take care, CathrynB

 

The estimated battery life is simply a rough calculated value. As noted by CathrynB as your individual settings are adjusted over the next few weeks it will become a more reliable estimate. But over the years, your condition could change requiring more or less PM usage that could significantly change the remaining battery life. I've had mine about 6 months and the estimate life has varied from 6 to 15 years at the various check-ups. Many members have also noted that replacements tend to be less stressful than the initial implant. Don't focus on those future unknowns - focus on your current adjustment.

 

there's probably plenty of life left in your battery. if the next checkup shows another major dip, ask doctor if the leads have migrated-- moved out of place. that happened to me and i had to get rewired because the battery was being used up faster than normal.

 

The battery life depends on a lot of things like what percent of the time you are pacing, are you pacing one or two chambers, the voltage and pulse width settings, and how many of the features are turned on.
At implant they usually leave the pacer set to the factory defaults (which are power hogs) to allow time for the electrodes to become settled. This gives a shorter battery life projection because the estimate is based upon staying at these settings. By your next checkup they should program the settings to be more tuned to your needs and the projected life will increase.
By the way 10-12 years seems like a long time. Whoever quoted that figure may have been a bit enthusiastic. 5-8 years seems more common.

frank

 

ElectricFrank has put you in the picture. Probably 6-8 years is the mean. Mine will last 7 years but would have only lasted only 5 1/2 if the third lead had been fitted in my pacemaker. All depends on the impedance (ac resistance ) of your leads the number of leads pulsed, the voltage applied to the leads and the length of each pulse to each lead. Half the battery life approximately is used up with "housekeeping" or monitoring and storage of data and events if any. In no way should you think there is anything wrong, although I do understand your concern. We all want a long battery life if possible.Cheers Peter

 

You have gotten your answers from "the experts" on this forum. They are saying exactly what my cardio told me. I question whether or not your battery was actually "read" by the person who gave you the 10-12 yr life right after implant; or, was it someone just throwing out an approximate number. Seems unhead of unless the pacer is faulty for it to have dropped that much. My guess is that your recent reading is accurate, the other numbers are not! Got my pacer in May '06; at checkup this past April I was pacing 100% in the ventrical and 64% in the atrium. A very minor adjustment was made and I really can't tell any difference. I feel good most of the time! At that check I had 5.3 years left on the battery. I believe the expected life is somewhere between 5-10 years depending on ALL the variables. There are many variables; I don't question much of this stuff anymore, but thank the Lord every day for the wonder of this technology that keeps my heart beating and me away from death's door. My grown grandsons love teasing me about being computer operated. Humor is good! God bless you. I hope you can work through your feelings soon. Please ask your doctor all these questions that are bothering you and keeping you from moving on in your life. You don't want to be carrying this baggage around! Life is sweet so enjoy it!

Sharon (So Calif)

 

I figure that when mine gets near its replacement time I'll see if I can't someone mad at me. That way I could be the recipient of "Assault with a battery".

Have fun,

frank

 

Get a copy of your report every time your unit is checked and keep these. As time goes along you willl be able to keep up with changes and make them explain them to you. Best of Luck.
PapaKnight