I friend of mine has recently received a spinal stimulator for pain relief in his back & legs. He is healing well and amazed at the relief it brings.
I wanted to be informed on his procedure etc so did a search on the medtronic website and found to my amazement that some models are rechargable.

My question is this: if they can make these spinal stimulators rechargable why can't we have rechargable pacemakers?

 

how do you know if you have pulled a lead ?

 

Hi guys has anyone had all there leads removed?? i have to have 3 removed they have been in 7 years.I wanted to know how long the op would take i aslo need a new pacemaker and leads out in on the right side as the left side is no good anymore.. would love to hear from someone who has had it done i am worried sick.it will be my 4 op in 7 years i am 43 and just want to get on with my life.. many hanks..xx

 

Hi everyone,

I have an old lead which is the lead responsible for all the pacing - I am not pacer dependant in the other chamber.

It is 18 years old and my doctor thinks I should leave it next change which could be in 6 months.

Every time I exercise in the past 2 weeks I have been feeling a twinge - or pull under the pacer - the leads I suspect are above that (site was on top of breast area).

I would love to hear from others:

1. With old leads - can they really last?
2. Experiencing any symptoms like mine from exercise or the like
3. Negative or problematic lead replacement
4. Positive or negative extraction

Thanks so much

Cat

 

Anyone in Florida had a lead extraction? I have 4 leads (2 active/2inactive) and need to make room for more.

 

Those of you who've had experience with adding a new lead that doesn't fit on the left side, how was it handled? Was the device moved to the right side, or the device kept on the left but the new lead run from the right? SuperSurgeon (more polite than the other names I have for him LOL) said if the lead didn't fit in the vein on the left that he'd tunnel it to the right side and put it in the vein there, but leave the device and currently working lead on the left. I'm not going with this guy anyway, but am curious if that sounds as crazy to you as it sounds to me.

 

I got the second opinion suggested by so many - and - lo and behold - it seems the lead had indeed moved. (Hence the sharp burning pain in my chest.......) Revising the lead was suggested - and completed this past Friday. Seems the newest (and until Friday - not working) lead had bonded (albeit inappropriately) with the failed lead. The extraction process is not to be described for the faint of heart (so to speak) but includes a drill and other (fortunately - not necessary at the very last minute) tools. I have thus far escaped two of the three major risks (bleeding, failure to extract the lead) and have only one fighting me now (infection) - I also found out - much to my delight - that the combination of BV pacing and meds have ret...

 

Here's the lastest

I just talked to the cardio's nurse. Looks like we will do it Thurs for sure.

I'm well known at Medronic. She had the field rep call me back to answer questions. Just got off the phone with my friend at Medronics. He and I went over the new pacers technology, and how he would program it. All should be pretty much the same as my old Kappa 701. Darn, no adjustment knob.

I also found out a bit more about the changeover. They run the dependency test on the ventricles by stopping pacing for a few seconds and see if I can support myself. If not they hook up an external pacer to electrodes on my chest, just in case they need it. Then with the new pacer programmed for ventricle only pacing at 65...

 

Hello! My husband is on his 2nd pacemaker. He is now showing a low impedence and insulation fracture. If it quits working he has another lead that will work his pacemaker but he will have symptoms from it such as palpitations and shortnes of breath. His local cardiologist suggests we get the lead extracted and get a new one now. The cardiologist at The Cleveland Clinic said we should wait until the pacemaker needs changed because it will increase his risk of infection if it is done now due to his long term need for generator changes since he is only 32. Does anyone have any experience in this field of leads? An oinion of getting it done now versus waiting? Thanks for your help.

 

Wondering if I got hit in the chest with a descent amount of force and my pacemaker broke or the leads got loose or something... Would I know it? No bleeding, no swelling but I'm really sore and tender there after my daughter got me good by accident. Since I pace about 1% of the time how would I know?

Any thoughts? Thank you as always

 

Iam gettin my Pacemaker changed very soon and iam a little worried dunno what happens This will be my First packer change i wanna know?

R u asleep ?

How long does it take?

Is it sore afterwards?

How long u in hospital?

And if ur not asleep Does it not feel weird when they r putting it in?

 

Its me again Cardioversion how long u in hospital do u get out same day and whats the pain like after it i heard it can sometimes be sore

 

i have to get Cardioversion done can u tell if ur asleep and if tis sore after it and whats the success rate

 

I am getting my pacemaker changed very soon feb i think and i have to get a cardioversion done aswell cause of arrythmia they said they may have to change a lead but i aint sure can any1 tell me some info on the above pls

 

How do all of you know about the leads, etc. etc. of you pacers. I've had mine since 12/16/02 ;o) which has made my life wonderful. I know it's getting near battery replacement...how does one know other than the 6 month dial in test? What if it decides to STOP......I have it as a result of arrythmia and it paces my heart....it goes dead....I go dead;-(

 

Anyone know the life of this battery/PM?
Thanks!

 

I recently posted re: concerns about my cardiologist's reccomendations. (Second Opinion Etiquette.) - Thanks so much for all the support. Wow. I really feel blessed to have access to a site where I can get such support. I am currently trying to get my primary care doc to send me to a local electrocardiologist (there's only one in this county - we live here for the weather and not much else- and the electrocardiologist won't see me without said referral ) and I have contacted a nearby attorney who has crossed paths with Medtronics in the past. BTW - My insurance won't pay for the (extremely questionable) procedure the cardiologist (or crazyoligst-heh heh) suggested. but they will pay something towards the cost of a second opinion. - ...

 

I don't have my 3rd lead due to my "altered anatomy" I wonder what effect it has on my health.

Unable to take coreg due to my low BP, I feel totally defeated,

Is there an expert EP that I should seek out? I live in PA.

My EF is only 20, has remained 20 the amt of time the CRTD was inserted.

I have CHF,DCM,A fib.

Is there anyone who can shed some light on this..

 

I am having my pacemaker changed next Tuesday, and there is a strong possibility that my leads will be removed also. Could you please tell me how this is done? Is it done as open heart surgery or does the same physician removes the leads at the time of the pacemaker change? I would appreciate your help. I have lupus also that may complicate my life. Thank you. Ariela

 

Hi,
I see my cardiologist every January for a pacemaker check up.
In January 2009, I was advised that the battery had two years to run. Working on this basis, I figure I have around one year to go.
When do you think my cardiologist will actually do the replacement? Six months before? Three months?

It'd be great to have an idea of how long before the battery end of life they do the replacement.
thanks
Kate