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

 

I recently had my pm replaced. First one lasted good 9 years. The doctor who did the replacement said that he was unable to unscrew one of the leads from the pm and had to cut it off and insert a new lead. The second lead was unscrewed easily. Now I have an extra lead which is serving no purpose. He said he decided not to take the lead out because it is complicated. Has any one experienced any problems while unscrewing the leads? The doctor, who is doing these procedure has experience of more than 15 years. He said he has never had any issues with unscrewing the pacemaker leads before and this was the first time it ever happened. Any one had this problem?

 

I have heard about the leads dislodging so will pulling down
some (hard to pull) seat belts affect the leads, pulling on them too much?

ECB

 

Hi,

I had my dual chamber pacemaker inserted 23rd December 2008 for heart block, I have felt great until a few weeks ago when I started getting symptoms of heart failure again. Following really bad palpitations on Saturday I called my liaison nurse and he organised a pacemaker check today. The technician discovered a problem, and organised an x-ray. The upshot was that lead had moved- (I’m not sure which one though) as I’m sure the technician said one thing and consultant another. I’m assuming it is no longer attached although I could be wrong. They have turned the output up to maximum and will see me again in 6 weeks.
If someone could explain any of this to me I would be very grateful. Would they have turned up the outpu...

 

Hi to everbody- I'm a new member! My problem is that of May 2009 I'm on my 2nd pacemaker within a year and I have 3 leads that are not working and my cardiologist wants to remove them. From my research I am fearful that this is a dangerous operation?? - (I have CHF & I am 71 yrs old.) I would like to know if there is anyone that has had 3 leads removed and what the results were? I am going to the Mayo Clinic in Jan. & I hope they can remove them up there. I believe that they have most likely have more experience in this surgery than my cardiologist has. If anyone has had this surgery I would like to know the details of the surgery, how painful, how many days in the hospital etc.Thanks so much for any advice you can give me. I am so happy ...

 

Hi, I had a pacemaker (Guidant) placed in 06-09 with Medtronic upper and lower lead wires. Right away I felt worse then before. The reason for the pacemaker is that I was unable to maintain a resting hr over 45 and was unable to get any higher then 95 during a stress test. Basically I felt terrible most of the time. After the pacemaker was in I felt like I was having a heart attack everytime I walked to the kitchen. My resting hr was set at 54. After complaining for 5 weeks my dr finally checked and found my lower chamber lead was bad. It was pacing me completly wrong. Back to the hospital, they replaced the lead and I do feel much better. My problem is my hugh medical bills from now 2 procedures, my hugh scar which they warned me...

 

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

 

Hello all,

I am new to this group and I'm so happy to have this connection with other pacemaker recipients. I received a pacemaker when I was ten years old due to complete congenital heart block. It has lasted me to date ( I am now 31 years old) and just had a beautiful baby girl 2 months ago. My last checkup indicated that I will need a new pacer in less than a year. My current one is a Guidant with one guidant lead and one Medtronic lead. I know they don't make the pacers to last that long anymore, but I am reaching out to anyone that might know of a model that will be long lasting and not have alot of bells and whitles that use up battery power?
Any advice is appreciated!! Thanks!

 

My husband's heart issue & recent diagnosis was a Bundle Branch Block, with the top two of the electrical connections of the heart not functioning properly or at all.

BTW -- we are out of insurance network, because of his emergency issue a few weeks ago -- & the fact this latest episode occurred on the weekend.

I will be happy to supply further info as needed.

My husband had emergency surgery & placement of a St. Jude’s Medical Pacemaker about 10 days ago. We were & continue to be very hopeful that this will solve the health issues & general malaise which he has experienced for some time, esp the dizziness, fainting, & feelings of both.

The day of the surgery, we were told by the surgeon that...