Is there anyone here that can give me play by play of what happens if you do not get the battery replaced in time? My last test showed 100% PM on one lead and 82% PM on the other lead.
What are the symptoms to look for, or what are the progressive stages if the battery is not replaced in time after the fail safe kicks in?
Thanks,
Jim Ed

 

My mother's battery ran out 3 times now and she is scheduled for her fourth one the coming Monday. She has a epicardial lead and her pace maker is placed in her abdomen. Apparently she also has a congenital heart defect (Inverted ventricles with transposition of the great vessels which is a rare cardiac anomaly comprising less than 1% of liveborn congenital heart defects.)

What is the most advanced pacemaker available in the market and is dual chamber multi sensor pacemaker an option for such heart defect. Doc says these dual chamber PM dont work very well and this cannot be used for my mom who has this heart condition. Anyone else have this experience?

Please help me find an answer.

Thank you

Y...

 

I went for my office check today. The second the tech hooked me up she told me I went into ERI mode on June 21 at 4:11 am. So then I got to have the fun of scheduling the replacement. It's my first replacement, I've had my PM a little over 4 years. I'll be getting it done on Aug. 2. I work summer school and will be missing the last 2 days but oh well. Just in the summer we don't get sick days. I was hoping it would last until at least the fall. I have plenty of sick days saved from last year that I was planning on using when I had the replacement surgery. Oh well. I glad that this time it will be done at a hospital that's closer to me than last time. Lot easier when you have to be there at 6 am.

 

I've been experiencing a sharp pain under my left breast for the past three days and unfortunately it's been getting worse. It's been 7 weeks tomorrow since my PM was implanted, and I started moving and really trying to use my arm last week. Has anyone out there pulled a lead? Is this something that I should be worried about or am I just being paranoid?? If anyone could offer any advice I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks again to everyone who's responded and listened to my ranting and raving over the past 6 weeks. You're all gems.
Anna

 

So I'm 28 years old and currently 13 weeks pregnant. I went in for a routine check-up on my pacemaker yesterday and found out that one of my wires is fractures and not working anymore. The doctor says that I need to have it replaced but it's dangerous to do during pregnancy because of the radiation exposure. I already have two wires in the artery as my previous wire went dead 3 years ago. He now wants to wait until after I deliver, but I'm nervous what this will mean for my pregnancy. Will I have to be on bed rest towards the end or have restricted activities? Will I be able to have a normal labor and vaginal delivery? Anyone out there going through a similar experience?

 

Hi fellow pacers! A few nights ago I was asleep and I heard a noise, at first I thought it might have been my mobile or smoke alarm, but I swear it came from my pacemaker, is this possible?

HHx

 

Hi everyone!
Well here I am home and happy after my PM replacement surgery yesterday..It went really well.....only feel a little bit sore but otherwise great!!!
Just had a local anaethetic and a little medicine through the IV to help me relax...I was aware of the whole procedure and talked to the cardiologist.I could feel him pulling and pushing and screwing in the new PM to the leads...It was all over in about 20 mins..I couldnt believe how easy it went..
I am now the proud owner of a St Jude Duel Chamber Pacer.Model 5816
My previous was a Guidant (Boston scientific)
Has anyone got this PM as I would be interested how you are going with it!!

Thanks for all your support when I was getiing worried about t...

 

This past March, my alarm went off on my ICD. My leeds had fractured once again. This was the 3rd replacement surgery that I have had since 2006. For some reason, my leeds keep breaking, and I'm confused as to why they do so. I'm very tired of having the surgeries every year or so, and would just like to have a working system. My most recent surgery they put St. Jude leeds in, and say they are the most reliable ones on the market currently. Any input on why my leeds keep fracturing? Any information about St. Jude Leeds? I'm optomistic that I won't have a replacement again until it is time to change the battery. Hopefully St. Jude works!!

 

My father suffered a lead fracture of a Boston Scientific CRT-D that resulted in a fall that knocked out his teeth. The device was implanted in 2009 and still under warranty. Boston Scientific says that they will reimburse up to 2500 hundred dollars in medical bills that are not covered by insurance for the replacement of the device but refuse to pay for the removal of broken teeth and to get him dentures. I wonder if I should get a lawyer or just accept that you cant fight these types of things. I also wonder why when they replaced the device in 2009 they used the leads from the device he had put in 2005.

 

my cardiologist told me that the leads need to be replaced after aroung 15 years.The procedure will cause some muscle damage and cardiac function will be affected... is that what to expect, I got my pacemaker about 6 years ago.

 

Hi Everyone..I am getting a little nervous about my generator change on the 24th June....I know it is supposed to be a bit of a breeze compaired to the original operation..Is there any thing that I should be doing to get myself ready for it..I try to keep fit .
I am possibly just being a bit of a sook at the moment.
I am feeling great with my pacemaker as it is... but wonder if the new one will be as good as the one Ive got?
Regards to all from a scared old girl from downunder.

 

Regarding a low battery reading on a relatively recently implanted pacemaker, I learned that on rare occasions, the telemetrics on the pacemaker can fail causing the computer inside to read a low battery and reduce the events that are being recorded. This happened to me sometime in March of 2010. I was "reprogrammed" a week ago and am doing fine. My PM is a Medtronic. There apparently is no explanation as to why this might happen. However, if this is the problem, the solution should be relatively simple. Hopefully you've been working with your cardiolgist and he/she will help with the resolution of this situation.
For anyone who might have read my earlier email, I'm glad to say I feel great after my "reprogramming".
Rob...

 

Hi all, I' hoping someone can give me an idea or two about what I can expect if I have to have a lead replaced. I've had a "thumping in my chest for a long time that the dr. never witnessed, so he didn't answer my questions about it. It got a lot worse and finally the dr. was around when it happened. He said he thinks it's from a lead interfering with my diaphragm's nerve (vagus?), and I may have to have a new lead put in. Is the old lead removed? Is it difficult or painful? If you've had it done, could you please tell me your experiences? I understand it may be different for me, but my appointment isn't for a couple more weeks, and I need some ideas to wrap my head around, rather than worrying.
Thanks for your support!

 

I've had my PM for 3 weeks now & seem to be doing fine! But, early this morning I woke up to a sharp pain around the PM site. I think I must have moved my arm above my head in my sleep. Now I'm wondering if I might have pulled the lead wire. Should I call the doctor or not. I don't have any further pain for the incident, but, just concerned. Should I or shouldn't I call the doctor.
I sure love this site! Lots of good information!
My husband & I are Ham Radio operators & I found some good information about radio frequency & PM's here.
Thanks,
sewnjoy

 

Hi Fellow pacers,
I wonder if any of you that have recently had their pacemakers replaced ,could give me a few tips on what to expect and what to discuss with the cardiologist before mine is done.
Im getting a little nervous as I am having mine done 24th June.
I was really pleased that I have no scar or bump showing at all from the original PM and being a girl..(or should I say old girl)
I am worried that the 2nd one may be more noticable!!!
I love to go down to the beach in the summer and also wear scooped necklines..Ha ha ..life in the old girl still !
I would also like to keep my old Pm for a paper weight..Do all cardiologist allow us to keep them? Also what are the risks of infection?
Regards from do...

 

In nov of 2009 I had a pacemaker placed due to my resting heart rate was in the thirties and forties. Naturally at 33 This came a quite a shock ... the first six mos went by great... then in may i started havin dizzy spells... my one lead had come loose. So I had a second surgery to replace it and a a second lead so now I have two. Recovery time was quick first time cause I only had stitches ... this time I have 15 staples and a much more painful recovery. The first week I suffered from serious dizzy spells and doc could find nothing ...Ugh I would love to know of anyone else with a similiar experience !

 

I recently had defr/pace maker put in on 12/07/09. This was to replace the faulty one which was recalled. Inappropriate shocks.The old lead FRACTURED. I went for my second follow-up on 5/26/10 and the lead moved. They now want me go back in the hospital to test it. I have a Boston Sci ICD and a St jude lead. I understand that they stop the heart for this test.Has anyone had something like this? Surgery was done at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, NJ

 

I think I can see/feel my pacing leads under the skin, above my pacemaker scar running up to my collar bone. Is this where the leads would be? Can anyone else see/feel theirs? I've only noticed it this week, so it might be all the swelling having gone down, or me just being more observant. It might have nothing to do with my pacemaker at all, but it feels weird!

Thanks,
Genie

 

I have dual lead Medtronic pacemaker since 1995. The battery has been replaced approx 7 years ago and I am due for battery replacement again.Currently I am operating in the conservation mode with only one lead sparking.

I have a faulty lead that needs replacing.

The pacemaker is implanted in left chest. When I try to sleep on left side the pulsing or sparking is unacceptable. I am limited to 180 degrees with nothing to the left side.I assume the faulty lead is sparking at the break into adjacent tissue when compressed.

The cardiologist will not remove faulty lead.

Here is my question :

Will the faulty lead conduct electricity from the heart back to the insulation break and continue th...

 

Hi,

I had my first battery change a month ago and at that time my cardiologist thought that maybe one of my leads wasn't fully working but he wasn't sure and that the surgeon needed to check it when I was in the OR. They did that and apparently there were no issues so only the battery was changed. I went to have my PM checked this week and was told that they noticed the PM didn't capture at one point so I am now scheduled to have a new lead put in next week.

I'm wondering how they don't know for sure that a lead isn't working or if there is anything else that could cause my pm to not capture every now and then. Listening to my cardiologist talking with the technician made it seem as though he wasn't sure. I had an x...