Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

Post Message!

Heartbeats may be used to power PMs?

Has anyone seen this?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081110/sc_nm/us_heart_pacemaker_4

Read More...

Replacement Battery Worries

I have had my current PM for 8 and a half years. I have my annual check up coming up this week, and I'm starting to get a little worried about them talking about a replacement. I have gone through the last 8 or so years without any worries or cares about it, but now it has hit me like a runaway train!

I'm starting to find that maybe the anxiety about it is making me feel unwell, and I'm feeling tired and short of breath. Short of energy and generally irritable. I'm usually full of bou...

Read More...

Lead preservaion

Good morning and thank you for this great web site. This is my first post and would I certainly appreciate any feedback.

I have 3rd degree AV block, pacemaker first installed in 2001, a replacement implanted in September of this year. The incision opened within 2 or 3 days and will not heal (no infection, evidently poor skin quality). The device is exposed and I am scheduled for a device and lead removal to be followed by a new implantation on the right side of my chest.

Read More...

Is it in ERI mode yet?

I have been having my PM checked monthly for a couple months now. I am due to go again on the 23rd. I have been feeling more tired and yesterday I was bending over at the knees and suddenly I toppled over and lost my balance for no apparent reason. I didn't feel light headed, but then why did I lose my balance so suddenly? I have been reading posts and it seems like when your PM goes in ERI mode, most of you say you could feel it? What are some of the symptoms you feel? Can it affect you...

Read More...

Anesthesia for generator change

What kind of anesthesia have you had for a generator change? I was told I would just get local anesthesia around the pacemaker site. I am a very nervous person and I don't think I can do it that way. I think I will need some IV sedation, just to make me not so aware. I don't want to be "knocked out" but I don't want to be fully awake either. I have a choice of two doctors, one who only uses local and one who gives IV sedation.

Read More...

lead

i, was wondering if any body out there had a recall from medtronic,if you did did you sue or call the commeriacl up,just courious

Read More...

Medical Tourism

Has anyone had thier pacer changed by this method? If so, where, cost, and opinion on quality of care, please?

I know that my health and logevity come before costs, but we are in jeapordy of losing our home and having to make big, stressful decisions ($50K) about our future...being an honest, tax-paying member of the "middle class" sucks sometimes.

Cheers,
Mike

Read More...

What does this mean?

I got 2 of my old pacer check reports and would like to know if anyone knows what it means. My pacer is in the ERI mode right now and I need to know if I am indeed need the replacement based on the percentage of how much I am pacing.


On the 2003 report:

Mode: DDDR
Mode Switch: On 175bpm
Minimum rate: 60 BPM
Maximum rate: 140 BPM
P-Wave Amplitude: 2.0-2.8 mV Impedence: 580
Atrial Pacing Threshold: 1.5 V @ 0.06 ms
R-Wave Amplitude: 11.2 – 1...

Read More...

Thumping heart beat

My pacer is in the ERI mode now and I have been having this thumping heart beats when I go to bed. Is this something caused by the pacer firing or is it my own heart doing it?
Anyone ever had those experience? Will it go away on it's own and why is it happening as I never felt it before?
Since the pacer is in the ERI mode now, won't it use more energy by doing this?

Read More...

New pacers on the market

I am just looking for information in case I needed the replacement in the future.
My pacer went into ERI mode on 8/30, there is no plan for a replacement yet. While sitting here waiting for an answer from the doctor, I want to know if there are any pacer that is smaller than what I have now (Medtronic Thera i DR). I am not a big person and consider slim, I just don't want another BIG scar on my chest, I show the doctor my scar and he said it is big indeed.

Read More...

Let the battery run it's course

Hi,
Does anyone ever just let the battery dies on it's own?
I am having those extreme tiredness and the doctor told me that it might be caused by the fact the pacer is in the "Reserve mode" so if the battery is completely dead, i wouldn't feel the tiredness anymore?
I am trying to find out if I need a replacement since the doctors that I saw aren't sure I have heart block to begin with and unsure about whether the pacer is helping me at all as my symptoms never improved since the...

Read More...

a crack in a lead

Hi I just had my 2nd pm put in last Friday. the doctor said one lead had a crack and he fixed it with silicone. Did anyone else have this occur. If so , did the lead have to be replaced before the pm. How lone before you needed it to be replaced. I was upset the doctor did just replace it. any info will help
thanks
patty

Read More...

Removal of old leads

Hello everyone

Long time no talk to. I've been reading quietly for quite a long time and have been impressed with the support and experience associated with this group, good job.

PM number 27 is nearing the end of its life after 3 years. The new unit will have a defib in it and therefore will require an additional lead. Along with that, a biventricular device is being considered requiring an additional lead for the other ventricle. My long history with PM's through th...

Read More...

$$$$$$$ Update and Question

I contacted the hospital that did the original surgeries and implants (London Health Sciences Center in Ontario, Canada) to get an idea of costs.

The lady in Billing didn't know if the procedure is done on an in-patient or out-patient basis.

As an outside the system patient, if I had to stay in the hospital, it would cost $3750.00/day ($4350.00 for ICU). The pacer would cost ¡Ö $5000.00. Then there are the charges for the doctor(s)...yikes!!!

Now for my question....

Read More...

$$$$$$$

My battery is low in my pacer (St.Jude, model 5342), and will need replacement surgery in 4-5 months. I am a Canadian, living in Savannah, Georgia, and no longer have free medical care...I moved here permanently. I have private insurance that will cover some of the costs of hospital, surgery, and meds, but not the device (can't get one on eBay...lol).

I am looking for the best place to have it done (costwise). I have a medical tourism company looking at options, but wondered where I c...

Read More...

low battery

Hello,
I am due for a pacemaker replacement in the next 1 to 5 months. For the past week, i have been having this "heartbeat in my throat" feeling. I am wondering is anyone else feels this or is it just a sign of low battery?
I am not a pacer dependent and I need to make a decision as to whether I want a replacement or not since the doctor who doesn't' think I need it and leaves the decision to me.

On those who had a recent pacer replacement, how do you feel when your batte...

Read More...

HELP

can anyone help with a panic i have? i had my second pacemaker implanted three weks ago and the wound has healed but at one end i have a small white plastic looking thing appeared it looks like a loop across the end part of the scar from underneath and over the surface and back in again ipanicked that it might be part of a lead ( i dont know what a lead looks like ) or maybe a stitch that hasnt dissolved it feels like plastic not a very good explanation im sorry but i paniced a bit.

Read More...

new pm on friday

Hi to all. I was just wondering if any of you that have had your pm replaced in the last 6months could let me know what type you had put in and how long the battery will last. I am going in on Friday for replacement and wanted to get some info. Having a hard time finding anything on new tech for pm. thanks

patty

Read More...

bad lead

A recent hospital stay revealed a poorly functioning pacemaker, allowing my heart rate to go as low as 46 when set at 50. A year and a half ago,had a st jude's pm implanted, and immediately it was discovered the lower lead was not working properly and was using excessive voltage to do the job This shortened the life of th battery to31/2 yrs.and I accepted this outcome rather than havethe wires revised by operation Because of the hospital report.I visited my EP, who upped the voltage to maximum...

Read More...

battery dying

I have a metronix pm for 11yrs. The battery is low and I will have my 2nd pm done on the 5th Sept. I have been feeling lite headed, tried,lack of energy. The dr. said these were all signs that indicated the battery was wearing down. It seemed to take a long time for this one to go down. I have a dual pm d/t complete heart block. hopes this helps

patty

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

Your device makes you win at the slot machines.

Member Quotes

I'm still running and feeling great.