Pacemakers: Problems with......

Hi, new to board, I have had my pacemaker for about 10 yrs now, it is due to be changed. It will be my first time having it changed. I have been for the last 3-4 days been having increasing episodes of feeling funny, like when they do the test on your pacemaker where they run down to the lowest heart rate, (mine is 35 beats/per min) and you feel like you are going to pass out. Does it feel that way when your pacemaker is getting very low on battery power and needs changed?? ...or is there something else going on?? I am kinda scared as this feels like I did before the pacemaker was put in. It only lasts for a short time, about 10-15 seconds, and several times a day, but is very scarry. I am afraid that I am going to pass out.
What is it like when they change your pacemaker out??

buttercupad65

9 Comments

Low battery

by ElectricFrank - 2009-07-18 11:07:31

It sounds like your symptoms may be due to a low battery. When the battery gets near the end of its life the pacemaker takes action to extend its life as long as possible. This can result in it going into a fail safe mode where most of the features are turned off and it just paces your heart at a fixed rate. This can give you feelings like durning checkup. Have checked your HR when you feel this way? If you are getting down below about 50 the situation is getting serious. I strongly suggest you contact your cardiologist and make them aware of what is happening.

Don't be put off by them. Unless you can get an appointment very soon I would drop off a letter directly to their office stating the situation and that you will bring legal action if you are injured by passing out etc.

Unfortunately, it is sometimes necessary to be very assertive to get the attention you need.,

good luck,

frank

YES

by pete - 2009-07-19 02:07:55

The hospital forgot about my neighbour and his battery ran very low . He got the symptoms you are describing. Your pacemaker will still keep you going for at least 6 months/ Cheers peter

notice

by Tracey_E - 2009-07-19 03:07:03

I'm surprised so many of you have been allowed to go into the energy saving mode! It's safe in that you won't go into cardiac arrest but as some of you have discovered, it doesn't leave you feeling too good and it's not always safe to drive. I knew months and months before each of my changes that it was coming, and I scheduled the surgery well before I lost full function. Do you ask how long it has when you are checked? I do every visit, my doctor and I have already discussed my next change which will likely be next spring. Every doctor is different, but you might have more control and fewer surprises if you get in the habit of asking a lot of questions and having an open dialog with the technicians and doctors. If they know you are curious, they are a lot more likely to get chatty and you'll walk out more informed. Just my humble $0.02 :o)

yep

by Tracey_E - 2009-07-19 06:07:00

It sure sounds like your battery is caput! Take it easy for now and get scheduled as soon as you can. Count your pulse when you feel bad. It should be above (or at least at) 50 or 60. If it's lower than that, go to the ER. As the others said, you should have a min of 2-3 months in fail safe mode. The mode Frank described means a lot of the function that makes the pm go up and down as needed is turned off, but it won't let you get low enough that you are at risk.

Replacements are very easy, I've had 3 now. They try to go in the same place and use the same leads, so they're going through scar tissue and simply switching out the device- easy! You'll be sore for a few days but nothing like the first implant.

I am so glad you asked that question

by bmom91 - 2009-07-19 12:07:43

I am getting ready for my first change out next week and had an episode while driving where I felt like I was going to pass out. I safely pulled off the road . It was very scary my cardio said this sometimes happens when your in energy safe mode however it would have been nice if he had said something earlier. Good Luck with your change hopefully they can move your appointment up.

Thank you for information

by buttercupad65 - 2009-07-19 12:07:45

Thank you for each of your responces. This is my first change and I thought that was what was going on. Yes, I was driving also, In the middle of 6 lanes of traffic, didn't have a chance to get off to the side. I was on vacation in a major city when all of this started. I will be taking it easy until I have my next pacemaker check on Tuesday, hopefully get something done then.

buttercupad65

Nana76Ace

by Nana76ace - 2009-08-18 05:08:59

Very good advise - I ask questions EVERY time I have
a pm check, I want to know well in advance when I
need to have a replacement (I'm on my 2nd one now) &
think I have several months of battery life left....but I
still want that reassurance each time I get a check..
I also have AFib, which Cardio guru is giving me a
RX for Sotolal, but think when the 3rd pm is implanted,
then there might be another lead put in to handle the
AFib. - not sure of this, just a thought until I get more
info.

Nana and TraceyE

by buttercupad65 - 2009-08-18 06:08:53



Nana and TraceyE,

I always ask how much battery power I have, it just didn't (battery life) last as long as it was supposed to. I was due for an In-office interrigation the following week. I was aware that it was getting close. Yes, I am one that wants to know also, and usually ask for a print out of the results of the interrigation report when they are finished with it.

buttercupad65

first time

by Beckes76 - 2009-10-14 07:10:44

I had never had my battery go very low until the last time. It scared me too. I had symptoms for one week but I didn't think anything of it. I never knew what it felt like before. The following week I went in for my check-up to see what my PM was doing. As I was telling him my symptoms for the last week he told me that I needed a new one put in with in 2 weeks. Luckily I was in surgery that Monday (three days later). I didn't think I could handle my symptoms for another two weeks. Now I know what to look for next time. My mom calls it a band-aide surgery. They go in near the incison and take the PM out and put a new one. I think they also check the leads too. So far this one (my fourth) has lasted four years.

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

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