Unnecessary pacemaker removal

Has anyone had a pacemaker implanted unnecessarily? Have you opted to have it removed? If so, did you have both the generator and the leads removed? D

3 Comments

Thoughts

by ElectricFrank - 2011-08-19 01:08:30

Are you sure it is unnecessary? In some situations your heart can run along for days before having a spell of needing some pacing. It can happen in the early days of needing one. Another thought is that once the pacer is on your medical record you risk having your drivers license pulled if you have it removed.

You might consider having it turned off or set to a very low sensitivity so it doesn't kick in much. Ride it out to where the batteries wear out and it needs replacing. At that time it might be easier to have your condition evaluated.

just some thoughts,

frank

Just curious

by Heidiglassmeyer - 2011-08-19 02:08:45

Why would you want to have it removed? I agree with Frank, you may not need it now but it may benefit you some day. I have no idea what risks are involved with removing a PM/leads. It may be worth keeping then re-evaluate when it's time for replacement.

Unnecessary Pace maker implant

by bob7296 - 2012-02-04 09:02:21

I just had open heart surgery for a mitral valve repair and about 3 days after the surgery it was decided that I was going to need a pacemaker. I was very disappointed about this because it was never even brought that it could be any chance of the side affect of this kind.
I was on an external pacemaker until about the 6th day after surgery when they implanted the PM. I tried to object I was very reluctant to getting the PM implanted but I felt out-numbered by the doctors & nurses that this was absolutely necessary and that there were no other options!

I was seeing signs of my heart rate regaining normal rhythm by the fact that the rate had been very low and it had increased when we checked without the external PM. I asked if I could go home with an external PM to wait a little longer and see if my normal rhythm would return and the said no.

My whole body was swollen with water weight ~20lbs, needless to say my heart was probably still inflamed too.

three weeks after my release when I went to my Electro-physiologist he said that my heart was beating on its own and that he was putting the pacemaker on a very low rate and in background mode. So my heart really didn't need it!

This really upsets me that hpspital/doctors protocol is to rush and implant these devices before determining if they're absolutely necessary or not!

It's also is very unsightly astecically it a buldge under my clavical. It looks like I was hit with a golf ball and it's s still imbedded inmy chest!

You know you're wired when...

You prefer rechargeable batteries.

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