Battery life

Hi!
Can you tell when the battery gets close to end of life, or is it something that is found in clinic?
My last check was Jan 08 I was told I had approx 1yr of battery life left, although I have been feeling lightheaded, lathargic and have felt some unusual heart beats for approx 1 week. Saying all that I am also starting to recovering from a cough that I've had since feb. Could the way I have felt for the last week be been down to my pacemaker changing modes or post illness?

Thanks for your help
sharron

9 Comments

Good Question

by peter - 2008-06-06 01:06:31

The answer is yes and no. I believe some pacemakers bleep when the battery is coming to its end of life. There should be a very good safety margin as the batteries in pacemakers do not suddenly go flat. When your pacemaker is checked they always look at the voltage of the battery. The technicians will know when your battery is within 6 months of reaching its end of life and will call you in more frequently to keep an eye on the voltage. It is not unknown though for some hospitals to leave it as long as possible, in fact too long. If you start to feel unwell or you know how your pulse normally feels and it appears to have changed I would go into hospital and ask them to check the battery. You can always ask them at what voltage your pacemaker goes into elective replacement mode and ask them every time you have your pacemaker check what the voltage is. This will give you peace of mind. ElectricFrank knows a bit more than I do about these matters. Suggest you ask him. Cheers Peter

Battery Life Check

by LindaScarberry - 2008-06-06 03:06:19

Sharron

I'm new to this whole PM/ICD thing; had an ICD implanted 5/16. Yesterday at my check up, they checked my ICD activity and the battery life. Of course, it showed 100% left because it is so new. When you go to the doctor and read your PM, it should show remaining battery life. I've also read that they beep several times to give you warning.

Best of luck,
Linda

Batter Life

by PRA - 2008-06-07 04:06:44

Sharron,

Hi, I just found out my battery is low after 7 years. I noticed that when I was exercising my pulse would not go above 65. When I called the pacemaker clinic, they said that some models program themselves to nothing but 65 beats. I went in and they checked it, and sure enough the battery is low.
Now the waiting game begins....I see my Dr. on 6/24, to make an appt. for replacement. Waiting wouldn't be so bad, but exercising without extra beats, makes for a very short winded, tired me. But, until we have DIY PM replacement, guess I have to play by their rules.
If you are having symptoms, don't hesitate to call your PM clinic or cardiologist, as my original battery low date given to me in March was January 2009. Didn't make it!

Good luck, Pat

My Battery is low

by Alice - 2008-06-09 01:06:00

Hi Sharon,

I have had my pacemaker for 10 years. I was just told last week that I have to have my battery replaced. I started noticing in March what I thought was an increase in pacemaker activity or "pacing" (similar to your unusual beats). It was very noticable "big" heartbeats. It was especially obvious when I went to bed and relaxed. I need my pacemaker as my heart stops occasionally and my pacemaker is an "on-demand" type that only kicks in when my heart rate drops too low.

My cardioligist told me that I have a newer smart pacemaker and that it had stopped firing the smaller chamber and was only firing the lower larger chamber of my heart to conserve battery strength. This was why I was noticing it more. He wants to put in a new one within a month. It will be my first battery replacement.

This is my only symptom, I don't feel tired at all (I play a lot of golf). They discovered the battery was low when I went for my pacemaker checkup. I would call them and tell them how you are feeling.

Hope this helps,
Alice

it's an insurance thing!

by bambi - 2008-06-09 09:06:50

I suffered the same symptoms as you, and went in to have my pacer checked. Sure enough, it went in to the mode that conserves what's left of the battery life. My Dr. said that they had to wait until the battery reached a certain voltage because the insurance company would not ok the replacement surgery until it reached that number! I find this so outrageous that we have to live with being exhausted, not feeling well and not being paced properly because the insurance company says so! Oh don't get me going! LOL!
Bambi

Thanks

by Sharron - 2008-06-12 01:06:47

I am lucky as I live in the UK so don't have to worry about insurance companies paying out. The only problem with the UK is they don't tell you much information about your pacemaker so i don't know what my lower rate is set at when it changes mode.

I have checked my pulse as suggested since my last post and it has been around 70-75 most of the time.

Thanks again for all your good advice
Sharron

Battery Life

by ju - 2008-06-17 02:06:43

Hi Sharron

There doesn't seem to be a strict time of how long a pacemaker battery lasts, as its all dependent on the person and how much they rely on their pacemaker. I'm the same as Alice in that I have an on-demand pacemaker that cuts in when my heart needs it. I've had this current pacemaker in 7.5 yrs, but was told today by my pacing team in Dorchester, Dorset, that its going flat and I need a replacement. I'm also the same as Alice, in that I live in the UK and don't have to worry about things like insurance, as we are fortunate in that we have the National Health Service over here.

You mustn't worry though, honestely. Your pacemaker won't just suddenly go flat on you. Your pacing team will be closely monitoring it at every check up. In my case, I usually have annual checks, but recently as of June 2007, I was put onto 6 mthly check ups as the pacing team could monitor the battery life was getting low. I attended a 6mthly appoint in Dec 2007 and another today, and today was the day when they decided it was time for a battery change. Even then on the print out the pacing team were able to show me that the life of my battery hadn't reached the ECT line (Estimated Change Time), plus the totally flat marker was beyond that one. They won't ever let you go that far - so don't worry.

If ever you are not feeling yourself though, my advise would always be to contact your pacing team. I've contacted mine a few times in the past with what I thought was "stupid time wasting worries". In fact they were only too happy to talk me through my concerns and put my mind at ease. If in doubt - call them. What's the point in stewing when you can probably have all your concerns removed in a quick phone call !

The only time I feel a bit fluttery and lightheaded is when I'm being paced. I can feel it a lot and I find it quite uncomfortable, and feel pulsings in my neck and a tightening in my chest.

Hope you're feeling better soon. All the Best

Julie :-)

Safe mode pacing

by Alice - 2008-06-20 05:06:47

Like Julie while my pacemaker is in safe mode I am feeling pulsing in my neck and around my diaphram during pacing... I agree it's not a nice sensation. Has anyone ever felt & heard a beating in their ear? I get it only in my left ear and it started when my pacemaker went into safe mode but I don't get it all the time. It's difficult to sleep on my left side because of it.

I live in Canada and don't have to worry about insurance.

Just curious
Alice

Safe mode

by lmramsay - 2012-11-06 05:11:19

I am booked in to have my 10 y.o. PM in two weeks. The last 3 days I have felt strong heart beats, especially noticable when I relax. Have I gone into safe mode do you think?

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