pacemaker settings

I am 59 and  was diagnosed with Sick Sinus Syndrome 7 months ago. A week after my pacemaker was implanted my doctor reprogrammed my device to save battery. I was in misery for the next 2 months not able to exercise at all, walking made my legs feel weak, i had trouble breathing and I had a constant feeling of irregular beats. When I told my doctor he said it was anxiety. I knew something was wrong but couldnt get him to believe me. I finally got him to listen when my Primary care doctor heard 3 heart beats instead of 2.  My own heart beat was so messed up that he had to be adjust it to 100% pacemaker for me to function normally. I feel great since I am now paced 100%. But I have read comments from those with pacemskers that it is not good to be paced 100% especially if you are younger. Does anyone know if this hurts my heart in any way?   All I know is I will need to reach the battery sooner.

3 Comments

Battery usage

by PaulFromSydney - 2017-04-05 04:07:28

I'm also 100% paced so similar.

When I first got my PM I thought about saving battery power (even had my minimum set to 50 bpm rather than now 60 to save juice). However after reading about what may change the PM power usage there are so many variables (lead impedence - the biggest, pacing %, exercise, +++), I decided to make it as comfortable as possible. If it costs me 6 month on a new model so be it.

On the 100% paced issue and whether it it's bad for you you have to ask the question can you do anything about it. In my case no if I want to feel reasonable so I don't worry about something I can't change.

Good luck

All the best

Paul

 

Battery

by Snowman - 2017-04-05 22:32:20

The new PMs are intelligent and will work only when needed. No PM and you probably wouldnt be here.  Everyones heart that is fitted with a PM becomes dependent as without it is obvious that doesnt work. My Dr said I will die of something else now. If your worried it only produces anxiety and sadness. Its better to be prepared where your going after this life. IXOYE.

thirty years in

by dwelch - 2017-04-13 03:44:32

I have had pacers for 30 years, talk about being younger, got my first one at 19, am 49 now.

They last as long as they last, I am dual chamber with level 3/complete heart block, so the lower chambers are 100% driven by the pacer...for 30 years... (there is an issue with that after 25 or more years of pacing, so I am getting pacer number 5 in two weeks, a three chamber pacer)...They dont last as long as advertised independent of your percentage, sometimes longer sometimes shorter, they cant predict this.  They aim for 10 years give or take, sometimes it is shorter, years shorter, I think two of mine were right at 7 years.  (The estimated life the software prints out is not something to get worked up about, as my current doc says when it says three weeks then it means three weeks but not before that).

They last as long as they last and you get a newer/better maybe smaller although they are so wee bitty now dominated in size by the connectors not the battery.

Number one, it should make you normal, then number two is try to stretch the life out.  Dont switch those around.  So what if it is a little bit sooner.  Try to enjoy the time not suffer thorugh bad settings.

You know you're wired when...

You prefer rechargeable batteries.

Member Quotes

The pacer systems are really very reliable. The main problem is the incompetent programming of them. If yours is working well for you, get on with life and enjoy it. You probably are more at risk of problems with a valve job than the pacer.