Stress

Probably negligible

by Theknotguy - 2018-03-15 23:10:55

I've got two programs running on my pacemaker in addition to it being just a pacemaker.  They are for afib.  The programs run all the time and don't necessarily take away from the battery life.  However when I do have afib and the programs make the pacemaker increase pacing or change pacing that does take away from the battery life.  My best guess is the battery life may have been shortened by about two years.  I feel a good trade off because my afib is being much more controlled.  

So, in answer to your question I don't feel stress, per se will shorten the battery life on your pacemaker unless it is causing your pacemaker to do more work.  

You don't specify what kind of stress.  So is this stress increasing your heart rate?  However, once again, if it is, it's probably making a negligible.change to your pacemaker performance.  

I can't get any really good estimates on how much the afib programs may, or may not, have shortened the overall battery life on my pacemaker.  There wasn't a really good estimate on how long my pacemaker would last without the programs.  My best guess is that my pacemaker would have lasted, at best, for ten years.  But that would be with the pacemaker running at minimal pacing.  Since I pace at 80 to 90% would my pacemaker have lasted only eight years anyway?  No one knows for sure.  So having the programs running may not have impacted the overall battery life.  

Same for your stress.  Probably has a negligible impact on your pacemaker performance and would have minimal impact on your battery life.  

Hope this helps.  
 

stress

by Tracey_E - 2018-03-16 11:14:56

Stress will shorten your life so it's always best to find a way to reduce it, but it's not going to affect your battery's life. If stress occasionally makes your heart race that may mean more pacing, but amount of pacing is just one of many factors that affect battery life. More important are the safety margins, how much juice it takes to get the heart to beat, condition of the leads, the bells and whistles we use. The pacer works 24/7 whether it's pacing or watching. 

Don't stress over battery life, changes are super easy. I'm on my 5th. When I got my last one, I got lunch on the way home from the hospital, took a nap, then spent a few hours answering  work emails. One before that I left for a hiking trip a week later. Piece of cake.

love TraceE;s answers

by dwelch - 2018-03-29 04:58:40

love that answer, I am also on number five, was ready to drive after two or three days but decided to wait over the weekend and drive to work the following monday.  took a liltte longer like days or a week to be able to sleep on the pacer side.  Washing hair, etc, in that first so many days or a week.  

Battery life is not something to stress about.  Definitely ignore the estimate their software prints out, it is always wrong, just ignore it.