Replacement on 4/22

Hello!  Long time no post!  At any rate, I have had my Medtronic Adapta for 15 years as of yesterday and am scheduled for replacement on 4/22.  This is my first replacement.  My only question is if anyone has gotten pushback when requesting to keep their old pacemaker?  I have always wanted to keep mine (jokingly saying I want to hang it from my rear view mirror in my car) - but wondering if this is an easy request to be granted.  I figure, it's mine so I should be able to have it.  Who has done this and has anyone run into issues?  Who did you make the request of and when?

Thanks!

8 Comments

Not sure

by Good Dog - 2024-04-14 20:38:53

I am afraid that I cannot give you a definitive answer, because I have not asked in recent years. Don't know if things may have changed since I received mine. My first generator was implanted in 1987. I asked my Doc if I could have it and he delivered it to me with a smile after my first generator change in 1995. He was perhaps the nicest Doc that I've ever had. Unfortunately, he left his practice shortly after that. Anyway, I still have it. It is over twice the size of my current and 4th generator that I just received last month.

So I can tell you that I did not get any push-back then. Not sure if it is any different now?

Sincerely,

Dave

 

Hi

by Lavender - 2024-04-14 22:09:38

I'm so impressed that your pacemaker is 15 years old! I'm only three years in. May God bless you with an easy change out of your device! 
 

 

Keeping your battery

by Buzbuz9 - 2024-04-14 22:52:43

I have been able to keep most of my devices, 5/6 I only didn't keep my last one because the ep I asked forgot. I think it probably depends on your doc but I have never gotten any push back on it. 

keeping it

by Tracey_E - 2024-04-15 11:19:12

I have my first one. They offered it to me, this was 20+ years ago. I didn't think to ask for any of the others. It's just sitting in my desk drawer so I didn't see a reason to ask for the others. 

Keep pace maker

by zawodniak2 - 2024-04-15 13:02:20

They gave me my first one. I'm getting ready for my second replacement soon after 9+ years and will give them a written request to give me the old one and not throw it into the trash can. 
Geez "SPARKY HAS BEEN IN MY CHEST AND KEEPING ME ALIVE AND I HAVE A SENTIMENTAL ATTACHMENT TO IT. PLUS WITH ALL THE INSURANCE I HAVE PAID, I OWN IT!!!

        Rodger

Didnt keep mine

by atiras - 2024-04-15 16:23:06

I've not had a battery change yet but I've had two devices removed with loads of battery life (one with about 7 years left,  one with only 8 months use). I asked what be done with the first one and was told that because of Covid it couldn't be sent overseas as i hoped. So it's hopefully keeping a dog well and happy for a few years!

The second device removed was an ICD and sadly there wasn't a way fir itbto be reused.

Push Back

by Grateful Heart - 2024-04-15 20:38:45

I had my first CRT-D for 10 years and near the end there was an issue with it.  When I was getting the replacement, I asked if I could keep the first one and I was told Boston Scientific wanted it back to investigate the problem and learn from it.  

I tried to find out the results but never got a straight answer.  My second device has about 4 years battery life left so I will try again when the time comes.

Grateful Heart 

Tomorrow’s replacement

by pezzypooh - 2024-04-21 21:45:41

Well, I reached out to my EP office and was told to let the Medtronic rep or the EP lab staff know I want to keep it.  I may get it back on the spot or they will send back to Medtronic who will run diagnostics then ship back to me.  Hoping I can walk out the door with it tomorrow since it is being replaced due to old age not failure!

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