Battery Running Low?

Hi All

I haven't posted for a while but have been reading everyone's news. Are there any pointers to a battery running low that anyone can help me with. I have my next check for my pm next week.

I feel so tired lately, as if all the energy just drains out of me. I also feel that I have very cold legs and feet at night or when I lay down, as if the blood is not reaching that portion of my body.

I am on three monthly checks now because my pm model is suddenly showing a flick up on the battery line, although it has not happened to me yet. It may well show up next week.

We are off to the mainland on l May for three months. I refuse to let my pm run my life as I can always fly home or see the sp at the Geelong Hospital, south of Melbourne, where I am also registered.

Any comments would be appreciated so I can formulate some questions to ask the dtec next week. Thanks
Billie

5 Comments

Low Battery Symptoms

by SMITTY - 2010-04-17 07:04:11

Hello Billie,

I have a Medtronic PM and I will always remember how it acted when the battery got low. The last checkup I had showed almost a year of estimated remaining battery life and I was chugging along just fine. Then one day (about three months before the estimate quitting time for the battery) my heart rate suddenly went form 80 BPM (the low setting on my PM) to 65 BPM and I felt worse than I could have ever imagined. It took a few days to get in for a checkup to get the official report that I needed a new PM.

So what I'm saying is that it is my understanding that our PM does not taper off in its work, but suddenly goes into what I'll call a self preservation mode. At least that is what my Medtronic PM did. A PM

From your bio I see your PM is an ELA which is made by Sorin. This is a European company and is one of the leading pacemaker manufacturers in Europe. I would suggest you send private message to Inga (user name snitch) as I'm 99% sure she has a Sorin device. Also, Inga is extremely read on pacemakers so I'm sure she can help you if she has time.

I'm not sure how your PM handles a weakening battery, but I doubt that a weak battery would be the cause of your feeling tired and run down. Of course the cold feet and legs is one of the symptoms of poor circulation. But there are many causes of poor circulation so I would hesitate to blame your symptoms on your PM just yet. Wait until you see the doctor and see what he has to say.

As for pointers on a battery running low I would say the best thing to check is if your heart rate is less than the low setting on your pacemaker. That is the way I learned something must be wrong with mine, although I have to admit, I did not think of a low battery because the last remaining battery life report I had gotten.

How my being fooled by the battery report came about is another story which I will have to tell another time. Right now Dottie is waiting on me to take her out as we are celebrating our 61st wedding anniversary today.

I wish you the best,

Smitty

battery life

by Tracey_E - 2010-04-17 07:04:52

Pm batteries are not like a flashlight battery that dims and flickers before it goes out. We have full function until it goes to ERI, or elective replacement mode. At this point, we have full function and about 3 mos of life left. Then comes EOL, or end of life. This lasts another 3 mos or so but we have limited function. The pm will keep us alive but all the extra features that keep us feeling good are turned off. You may be at that point now. If you got it done quickly, there's no reason to think you can't enjoy your trip by May. Recovery is very fast when they just replace the battery.

For Rennee

by SMITTY - 2010-04-17 11:04:25

Renee,

Some makes of pacemakers and defibrillators, especially the newer ones, do emit an audible signal when battery strength reaches some predetermined level. I have been unable to find a list of the ones that do this, although I have seen some of the PC Club members mention having one that does give a signal.

Smitty

Next weeks checkup

by ElectricFrank - 2010-04-18 01:04:41

Next week you will know the answer to the battery question. That's one of the first things they check. There's nothing you need to do.

frank

hi

by pacergirl - 2010-04-18 10:04:30

I got a new St. Jude Accent dual pacemaker on March 5 of this year and it has the new feature. It will "beep" at me when it's battery is running low. I felt a bit odd about it at first, but now I think it is GREAT!
PG

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