Anxious

I am new to this so hope I do it right. I have a pacemaker. Have had it for almost one year. So far everything seems to be working great. However, It paces at 20% the top of my heart and 98% on the bottom of my heart. I can't seem to get an answer from a doctor on what will happen if it goes out all of a sudden. Like if we are camping way back in the sticks. Does anyone know how much time I would have to get to medical help before I would be in big trouble?

4 Comments

If you mean will your PM just quit

by janetinak - 2009-03-09 03:03:12

then I have never heard that it will do that. My understanding is that you will have time to get it replaced once your battery wears down. I am 100% paced in the ventricles & when I need my 2nd PM I got somewhat SOB. Did a check with Dr's office & lo & behold running out of juice. So got new PM that week. Maybe your Dr' s office doesn't understand your question/concerns.

Check the listings on the left, under forums maybe under batteries or checkups, as there has been a lot of discussiom about this in the past.

I was really worried in the beginning that my PM would be like a flashlight battrey & would just quit, was re-assured that I would have time & get plenty of warning & that as the way it was.

My check-up last wk in the office showed that I have about 1.5 yrs left on my 6.5 yr. old PM. So I wont't go too far away from my Doc in the last few months.

Janet


FEAR

by pete - 2009-03-09 03:03:53

I suppose the saying that all we have to fear is fear itself also applies in most cases to pacemakers. If your pacemaker "went out" as you put it you would loose consciousness in less than 1 minute and crash to the ground if you were standing. You would not be aware of what was going on. I am a 100% paced and 100% dependant with no residual pacing/rescue rhythym. It is very likely that you do have a residual pace which will keep you going until you get to hospital , which will give you quite enough time to get to hospital. However the most important point to make is that you would in fact have to be extremely unlucky for your pacemaker to just "go out" as you put it. So if I were you I would stop worrying and relax. Cheers Peter

quitting

by Tracey_E - 2009-03-09 06:03:07

PM's don't just quit. Really, I promise! :o) The longer you have it, the more comfortable you will be with this. They have a back up mode in case of malfunction and they give us a lot of warning when the battery needs replaced.

Your underlying rate will determine what happens if the PM were turned off. You can pace a lot of the time but still have a decent underlying rate, albeit irregular. You'd probably feel like you did before you got it. They can tell you what your underlying rate is when you get it checked.

If your pm were to malfunction and go into back up mode, you would have a steady rate of 60 (or whatever your minimum setting is) and feel about like you do when they test it. Not great, but not in any danger either.

Janet, when you get down to the last 3 or 4 months, you should be able to schedule your replacement at your convenience. I've never let mine get lower than that.

Just quits

by ElectricFrank - 2009-03-10 12:03:50

I also camp alone in the back country for several days at a time. To honestly answer your question, if your pacer completely quits it depends on what your condition is. Most of us have a natural fail safe pacemaker in our ventricles that sustains pumping at 20-40 BPM without pacing. At that rate you could survive and get to an ER. I was down to 26BPM the night before my implant and could get up and walk around. I just felt lousy. Some people will pass out at that low a rate.

If you are one of the unlucky ones who's heart stops if the pacer quits, you have about 15 seconds so being in the boonies isn't any worse than being alone at home.

As folks have mentioned there is very little chance of the pacer just quitting cold turkey. Just remember if you fly all it takes is a few birds to be in deep trouble.

So you asked and I have answered.

best,

frank

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