Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

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How do you know if you've dislodged a lead?

How do u know if you've dislodged/pulled a lead? my job involves heavy lifting, over the past week I have had a sore shoulder around the PM site; my PM was implanted under my muscle so i could only feel the edge of it - I think it might have moved because it feels like its sticking out more. I have no idea how little i'm paced (it only paces for a few beats every month or two). How do i know if i've dislodged a lead because my PM is used so infrequently....???

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Graham 1

Ihave been told that my atrial lead is not working and has been switched off. (whatever that means) I know nothing about the procedure but hear that, after six months or so,the old lead is left in.If so, how come the vein isn't blocked and what happens if you need a third replacement? Is it possible to keep going on the ventral lead (I had complete heart block in 2009) since that is where the problem is/was?
All this on top of brachytherapy!
Regards, Graham.

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Draining battery

At last check my pacemaker was functioning at 88.5%. I have to wait until it is at 86%. I am exhausted today and feeling like my heart rate is slowing down. Can anyone tell me what it felt like to loose the power before needing a replacement?
Thanks

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Premature battery drain due to two faulty leads

Hey guys! i am a 50 year old male and was diagnosed at 38 with idiopathic dialated cardiomyopathy and bradycardia. I have a St Jude Bi-Ventricular pacemaker and the battery life is usually up in about 2-2.5 years. I am currently within 0-3 mths of ERI due to an epicardial LV lead high capture voltage and a atrial lead that has a micro-fracture. This will be my 5th pacemaker since 1st implant in 2000. Both atrial and LV lead are scheduled to be replaced with new pacemaker. My biggest question is...

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Silicone and Cancer linked

Here are some articles from today's news that links the silicone in breast implants with a rare form of cancer. What does that have to do with us? Most of our leads are coated with silicone:
http://www.latimes.com/health/la-na-breast-implants-20110127,0,1880966.story

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/fda-reports-link-breast-implants-rare-blood-cancer/story?id=12770991&page=3

The tissue surrounding breast implant sites has been found to contain...

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Removing PM and Leads?

Has anyone had their PM and leads removed?

My cardiologist told me my leads have migrated into my NECK and she'd like to remove both the leads and (if possible) the PM it'self as it should never have been inserted to start with, I should have have an "eppie pen".

It's been in for about 4 years and relocated 3 years ago due to my breast cancer and it being in the way of radiation.

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Replacement

I am having my dual chamber St Jude pacemaker replaced. The Doc wants to use a medtronic...is it common to change brands?

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Short battery life

After my initial implantation of my pacemaker the doctor stated it would be 7-10 years before it would be necessary for me to replace my battery. It would just depend on how much the pacemaker is required to kick on to pace my heart.

Almost 4 months now and my pacemaker runs almost all night long. You see I am fine most of the day, but at night when I sleep my heart rate drops down between 30-40 bpm. The doctor initially set the pacemaker to kick on when my heart rate drops below...

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Battery change

Does a battery change require a replacement of the pacemaker?
Is the battery sealed in the pacemaker?

If such is the case, will the replacement include the latest technology including wireless checking of the device?

Thanks in advance for any info. you can give me.

jjk

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Lead requires too much voltage

I had my second Pacemaker.Defribillator implanted on November 1, 2010. This device is a Biventricular pacemaker and a third lead was installed this time. The new lead is a hook type and each time I have the Pacemaker checked, it is requiring more voltage. At less than 4.5 volts, no electricity is now reaching the end of the lead. The voltage has progressed from less than one volt (at two weeks) to more than 5 volts (at 12 weeks) now needed to work.

Has anyone experienced this prob...

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Magnet Rate

I have a Guidant dual chamber pacemaker because I have total heart block. I'm on my 2nd pacer which was installed in 2006. Insurance has cut back my PM checks to once per 3 months. I have these done at my cardiologist's office. Last week I had one done and I just got a call that my magnet rate was actually 113 instead of 100. The cardiologist wants me to come in for an interrogation to see what is going on. He said he is not alarmed and that it doesn't have to be done immediatley. Has anyo...

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fiddlebritches

I have two questions my pm is a month old now it is still very sore, I am not a weine either Im a SD farm wife , every time I lift with my left the spot where the pm is gets very tender , also this morning when I woke up ( IM a pillow hugger my pm was standing straight up and when I layed on my back it went flat to my chest agian is it suppose to move around like that?

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Re-charging the battery??

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick question ......

I went to my Doc's today, (again), as I am having on-going problems with superficial leads at the PM site. We got talking about battery life and he said that with most pacemakers nowdays, they re-charge the battery from outside the body rather than replace them. (?)

Has any club member experienced this re-charging of battery?
Thanks and best wishes to you all.

Horseride

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Need for pacemaker

Hi,
This may seem like a strange question, but I had a pacemaker implanted in 2006 so they could place me on beta blockers and my heart rate would not drop so low and cause symptoms. After surgery I never saw the surgeon again, no follow up was advised and no doctor (not the surgeon nor my primary) ever prescribed beta blockers due to an oversight I guess. When they finally but me on the BB I developed a toxic build up and was in hospital for 2 1/2 weeks.

Since then I have...

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Am I being paranoid?

I am 22 and had my PM fitted mid December and have been back a few times to have the settings altered. Now the past few days I have noticed I can now feel a wire that I could before. It is above the scar and I seem to be able to feel the tip of the wire (not that I’ve been prodding it too much) I only noticed it was out when I lifted my arm and felt a sharp pain were the wire was rubbing on the skin. I don’t know whether I’m being paranoid and you are meant to feel the wir...

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2 weeks, 6-8weeks, 3 months? Which is it?

I've been on this site for a number of weeks. I'm now 6 weeks post-implant. I've noticed that several people have posted different recovery times according to their individual cardiologist or EP's recommendations. I was told to wait 2 weeks before I could lift my arm over my head and absolutely no restriction after that. I asked my cardio, if I were someone in a job that required heavy lifting, what my restrictions would be then. He said 2 weeks again, no difference. I'm now dealing with a lot...

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Ventrical Impedance

Happy New Year everyone. I have had the same lead for 22 years - so all my pacemaker life.... Battery is almost run out so plans are underway. My question to those of you with older leads is - my impedance is around 220-240 - basically it was 250-260 for almost 8 years! Since I am not too old (36) - I am debating staying with the one that is there - it is too old to extract as opposed to pushing a new one in there if possible.

Any thoughts and/or experiences? Would love some insig...

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What would happen if........

Hi,

What would happen if both the leads of my PM were to be pulled out by accident? I’ve had one lead come out (not the main lead only the back up) and it was pacing my diaphragm just felt like hiccups.  But what if both were to come out, would I pass out?  Would my heart take over?  (I pace at 98%), Could I have a heart attack?

Thanks

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Can battery be low with 10 months left on it.

Hi,
It’s been forever since I’ve posted, but this has been bothering me since last Friday, and it’s getting worse.

Last Friday I was shoveling snow, and felt palpatations, I ignored them, then felt somewhat dizzy, I decided to go inside, and as soon as I got to the couch, I passed out, when I woke up, my son, he’s 13, was standing by me and freaking out, I wasn’t out for long, but it took me awhile to be able to see him.  Since then I’ve...

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I'm a little worried...

I'm 17 and have had my pacemaker for almost 6 years now and lately I've had these, what I call "dizzy spells" I get light headed and lose my breath and my heart flutters. They're short and go away quickly but I'm having a prolonged one and I'm worried about it. Is it sign that my battery life is ending? I'm worried and such, i have school tomorrow but I'm too scared to go to sleep.

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You know you're wired when...

You can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker is the best thing that every happened to me, had I not got it I would not be here today.