Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

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any insights on why leads fail?

My husband just had his 3d pacemaker surgery plus ablation in a year. 2 lead biotronik was placed in July.  One lead failed in late July and was replaced.  Then he began having lightheadedness early this year.  We switched EPs.   Turns out he was having atrial flutter plus a failed lead.  So he had ablation and  now yesterday a lead revision.  Could it just be bad luck on the leads or what else could be going on?  Thanks for any insights!

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Medtronic Carelink App

Not exactly "Batteries and Leads" but it's hardware related...

I just tried to install the MyCareLink app on my phone.  I pointed the camera at the QR code and it immediately said that my phone wasn't compatible with MyCareLink, at this time.  Hmm, thought I.  My phone is a pretty common one (Samsung Note10+).  It's right there in the compatibility list, with the right OS version (Android 11) and everything. 

I sure hope Medtronic is...

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Replacing my PR

I have A3DR01 Medtronic pm. Now  after 9 years I need to replace. Any one know if Medtronic has similar device with smaller size or longer battery life¿

I am expecting newer model after almost 10 years

giora

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Jolt under right ribs

Hello all.

It's been a while since I posted on here. My issue isn't new either. I've had a PM for nearly 10 years. This issue has been happening randomly and sometimes quite intermittently however of late it's been more often. I have always forgotten to ask my cardiologist however I did yesterday. Does anyone experience a jolting sensation on their right side below the ribs. Sometimes it's quite intense and quite a shock.It's not a twitch I can actually see...

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Question on upcoming procedure

Hello again!

Two days ago I had my pacemaker switched to MVP mode. It may have helped, I feel tentatively better, nothing dramatic, perhaps too soon to tell. My EP went ahead and scheduled the following procedure- 

upgrade PM SING, DUAL, OR CRTP TO CRTD; 33233+33249

can anyone enlighten me as to what that means? I know it is basically inserting a possible third lead.

Also, in my darker moments I think perhaps this shortness of breath, exhaustion, post-exertional m...

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Replacement due sooner than expected

Hi everyone! I got my first PM implant Nov 2010 when I was 16 years old. I just went to visit my electrophysiologst at the end of April and was told I have about 2 months left until the battery goes into the "reserve mode". (I forget the actual term for it)

Well, 2 months turned into 8 days. My pacemaker went into the reserve mode 8 days after seeing my doctor. I had no idea but I just knew I felt horrible. Heart palpitations, hiccups, dizziness, shortness of breath....

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Battery Draining

Hi, my partner had a pacemaker and defibrillator fitted in December 2020. He went for his second check up today and was told that his heart is working harder, so much so, its draining the battery. Where a normal battery would last around 10 years, his is showing that it only has 5-6 years left. They made some adjustments and want to see him again in a month but said it is likely that they will have to operate again. I can't find anything on line about these symptoms an...

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MICRA AV LEADLESS PM

Hey new member here! I'm 27 years of age and currently running on St Jude 2162 (DDDR) AV block 3rd degree. 

Had my 1st PM-lead at the age of 7. Second lead sometime after that. 
Had my 2nd lead broken within 6 months. 
Now running on 3rd lead. 

I'm looking into Micra AV and other options on the market, any information and experiences would be beneficial!

Personal experience living with PM - 
Had a first surgery in 200...

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Displaced lead immediately after implant

Recently got an Abbott 2 wire PM implanted. The wound was closed and it was immediately discovered that the atrial wire was dislodged. The beat was reset to 40 using tne lower wire. The surgeon refused to fix the lead and told us we had to wait 6 weeks for healing. The surgery report does not mention this situation.  Later the recheck visit notes added that a lead revision surgery was necessary because "unfortunately the lead is now disconnected". My research never mentions a w...

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1 lead not working, doctor suggesting adding a 4th lead (patient already has 3 leads)

Hi, My father has had his pacemaker for over 10 years now, he is 66 now. We just learned that 1 of the leads that goes in the right heart chamber is not working properly and has to be replaced. The doctor is suggesting not to remove the lead but rather add a new one. My biggest concern is that he already has 3 leads passing through the vane (1 lead to the right, one to the left chamber, and a defibrillator), and adding a 4th one might cause issues with the circulation in that vane if it...

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BREAKING LEADS SO EASILY

I'm 44 years old. I got my 1st pacemaker when I was 24 years old. Since then, I habe broken my leads 3 times and no doctor know why. 

I got my last pair almost 3 years ago, they are still holding but I can feel them pushing my skin above by scar. I just hope they will last a little bit more as this surgeries are so painful due to the pushing and probing trying to get the old leads out.

No surgeon has being able to take 3 of my old broken leads. They are impossible to take...

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broken lead

I am an extremly active 72 year old.  I do a variety of exercise, with swimming being a prominent one. I have had a PM for about 2 1/2 years to address SSS, bradycardia etc.  Before the initial surgery I was told the the device would sense my motion and respiration.  Then they gave me a Medtronic with just the motion chip.  I was told later by one of the device techs that it was because of the hospital's "business plan".  This device does not work w...

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how often the Pacemaker works

Went to the doctor today for my 9 month check up. i have a 2 leed Pacemaker for Syncope. i found out that the upper leed works 8 percent of the time and the lower part of the heart 1 percent. can someone in simple terms explain this to me.

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Device beeping

I got a call from my cardiologist office on yesterday that my device was beeping. I heard a beep but I thought it was coming from something in my house. I did not realize  it was me. I got my device in 3/2009 and this is my first battery change. I went in today and they turned the beeping off and I will schedule a precedure to change the battery. I was just wondering is their anyone besides myself that did not realize the beep was them.

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Hello! I am rather new here, thanks for being here!

I had a PM inserted last August. It appears I am having Pacemaker syndrome issues. My electrophsiologist wants to put a third lead in and says there is a 40% chance of improvement. Since the implantaion I have had post-exertional malaise, edema and fatigue. Has anyone gone back for a third lead?  Did it help?  Any information is greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!!

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PM moves close to armpit

Good day everyone! Anybody felt their device moves slide down to your armpit? Mine was planted close to my shoulder and armpit. Si when I raised my hands it moves too! Now I was not allowed to raise it further up and got to live with it. It sores occasionally particularly when putting on clothes forgot sometimes. I felt pain on my wires under my breast ( it twitch before so they adjusted device). I am scared that I may pull it up if I forgot and annoyed and depressed of having it (some m...

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Displaced Pacemaker

I wrote previously about my pacemaker moving closer to my underarm.  Well this may seem like a silly question but at my age I think I'm due a silly question ever so often.  Are all leads the same length and would they stretch when pm moved to new location? Thanks.

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due for battery replacement

I am due for a battery replacement soon, I think.  My PM was implanted in February 2011 (St Jude).  Last June 2020, I had 4 years left.  My last PM check (March 26th) shows I have 2 years left.  Two years disappeared in 9 months.  My pacemaker nurse said I should keep an eye on how fatigued I get.  Just curious what you experience when your battery is running low.  I get dizzy too.  My legs get heavy but I can walk a mile still.  

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Abandoned Atrial lead tip

Hello all,

Happy Saturday, hope all are well. (During this weird and scary time...)

Last August (2020), I had my leads removed then replaced at time of pacemaker replacement, my atrial lead threshold was too high, it wasn't capturing, so needed to be replaced.  Surgeon opted to replace the ventrical lead at the same time. They couldn't get the atrial lead out completely so the tip of this lead was abandoned and remains lodged in my a...

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Pacemaker checks

I'm getting a new pacemaker. Does all new pacemakers have the option they can do via computer ? Not sure if I'm getting leads or what brand pacemaker but now phone checks. I'm tired of paying for a landline I don't use except that ! 

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You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

Member Quotes

The experience of having a couple of lengths of wire fed into your heart muscle and an electronic 'box' tucked under the skin is not an insignificant event, but you will survive.