Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

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EOL??

Hi,
I have had this particular pacemaker for five years and I went to get the battery tested this past February, and the dr said I had about a year left. He also informed that I am now 100% dependant. I have had a pacemaker since 2000. I am 24 years old, this is my third one and I have never been 100% until now. The past couple of days I have felt extremely tired, out of breath with no energy. My hr all day has been constant at 60 bpm (which I believe is the low for me) when my normal...

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New Outer Heart Pacemaker Lead Frayed

I just had infective endocarditis 4 months ago due to an infected pacemaker lead. They performed open heart surgery to clear the infection, remove the infected lead, and place new leads on the outside of the heart. I recently had a X-ray that said one of the new leads is frayed. Does anyone know if this is significant, or will it work okay frayed. It seems to be doing okay right now, and I will be seeing the electrophysiologist this month. Does anyone know why a brand new lead would be frayed so...

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First battery change!

Hey folks!

I have my first battery change coming up, and truth be told, I'm kinda nervous. Anyone else had it done recently that can tell me what it was like. (Disclaimer: I'm naturally a bit of a worry wart, so would be most grateful to only hear good stories. :))

Thanks,
Uma

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First battery change!

Hey folks!

I have my first battery change coming up, and truth be told, I'm kinda nervous. Anyone else had it done recently that can tell me what it was like. (Disclaimer: I'm naturally a bit of a worry wart, so would be most grateful to only hear good stories. :))

Thanks,
Uma

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CRT-D

Hi! I have a new CRT-D defibulator pacemaker which was put in place on June 8, 2015. I thought I was doing fine however this morning I hung a shower curtain and now I am having pain in my heart. Maybe just a pulled muscle. I don't go back for check up for 3 months.

Wondering if I should call in? I have no idea what it will feel like to pull the leads off? Could someone shed so light on this. Thank you I greatly appreciate

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device replacement

My device has lasted 8.5 years. It has never paced or gone off. my heart has gotten stronger over the years. Appreciate any comments on replacing it or possibly no longer being a candidate.

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Pinching

Hi! Lately my PM has been pinching me and or has a heavy achy feeling. It makes me really tired too. Any one else have these feelings?

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More problems...

Hi All
Just for a little background - I am a tricky case as my EP says. I had a six hour long and ultimately failed ablation for SVT. Afterwards, my heart started pausing and skipping beats which led to my PM placement 4 weeks after. I have found through my recent procedures that I do not respond to Versed and was awake for my ablation, PM placement and a TEE that I had a few weeks post surgery. Has anyone used anything different? Being awake for the PM implant wasnt terrible, just uncomfor...

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Replacement and nursing, caring for baby

I have to have my pacemaker replaced in the next few weeks. This is the first time to have the procedure done. I asked several questions that they were stumped by and are supposed to be getting back wtih me so while I'm anxiously waiting I thought I'd see if anyone else had gone through this.
I am still exclusively breastfeeding my 8-month-old son and want to continue to do so at least until he is 1. I also have a very active almost 4-year-old son.
Do you know if the surgery will grea...

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Crt pocket revision new lead revision

After a improper crt d device implant 3 defibrillator lead revisions due to dislodge the. I have a new EP doc. Repositioned device and new defibrillator lead. All went well except during recovery actually a few hours later had tremendous amount of pvcs I was having 12,000 before initial implant when everything settled down about 5 months pvcs could hardly be felt. Now I was told after 2 weeks post op I am having 70,000 my NP put me on solotol for irregular heart beat they said the leads are in...

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Lead Extraction !

I am going in Monday morning, which is four days away, to have lead extraction and a new pacer implanted. This will be my fourth surgery. The first surgery I had a pacer and two leads, ended up with a collapsed lung twice and 12 days in a hospital. My second surgery turned bad when they found a screw was stripped trying to remove old battery. I also got an infection due to suture being rejected and then had a third surgery called pocket revision. Now one of my oldest lead wires (12 years old) is...

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Which Mode?

How do you know which mode your pacemaker is set in? I am advised VVI would be the best for me. I had an AFib episode last week and my pulse felt as irregular as it ever did when I got an attack. I am told this cannot happen with paced ventricles on my dual pacemaker and following an AV node ablation.

However on another site it was suggested that unless I was set in VVI mode, then a signal could break through from the atria and the PM would follow it? Is this true? I felt the Pac...

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ST JUDE PACER-DEFIB

WHAT TYPE OF WARNING ALARM GOES OFF SIGNALING BATTERY GETTING LOW ? IS IT A VIBRATING SOUND LIKE A CELL PHONE OR A BELL RINGING ?

I STILL HAVE 2 YEARS BUT CURIOUS

THANKS

MIKE

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How long?

Hi, I went to pacer check in Feb. 2015 and was told I had basically 3 and a half year left but about 4 days ago I started noticing side effects similar to when my last pacemaker went into EOP mode..(I've had this one since 09)

So, I tried to do a teletrace but my machine wasn't working for me so I called and they are sending me a new one right away as soon as they can but.. how long can a person go in the EOP mode?

I'm in a wheelchair so I really don't work up any type of...

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Due for my first replacement

Hi All

I went for my regular 3 month check up a couple weeks ago and my pacer life went from 20 months to 5. I go back in a week to check it again. They haven't scheduled a replacement surgery yet, since this is my first one I'm a little nervous, and pretty frustrated with my doc for giving me so little info. I'd rather have the surgery sooner than later. Any advice?

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lead impedance

I received a Biotronik Evia DR-T in Aug. 2013. The impedance on the ventricular lead at implant was 681. I read that the impedance should rise 10-15% over the first few weeks after implant and then remain fairly steady. I had an in person download last month and the PM had recorded a VHR in March. This VHR could be duplicated by my pressing my hands together very hard in front of my chest. They adjusted the sensitivity from auto to 4.5mv. to eliminate the "noise". The impedance on the lea...

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Leads pulled out

I recently discovered in February that i had neurocardiogenic syncope. Doctors believed that I had epilepsy since i was five years old but all this time my heart was stopping for 20 seconds or longer. My heart doctor told me it was very rare in fainting disorders. I am thankful that it was finally figured out but I have questions. I had a dual chamber pacemaker put in in February, everything was great at first, but after a week or so I started to feel very sick and i told them about it and they...

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Help needed understanding lead readings...

Hi

So I have a quick question about atrial lead (select secure)...not because I am concerned but more because I just don't understand it and I want to.

So my readings 3-4 months ago were:

Sensing: 3.10v
Impedance: 1001Ω (B)
Threshold: 0.60v @ 0.40ms (B)

In the last couple of weeks:

Sensing: 3.50v
Impedance: 933Ω (B)
Threshold: 0.50v @ 0.40ms (B)

What do these numbers mean?? Can anyone explain - also wh...

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lead extraction

My daughter is having a lead and battery replacement tues..just wondering if they will take the old leads out or leave them in after they put in the new ones or is that a different surgery? I have read different things and i am confused. Thanks!

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At home check for bad battery?

My pacemaker is about at the replacement stage....I am 38...active....how can I test to know if it is at the point of replacement? Last checkup said I have 1 to 6 months left of battery life. Thanks

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You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

Member Quotes

Today I explained everything to my doctor, he set my lower rate back to 80 and I felt an immediate improvement.