Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

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Lone Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation and leads

Long story but will make it short.
I had a PM put in on October, 2011. I recieved a 3 lead PM.
I then got a very bad staph infection at sight and had to have the pacemaker removed. I spent 3 weeks in the hospital and left with a wound vac on original PM
The new PM on other side was a 1 lead and I was ok for a 6 weeks until I went to doctor and they did some adjustments.I was then completely breathless and to the ER and hospital stays two times. On the second time, he said he di...

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How often do leads break?

Hi! I am new to this site. My daughter received her first pacemaker when she was 4 months Old. She is now 2 and we were told today that she has no resting heart rate when they challenge her heart. My question is since she relys on her pacemaker 100% of the time what are the chances she will break a lead? Her doctor was very matter of fact today and told us it will kill her if a lead breaks. I feel like we already shelter her as it is but now I am even more stressed over her daily activity....

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Lead problem?

Hi - I'm wondering how to tell if there is a problem with our leads. I have only had my PM for 3 months and my anxiety has not subsided at all. The more information I collect the better I feel but apparently I don't have nearly enough info to calm myself! I appreciate any and all support-- you are all so very kind and helpful.
Thanks in advance :-)

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RV lead bad

Had my lead replaced last Friday by Dr. Ishu Rao in Ventura, CA at CMH. Went perfectly. Now getting over stiff shoulder etc.. Dr. Rao has his own Website dedicated to our issues. http://answersinaheartbeat.com/

Dr. Rao is a member of Cardiology Associates http://www.cardiacadvantage.com/

Take a look at both sites. Informative.

BTW, I have Dilative cardiomyopathy (non-ischemic), left bundle branch block which lead to congestive heart failure. Pacemaker is an...

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Due for a lead extraction

Hello all, new member to the club here....

During a routine Cardiology visit, it was discovered that my defibrillator wasn't picking up certain readings. So, I requested a chest x-ray and my EP agreed. It was found that not only does one wire have a kink in it, the other wire was also twisted with the kinked wire. I looked online and it showed that the scenario could be called "twiddler's syndrome."

I'm a 29 year old mother of 1 that is fairly physically active. I enjoy hik...

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wires

Does anyone ever feel like the wires in your her are moving ? iIs this a normal feeling that I just have to get used to ? Never felt it before and m feeling it now, I am 100 percent dependant on my pm due to complete heart block so it does make me a bit nervous .
Crystal.

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RV lead bad

Man, one year since I got my pacemaker and now the RV lead has gone bad. I have to get it replaced next Thursday. Damn, everything's been going so well for several months and I've got to the point where I don't even think about my pm, now this.

Sigh. Just venting.

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Momogram

Dear members I am 45 years old I received the pm 10 days ago, any idea if doing the momogram ( for the breast ) will affect the pm programming . Thank you

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Battery running down quickly

I had dual chamber pacemaker December 08. I've had a problem with one of my leads for a long time.
To cut a very long story short, when I had my pacemaker checked at the beginning of June it was decided the lead had come to the end of its useful life. I was referred back to my specialist centre for a new lead. At that time the technician said I had over 4 years on my battery.
I had my pacemaker checked again on Monday and my battery life is now around a year. I'm still waiting to have...

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Painfull Leads

I got my pacemaker in September of 2010. I am having intermittent pains just a little bit above the location of the pacemaker. I think that's where the leads enter the veins. Does anyone else experience this? Is it normal? Should I presss my cardiologist about it?

Thanks...

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Battery life

My diagnosis was bradycardia--heart rate in the low 30s causing me to pass out.

When my doc put in the pacemaker he set it to never go below 55 which sounded fine to me initally. And now the PM is controlling my heart rate 70% of the time.

I believe that I would do just fine if my heart rate was only supported if it goes below 45. And I imagine the percent of the time controlled by the PM would go down.

Does anyone know the correlation between PM useage and bat...

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Lead punched a hole in heart

I have been complaining about inordinate chest pain since the second day after implantation. They did some EKG"s (which all looked beautiful), took some xrays, ran a stress test (treadmill and myocardial perfussion), and told me everything was fine.
It wasn't until I threatend to remove the PM with a box knife and vice grips that they got serious. They called in the medtronics tech and made some adjustments, to stop my diapragm from beating with my heart, but the cardiologist decid...

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LEADS AND SETTINGS

I have a Medtronic PM with one (1) lead. What determines one lead or two?? I have my PM checked as schedules and have my stress test, as required.

The settings on my PM have never been adjusted, 7 years old. I have questioned this several times, but my question is just fluffed off.

I am 75 years old, have always been very active, but now I am so tired ALL OF THE TIME that I can't stay awake, or even function. Would adjusting the settings help, or having another lead...

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Lead Wire Extracted

I recently had a specialist at the Houston Methodist Hospital extract wires from my heart and replace my dual chamber pacemaker. It has been 6 weeks now. I am still wearing a sling at night and not raising my elbow higher than my heart.
No one seems to tell me exactly when I can start raising my arm about my head and get back to normal.
Curious if lead wire extraction has a longer hearling time.
Welcome all comments.

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New ICD old leads

It appears one of the leads, implanted 71/2 years ago, is broken or not working. I've been told that it's a big deal trying to remove leads implanted so long ago. I would REALLY like to avoid my third open-heart surgery. Has anyone here had experienced removal of older leads? Is it possible to bypass the old lead and thread the new one through another vein? Any comments are welcomed. I see my doc tomorrow morning.

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My story

Hey pacer buddies,

Just wanted to share my story and opinions with everyone.

First my background.

I am a 25 year old male with complete congenital heart block. I had my first sub pectoral pacemaker implanted at 12 years old, a battery replacement at 21 and now currently sitting in a hospital bed for a battery and lead replacement due to a pinched ventricular lead waiting for my third surgery. Luckily my own heart rate is 40 and I managed to walk around for 3 w...

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batteries left in place

Just found your club and have been avidly reading the postings. I am a congentital heart defect (TGA) survivor having had the atrial switch surgery at 14 months old. I got my first PM at 18 yrs and have had 2 more since, original leads still in, just battery replacements. Curious if anyone else have had their old batteries left in as I have three now in various parts of my body. Due to the complex anatomy of my heart the batteries cannot be situated in the clavical area. I worry they will...

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Can too many leads cause symptoms?

I have not felt well since I had surgery for a lead fracture 2 months ago. The doctor did not remove the fractured lead and just added a new one. I now have 3 leads for my dual chamber pacer. 2 active leads and one not. I have yet to bounce back from this surgery and feel completely exhausted. I get a lot of fullness in my chest and a lot of palpitations. My heart seems to be going a lot faster than usual and even races up to 170 bpm's when I am asleep. I read the surgical report and there were...

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Mae

To answer questions pertaining to pain? I know that the new pacemaker is larger than the one I had, so I am guessing that is why it hurts much more than the first one.

I go to get my bandages taken off today and I have a few questions to ask. So if I come up with some new answers, I will let you all know.

My pain after surgery was a strong 8, now it is a mid 5. At one point I could hardly move my left arm. I have been trying to stretch it more and more. I try to think...

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Lead extraction wires outside heart

I have a Medtronic dual chamber PM, implanted on the 30th of July. This is my 4th PM, first one was implanted in 1996 by an EP where I was awake. That's a whole different story. The last three I have had a Thorasic Surgeon do my pacemaker implants. They take me to the OR, put me under, and go to work. My pacemaker is in my abdomin, so I have an incision about 5 inches long between my breast and for the third time in this area. My pacer is placed just below my left rib cage and the two wires are...

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You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

Member Quotes

I am just thankful that I am alive and that even though I have this pacemaker it is not the end of the world.