Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

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symptoms of PM Battery failure

I had my pacemaker installed in March 2003. I am 100% paced with a single lead medtronics PM. I was expecting my battery to fail last fall but my telephonic checkups did not indicate battery failure. I just had my most recent telephonic checkup on Jun 25, 2012 and everything was fine as I didn't hear from the pacemaker clinic. On June 28th I started having trouble with minor physical activities like walking, climbing a flight of stairs, etc. I can't get my breath and I nearly blackout. Aft...

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WHOA !

Well now, I have had my second pacer since January, 2010.  I was in an accident March, 2012.  The seatbelt smashed one of my leads.  I just found out after my arm started jerking like crazy and I couldn’t catch my breath for the last several weeks. It is going to be complicated and I will be hospitalized for two days.

I want to make everyone aware that this can certainly happen and the hospital I was taken to DID NOT have a pacemaker...

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Can you mix and match

I am about to have a pacer change and was pondering in that will any make of pacer fit my existing leads or will they keep to the same pacer as the leads.
Peter

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Holland news: defective pacemakers worldwide

In Denmark there has just been a news update that cardiologists in Holland have discovered a large amount of defective pacemakers around the world. Does anyone know about this? Which brand name and type?

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Extra Heart Beat

Hi. New memer here. I'm from the US, but live in Yucatan, Mexico and had a PM placed about three weeks ago. All was good until a couple of days ago when I awoke with an extra heartbeat in my right side. The spasms were very strong. Went to cardio who found that the bottom lead had "migrated" to the upper chamber. So, had surgery yesterday to put it back. Extra pulse is gone and I feel fine.

So, I'm curious. How common is this particular problem and is it probable that I someh...

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visit from the shock fairy

In May, I had a visit from the shock fairy and she gave me nine hits. Now in June, I had a follow up with the ICD clinic and they told me that one of my leads was fryed and would need to be replaced. After five days in the ICU, I received my new lead. Has this happened to any one else?

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Battery replacement

Hi friends, i had my pacemaker implanted in 2004, is medtronic in DDDR mode. I had been well with it , my cardiologist told me i would soon need a battery replacement. Any suggestion which i should go for...I am soon 54 years old.

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PM check

Well the long awaited day has arrived and I know less now than I id then. A ventrical lead fracture was noted in my Dec. 2011 interrogation.
Noted fracture was in bipolar configuration. Todays reading on ventrical lead were: 13.32 uj,measured current of 3.20 mA, measured impedance of 1,297 (1341 ohms in Dec. "11)
NOT PM dependant!
Atrium at 67% and ventrical at 1%.
Doctors NOT excited about fracture and says I have an estimated 22 months on generator.
Should I be con...

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New PM losing battery life..

Hi,
I'm 100% paced and had my PM put in on 2-10-2012, that's just over 4 months ago. At my first check up/adjustment I had 8 years on my St. Jude 2210 Accent DRRF that paces my two ventricles, not my atrium, because at the time of implantation I was told I'm in permanent A-fib. Now I'm not in A-fib.

Last Monday at a check up I was told I have 5 years left on my battery life. Originally, I was told that my PM was adjusted to have the longest battery life possible. And at cardio...

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Mammogram and chain saws

Hi PM members,
I am going for my first mammogram after getting my PM and I heard that it can pull out your leads if not done right and then you face surgery again.
Has anyone gone through this?

Also I just got a chain saw and it works great. It has a battery pack so I don't have to pull to get it started. But my friend told me not to use it because a friend of hers died using a chain saw and had a PM. Any information?

Linda

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Lead Question

I may be nuts but I recently started to feel my pulse where the lead enters the vein near my clavicle. I can feel it when I lay still or put my finger on what feels almost like a plastic clamp right where the lead enters the vein. Is this normal? I've just never noticed it before. I find if I change arm positions it goes away. The area is a little irritated from being in a hard shell brace after back surgery. They fitted the brace with room for the PM but it shifts when I walk and rubs on...

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Just had pacemaker replaced.

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted let everyone know who helped me with my earlier post about having it replaced that I finally have the new one, and I finally feel great again!!

The only issue was that during the surgery I felt EVERYTHING!! It hurt so much, the twilight sleep didn't do anything but make me more awake, and she didn't use enough lidacaine on me. I started hyperventalating and crying on the table, because I could feel each cut she was making, I told her it hurt so she ga...

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lead replacements

Hate to bothr any of you guys but I just have to ask this.
I've had a lead issue since 12/11. Dr. has suppose to have been monitoring but have not! Anyway, I have an appoiintment next week for 6 month interigation. I want to know what to ask this dr. Have had PM nearly 20 years now with NO problems at all other than normal generator replacement. Should probably wait to see dr. before I go any further but:
As long as leads have been in will both be replaced
How long does the p...

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DDDR information

Good day to all!
Would like to know if someone out there has a medtronic DDDR that can tell me if it has a low battery alarm and what it sounds like? Just trying to build my knowlege of the capabilities of this thing!
Thanks,
Cecil ( Manaman)

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Will I know if I pulled a lead?

I’m just wondering will I feel it if I pulled a lead? I have only had my pacer in for about four days (maybe less) and I was asleep on my sofa when my cell phone ran and startled me awake. In my groggy state I didn’t feel the pain from the fresh site of the implant and reached well above my head to grab my phone.  I felt the pain in my shoulder and quickly pulled my arm back to the side and have left it there.

I didn’t feel any pain with my heart and it ha...

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Electrical Experts - Leads tested fine

Okay, I have a puzzling question to those engineers out there.

Had a pacer installed 5/8 - not working. (This is my 3rd) Went in this week and had a revision done. Bottom line is pacer moved to the right side and new leads from there into the heart.

When they opened the left side, the pacer and leads checked out okay by themselves when they used the testing devices; however, the heart was not responding to any pacing. This lack of response seemed to be a degradation over...

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lead compromised

curious to know what sort of replies to this:
Can compromised ventrical lead cause shortness of breath? Plumber (cardio doctor) says not and electrician (PM doctor) doesn't say anything!!!
What's your input. Cath. says NO blockages and existing stents are clear.
Have 6/21 appt but just curious as to what you guys have to say.

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New Leads, it is

First, thank you to Don R & Frank as they lead me through the pacer maze to come to the right conclusion - have my R turned off and my upper and lower limits reset.

I went into the cardios office today and got the records from my old pacer. I then went to see a tech and asked for my numbers to be set the same, including turning the R off, which is how my older pacer was.

Then I also explained since I had once again passed out, I felt my remaining lead might be compromi...

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battery

Thank you for the input. I dont seem to be on top of my pacemaker dilemma, Im clling the cardiologist tomorrow to get details on my end of life in the battery. Im worried about getting it replaced but Im crazy tired the last month and think its time. 2 months after initial implantation in 2003 I ripped my leads out during a skatebord collision with my son while i waswalkind down the street. It has not paced properly since the replantation tachycardias and trips to the er for heart attack symptom...

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out of time

Hi: I have a kappa 700 dr medtronic pacemaker for sick sinus. My doctor said theres only 2 months left with battery.I cant get the replacement for about 6 months. Has anyone waited to have it replaced. I have other health issues. thank you

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You know you're wired when...

Like the Energizer Bunny, you keep going.

Member Quotes

My eight year old son had a pacemaker since he was 6 months old. He does very well, plays soccer, baseball, and rides his bike. I am so glad he is not ashamed of his pacemaker. He will proudly show his "battery" to anyone.