Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

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one surge of high ventricular lead impendance

Hi everyone, I need some helpful advise for "the experts",

I received my first pacemaker at age 44, after 16-1/2 years I have

had 2 more replacements, the last one was this March 2017, anyway

I have the lattitude monitoring device from Boston Scientific and everything

was going well until I got a phone call stating that my ventricular impedance

went from 400 to 2000 ohms. The doctors office had me come in to be

checked. When he checked me, I was f...

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Alarms...

I have a Boston scientific don't know the model at the moment but does any1 know if mine has an alarm?

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Merlin Alarm

I've had my Merlin for about six years and for the first time I was woken up out of a dead sleep with Merlin freaking out, the alarm was blaring on it and all the lights were flashing... It was strange. Typically when it transmits it does so quietly, I've never had it drop an alarm like that. Has this happened to anyone else? I tried to wait it out as long as I could and see if it was just transmitting but after 15 min it was still blaring and hadn't done anything differently, so...

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ICD battery replacement

I had my ICD impanted in 2008. My battery is dying and they have scheduled my surgery to have it replaced in November. I am nervous about the surgery and looking for feedback from anyone that has had their ICD battery replaced. My implant surgery was very painful and took several weeks to feel "normal" again. Though it was a long time ago, I remember being very sore for quite awhile. I kept my arm in a sling for a week or 2 and longer at night- to help support it. Will my shoulder b...

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LEAD NOISE

Just discovered your club online and found some of the posts / answers very interesting so I joined!

I have had a pacemaker with atrium lead for 32 years and working on my 3rd pacemaker with original lead.  (symtoms that lead to this was passing out and 2 occassions of Cardiac Arrest, diagnosis = SSS)

Began having incidences of lead interferrence since March 2016 as well as PVCs and have been told nothing to worry about.  Discussions with  cardiologist (with this gr...

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lead extraction surgery - others' experiences?

I had a Medtronic Adapta implanted in 2009. 

The leads are likely crossing as they are creating artifact and causing me to be paced too often.  EP was able to reproduce by pressing on top of pacemaker where the leads attach.

I am getting a chest xray to evaluate before I see the surgeon,  but I like to educate myself based on others' experience.

Because I am still in my 40s, and will need several sets of leads throughout my life most likely, they want me t...

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ICD replacement

I have a Biotronik ICD, whose battery is nearing end-of-life.  I have never been shocked in 7 years but am paced over 80% of the time. Can I replace the ICD with a pacemaker ( i.e., without the Defibrillator function).  If so, do leads normally have to be removed ( I have 2 ).  Thanks. 

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Leads not lasting

Hello there my daughter recently had a new pacemaker fitted due to lead failure at Birmingham children's hospital we have seen other parents there with children with same issue is this a regular occurrence with pacemakers or are we just unlucky. I understand children grow but surly with how advanced we are with technology this shouldn't be an issue ??

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Battery life--so far!!!--update information

When my pacer was put in the battery life was 12.5 yr at one month check

six months later it dropped to 8 years

six months later it stayed at 8 years

six months later it dropped to 7 years

six months later it dropped to 6.5 years

So in 2 1/2 years it lost 4 years of battery life but leveling off nicely.

I was quite anxious after the first check, but it appears this is a normal discharge rate as it takes awhile for the battery to adjust to the "jui...

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Lead extraction

My daughter pearle is 5 She had operation they extracted the lead from vein & vein collapsed not able to use left vein again she's had it fitted in her abdomen not through the vein and this time fitted a duel pacemaker and decided not to use right Vein on her right side until she is bigger. I feel very worried now she has lost this left vein to insert a lead cardiologist said this is not something to worry about but surly this gives her less options in the future ??

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Wrong lead put in my Mother's pacemaker

My Mom had a pacemaker put in the Fall of 2016. She has had 4 MRI's since then. She needed another a few months ago and it was denied. She has been in severe back pain and needed the MRI. After months of the different offices saying it is fine they did MRI's in the past she finally got to the bottom of it. The doctor that put in the pacemaker, his office said there was a hiccup and the wrong lead was put in. Someone caught it and that is why it was denied. She has suffered crying ever...

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duel-lead pacemaker

I am a 66 year-old female in pretty good health.  My original diagnosis in 2003, was sick sinus syndrome, with implantation of a atrial lead and device.  I had my second (ventricle) lead and Medtronic device implanted in 2015.  Since that time, I have been experiencing awakening at night with racing heart, sweating and a feeling like I want to vomit.  My cardiac doctor has yet to figure to figure out what is going on.  If there is anyone out there with similar symptom...

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Pacemaker lead

Hello Everyone I'm after to some advice as my daughter has a pacemaker since birth (complete congenital heart block ) she is 5 years old in November we had an emergency appointment today.Her pacemaker is under her arm pit she has one lead going through vein to the heart . The doctor has told us the lead is showing a high threshold so need to operate on this Monday and it's a more tricky op than usual due to taking old lead out & could cause a bleed on heart 5 p...

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Alert

Hey everyone, first time on here. Question about the carelink monitor does it have a sound or an alarm like our ICD devices?

Yesterday morning heard an alarm that sounded similar to a low battery alarm (device alarm) but I had my device replaced last year. Couldn't tell if it came from me or the carelink monitor. Happened between 6-7 am and then again at 10pm.

Spoke to the hospital in the morning and they checked my sent transmission and said all is fine but then I heard this...

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Lead From Pacemaker can be seen - thinking of revision to fix it.

Hi:   Looking for some help.   One of my leads on my pacemaker (implant date 02/2015) has moved on top of the device and sticks out, (very visible), just below my collarbone.  Get sore and aches.  Saw my cardio elec. md yesterday and he says he can do a revision to bury the lead deeper in my muscle.  Has anyone else had this issue?   If so, did you have it corrected?   Did the revision work and last?   Any insight from a fellow pacemaker would be a...

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defibulator

Cant the hospital JUST  replace the battery  instead of the the whole devise ? And when they do this they arent inserting new leads into the chamber , rather "  splcing the existing leads to the new devise ???? 

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Lead extraction

Hi Guys, I posted prior to my lead extraction, now I'm a week and half post extraction:

The lead extraction and replacement was successful, much more involved than I remember initially having pm inplamted 8 ago. Actually one was to be replaced but as I was on the table the other lead also showed "noise ", so both were replaced. I wanted the pm replaced in order not to go through it in 3 yrs, battery life left. The dr did put in MRI compatible leads, st Jude. Side note, wis...

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Fixed length of pacemaker leads

I am not a happy pacemaker wearer and I think this is because I was told that I needed one withoutever experiencing any symptoms and there is no evidence from my 6 monthly checks that it has ever "kicked in" in "anger".

I am an active 50 something, I still play football (soccer) and I mountain bike. My initial fitting was sub-dermal and was a real pain, so I had it re-fitted beneath my pectoral muscle.  This has been excellent in many ways, I can't find...

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Battery change

Hi.  I have some questions. If a battery is getting low. How low does it need to get before surgery is needed?  Also is it true that insurance companies will not pay unless the battery life is within 3 months? Any information is much appreciated 

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Pacemaker

I was told that my pacemaker works 98% of the time. I exercise on a Octane machine 33 minutes. I am very active Dailey. It's been 18 months since I received my PM. Just joined this group as I got to thinking about my health. At 75 Yrs with battery life of about 11 yrs supposedely what are the chances of me getting another battery at that time. Is there really a possible answer at this time. 

Doc has no issue with me driving a 45' MH.  He said I am 100% better than...

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You know you're wired when...

You can feel your fingers and toes again.

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.