Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

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Lead Extraction

I saw a lot of posts about extraction, but they were older, and I wanted to check more recent info. I am due for my 2nd pacemaker soon and want to get the MRI friendly one, which means I would also have to do the lead extraction. I am kept awake often by pain that can't be diagnosed and treated properly without an MRI, and have been since I became battery operated. I don't do well with most medications, so even if I go through with this, that doesn't mean I can expect the pain to get better....

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Fast Heart Rate

I have had a pacemaker since I was 6 and I am now 24. I got a new pacemaker in 12/08. Before this pacemaker I never had any problems, but ever since I got this new pacemaker I have had fast heart rates and my heart beat will speed up even when I'm sitting. Today when I woke up it was 95 bpm and around 10am it was 56 bpm. Does anyone know what this may be caused by?

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Leads removed anyone??

Hi,

Has anyone out there ever had their leads removed, for any reason? If yes, how did they (hospital) go about removing the leads? Are you ok afterwards etc?

Thanks,

Gary UK.

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My Story

I returned on June 12, 2011 from the hospital with a new single chamber pacemaker. I have not met with the Dr. or nurse to get the final story, but it goes like this. Since 2001 I have complained of a rat-tat-tat and feelings of sickness off and on. I had no idea how to pacer functions so was at somewhat of a lose. My Dr. said he would call the new noise a rat-tat-tat and so that is what he did. He also suggested I find another Dr. to care for me if I din't trust him. So I did find another...

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New lead and battery replacement

Hi all, just joined this group. Maybe someone can tell me about a temporary pacemaker inserted into a vein in the groin. I'v got to have this done as I'm 100% pacemaker dependent. My Dr. said he had to perform this procedure to implant a second lead and a new pacemaker battery. I'm scared of this procedure...is it very painful? If someone who has had this procedure done could give me some feedback on what to expect, I would appreciate it. I'm going in for this on June 15th.
Thanks, MLVala...

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New Lead

Here goes another update to this increasingly long saga. Had a new ventricular lead placed 2 days ago. (My pacemaker has only been in for 8 months). I still have no definitive answer to why the first lead failed. I may never know as they were not able to remove the failed lead and the new EP doc probably won’t say anything negative about the first guy. I really like the new doc. he has something a lot of surgeons don’t have - empathy for the patient and family.

The ne...

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Fractured Lead LV on Bi-v

Ist message: I found you today, I had my first bi-v implanted in 12/04. The second on 8/31/09. Last one a Boston Scientific (BS). Since 2004 I have had one incident recorded. The communicator next to my bed indicated a problem with one of the leads (LV). An X-ray showed that two the three leads were bent up near the clavicle. The electrophysiologist said that the LV had 3 times the impedance of the other two leads, indicating a probable fracture. He did give me a quantitative number at...

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Leads

Has anyone ever had their leads replaced?  I’m about to have a battery change and one lead replaced. Like to know how they replace a lead.

Thanks, Lee

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removal of fractured lead

My cardio has suggested that when I have my leads replaced that I have my old leads removed. Can anyone give me more info on the procedures they do these days to remove old leads.

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Going in for my 2nd PM

Dear all,

Can someone tell me if they experienced some discomfort when their PM was running low on battery. I went to the DR and scheduled a new PM appt, but until then my heart is really pacing quickly and sometimes I have to catch my breath, which means I seem to be coughing a lot. The PM Tech said the PM goes into a different mode when it needs to be replaced and they can’t change that mode. I’m just curious if anyone has been through this?

I think I would be a...

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Bad News re Lead Fracture

This is a follow up to several recent postings re my leads. I've had my PM since Sept 2010. All was going well. Skied and snow-shoed lots this winter and felt great. Had a routine phone check March 10 which showed no problem. Somewhere in late April I started noticing irregular rhythm when exercising and even a few times at home. Wore a Holter for 24 hours which didn't show much. Went to the hospital last Wednesday where they found a change in impedance which they said was probably a break in th...

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slipped lead

dr. says one of my leads has slipped back. I am scheduled for June 14, 2011 to have it replaced. However, my dr. says i am extremely high risk. so....i don't know what to do. He says I might not be better the full benefit of the lead - far as I know it is still working.
what to do? take a chance with my life? any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Fractured Lead

I just received a phone call today from my Pacemaker Clinic that I need to see my cardiologist for a fractured lead. I sent in my telephone check up yesterday. There seems to be no urgency because I won't be seeing the doctor for another month. Can anyone tell me if they have had a similar experience? Is it something that is repaired or replaced at leisure? I was told recently that I was pacemaker dependent. I don't feel any different or notice anything . . .Is this the norm? Anyone who h...

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"Thin Wire" Leads?

Does anyone know anything about "thin wire" leads? I am trying to find out if they last as long as regular leads. Tried researching online without success.

A physiologist at the Cleveland Clinic told me he inserted thin wires because I was not a candidate for lead extraction. These two new leads brought my total up to seven including my original single myocardial lead.

I have a congenital third-degree (complete) fiber bundle block and am considered pacemaker dependent....

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Respond to leads and physics

Not sure if this can help, but I had my pacemaker implant on september of 2010, after that I noticed that I got dizzy after driving, most of the time I have the spell when I get out of the car and last for last them a minute. I went to the doctor and she said I have sinus, I am with a sinus specialyst and medicine is not realy help me, he said I have meniers desease, which is somenthing on the iiner ear. I am not convinced, about it, but I am not stoping until I found a logical sause for it. Is...

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Leads and Physics

Hi guys!

So, my leads are now 20 years old. I'm on my second PM, and a mere 30 years old. :)

I don't know a lot about electricity or physics, but what I'm wondering is are the leads more susceptible to electromagnetic interference as they get older? I know house wiring wears out, its the same thing?

Basically, I've been noticing lately that I feel crappy when I'm driving, I'm wondering if my cars electronics are starting to affect me. Is there anyway to measur...

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Lead unattached

Hello, My 2 yr old daughter has a PM and has had it for almost 2yrs now come August 2011. She just had her pacer check done the other day which were told that one of the leads had come loose due to some pressure. (most likely from when had cold and coughing a lot). Does anyone know if surgery is really necessary when they say that she has been doing fine on just the 1 lead alone for the last 2 months.

Thank you

Worried Mom

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Beep

I have had a PM for 2 years and have twice now at the same time of heard a faint single beep. I have had an interrogation a few months ago and my battery was fine. The funny thing is the same coworker was with me both times and it was for sure my PM. Is this a normal indication of a low battery?

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Battery replacement

My husband had a pacemaker installed in 2003 at the age of 28. He just had a check up today and his pacemaker has been on since March 19th. The tech said that happens sometimes when the battery gets real low. We are scheduled for an appointment with the surgeon to have it replaced. This is the first time we have had to replace it. Does anyone know how much that typically costs? His insurance has a $5000.00 deductible so I know most or all will be out of pocket.

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Update- Lead, Monitor, Exercise

Posting this as a new thread since there are several subjects.

Lead- Well, went to the EP again today. After evaluating the xrays they felt there was no lead fracture but probably a break in the insulation on the ventricular lead. They decided to try changing the V lead sensing from bipolar to unipolar as the current might then bypass the bad area. This seemed to work so they sent me home and will do a telephone check weekly for a few weeks. I don't want to raise my hopes as I'm sti...

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I feel so blessed to have this little gem implanted in me. When I think of the alternative it is quite overwhelming sometimes.