Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

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battery life of a Medtronic PM

I've just read several currently posted comments about battery life with the Medtronic PM. After a telephone checkup recently I was told that my battery life was down unexpectedly (PM only 3 yrs/ 3 months old) and that I should schedule a visit. I was asked the usual questions about whether I'd had an MRI, been near heavy equip, etc. Nothing I recall.
My questions is, does anyone have any information on unexpected drop in battery life and thoughts as to what that might be related to? Th...

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What to do when battery dies...

So I had my Medtronic pacer installed in May 2003 and was told it would last up to 2011. I am a slacker and don't call in my pacer as much as I should, my last call was in October 09 and they told me I had 1 yr left. I had this huge arrhythmia on monday for 1hr 15 minutes and couldn't get my pacer to pull me out.. (finally did tho). I was clocking between 145-200. Long story short.. I called in my pacer and found out that the red flag had been raised and my battery number was at 80.. which m...

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St Jude ICD

AFTER 10 MONTHS MY BATTERY STAYED AT 2.55. TODAY IT READ 2.52. IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET TO 2.45 . I THINK THATS THE TIME THAT MEDICARE WILL PAY FOR REPLACEMENT.I'LL STILL HAVE 3 MONTHS AFTER IT REACHES 2.45. I'M USING ST FRANCIS THE HEART HOSPITAL IN ROSYLN NY.SAY A PRAYER PLEASE :)
MIKE

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lead moving?

HI - need help here please,
I had my pacemaker put in in July 2009 and within a couble hours came down with pericarditis, I have had it a few more times thoughout the year the first 2 were so very painful, needed morphine painful, the 2 times - I knew to go to the doctors right away and start anti-inflammmatory drugs. Also I get a tapping in the middle of my chest, not much but 1 or two a day for about 3 minutes, anyone feel THAT?
I haven't had paricarditis in months now and I am runn...

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moved leads and stabbing pains

Hi,

Thanks to everyone who has replied to my posts in the past. I have an ongoing issue with a lead which has moved- it appears to have moved to a new stable postion and I'm having it checked every 4 weeks or so, however I have been having some issues with breathlessnes, fluid retention and such like.
I have developed a new issue which is a stabbing pain right in my heart. I can put my finger exactly on the spot.
I don't intend to get anxious about this however does anyone...

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epicardial leads

Does anyone have epicardial leads? If so -- are you pacemaker dependent? And how long have you had them and are they expected to last long. Was the surgery extremely painful? I am considering declining on a risky wire extraction surgery and asking for epicardial leads instead. Thanks in advance for any information.

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Battery life and telephone checks

Hi--I have a Medtronic Versa which was replaced in May 2009. I sent a recent telephone transmission via the Medtronic Carelink system. My cardiology nurse called back and said everything looked OK and that I have 3 1/2 years left on the battery. I was told when the pacemaker was implanted that it had a 7-8 year battery life. My first pacemaker was a Guidant that lasted 7 years. I was shocked by the short battery life they said I had left, my question is how accurate is it when you send yo...

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Ventricular Lead is fractured...

I have had a dual chamber pacemaker for 14 years now.I have had it replaced 3 times and now my ventricular lead is fractured..I am scared because this is my first lead replacement.Is there anyone out there who has had this done or can anyone give me advice on this procedure?Thank You so very Much in advance and I am so glad that I found this site.This is my first message:)

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welding

i work in a papermill, i recently obtained a millwright position, but now because of my pacemaker defib. management wants to pull me off of the millwright job which means i have to go back to swing shift work, which at 49 yrs of age and a worn out heart sucks. the millwright position a 7-3:30 m-f job. because of the welding aspect of the job, they said it would be unsafe and they don't want the liability if something goes wrong. i have all the info from medtronics to reduce the risks of interact...

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pounding feelings

Had my new battery implanted 3/24 and woke up with my chest moving up and down like a beating elephant's heart. The dr. told me it was not my heart chambers. My pacer was changed with a new battery and another line. He said the line he just put in followed a large vein but it was rather long. The feeling I'm having they refer to is like hiccups. Not so. For me it was like my heart pounding out of my body. I'm satisfied it is not my heart. I was told they may have to tweak my pacer to rid...

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Needing a Battery Soon

Hello Everyone,
Its been awhile since I have posted. I will be needing a battery for my pacemaker soon. Is it a big deal ? Or will it be a simple procedure like my doctor says ?
Thank you

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Leadless Pacemaker Survey

Hello everyone! I have been lurking around this board for a while now, at least since my implantation of a Guidant dual chamber pacemaker in late April 2008. I have had minimal problems, but the usual 'annoyances' of how the device is situated and how the leads were placed. These usually just include discomfort and swelling. My question for you all is if you would be willing to participate in a survey about your current device and your opinion on the new leadless devices that they are curren...

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disconnected lead from pacemaker?

Hell-so glad I found this website! Right now I`m scared of what is going on! I had a Medtronic pacemaker implanted in November 2007 and have had no problems. Then over the weekend I became extremely muscle sore and fatigued-thought it was my arthritis acting up! Then it felt like my pacemaker shifted between my torso and shoulder making that area sore. Well, it`s gotten worse so I called my cardiologist. The surgeon who put it in thinks I have a disconnected lead! I have to go for a checkup tomo...

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misspelled greeting

Sorry! I meant to say Hello! Oh my goodness-so sorry!

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Lead Damage

Hi everyone,

I am 33 years old and have had my biotronik Cylos (duel chamber) pacemaker for a little over 2 yrs. I got my PM interogated on thurs, and the Cardiologist said that my atrial lead needs to be replaced bc it is being pinched and slowly fracturing.

I will have to go in for surgery to have it replaced and I am nervous as to what will happen. He is hoping to leave the old one in place, but may have to extract if need be. At the same time he will also change th...

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question about leads

hi all! so i'm scheduled for my 1st replacement surgery for my icd on april 12th. it's a boston scientific and since all that stuff is going on with them and the fda regarding some incomplete documentation, i may wind up getting a medtronic device instead if it's not all settled by my surgery date. my question is if i do get a medtronic would the leads have to be replaced as well or could they just use the 3 i have now?


thanks!!!! =0)

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pacemaker

Hi my name is moira I had my pacemaker fitted in Dec 08 I went for my second check up on Monday and they said they think one of my leads have moved but not too worry and to come back in 6 months to check it the had to do a bit of adjustment on the pacing of it. I am a keen runner but since having it fitted I have pain in the area after exercise has anyone else had any of these problems as you can imagine it is stressing me out . Regards Moira

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St. Jude

Hi everyone, this is nothing serious, but the first time for me, my pacemaker which is my thrid pacmaker, the other two was not in long enough for the battery to run down, but now this St. Jude has been in for 4 years and they tell me I have about 6 mos. worth of time on the battery, I now have to call in to have it checked on monthly basis, now the question is do they just replace the battery or do they put in a new pacemaker?

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wire extractions

Does anyone have any experience with pacemaker wire extractions. I am pacemaker dependent and currently have 5 leads inplanted with a fractrued atrial lead which needs to be replaced. Due to crowding in the superior vena cava, before the doctors can replace the broken atrial lead I need to have some of the older leads removed. I think this may be a relatively newer procedure and I fear complications. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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loose lead?

I am concerned, I felt my heart drop some beats. I have had a variety of "funny" feelings since joining the world of pacers on the 23rd. (for bradycardia & a 2nd degree block) I have racing episodes that are fluttery, racing episodes that are thuddy, both of which only last 15 seconds to 2 minutes. But last night & this morning I started feeling my heart block again. The heavy in the chest & throat feeling along w/missed beats!

I go in for my 1st appointment tomorrow. Could the droppe...

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