Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

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pacemaker life

im suprised too unless its different here in the UK. My pacemaker is a medtronic. but they did tell me 10 - 15 yrs and ive looked it up too and it says the same. I have cpied a pasted below information i found on site this site :http://www.aku.edu/AKUH/health_awarness/perm_pace.shtml

How Long Should a Pacemaker Last?
Advances in technology have made pacemakers safe, reliable and long-lasting. Modem batteries lose power slowly, not all at once, accordingly, there is no danger of...

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pacemaker change 19th August

Hey. Just wondering if any of you had a PM change yet? Im booked in for mine on the above date n im terrified. If any of you have had this done can you put my mind at rest please? Their not changing my leads just the PM but any form of procedure scares me lol - any help and advice would be great!

Marcia xx

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Slipping pacemaker

Hello again, Luke here.

I had a pacemaker installed about 20 months ago. It has been fine as far as I can tell, since it supposedly only works if I get below 40 bpm. However, a few weeks ago I noticed it had slipped from just below my collarbone about an inch. I can feel and see the leads. I did go to the cardio's offfice where they just did a phone check on it and I haven't had a report yet. The nurse said this was not unusual and not to worry. I tell you what, when a nurse t...

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pocket revision

Having the PM moved into a new pocket. Question: what happens to the old pocket. Does it sag or does one need plastic surgery?
If so, I would rather keep it as is...feel the lead and have the PM move. I could get use to it. I just had a new battery put in 5 months ago. Any one have a pocket revision or have a surgeon make a 2nd pocket?
Thanks

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pacemaker change

Hi

Just wondering if anyone else here is in a similar situation to me.

I was really poorly in 2002, my heart failed and i was on ICU. Dialated Cardiomyopathy was the diagnosis i was given. Leter that year i had two ablation procedures performed but to no success. I actually ended up with burns on my back - has this happened to anyone? I then had my pacemaker fitted. I work in a hospital and see my technician around quite regularly, on thw wednesday i asked when she thought...

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Defective lead needs to be replaced

There is a recall on some difibulator leads that Medtronic used.
They Fracture and can cause shocks or not shock when needed.
My Cardio. Doc has stated I need to have the lead removed and replaced with a new one.
I have asked that the Battery be replaced at this time as they are going to have me opened up anyway.
I have read alot about the procedure and there is posibility of problems but have found very few listed anywhere.
I will be having this done on July 29, 2008. T...

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Consultation with surgeon

I had my consultation after months of not getting answers.
The original surgeon did in fact state that the pacemaker was moving and that there were leads felt through the skin.
He stated he would move the pacemaker/and or replace with a smaller one, rebuild the pocket and place the leads under the pacemaker.
He, of course, gave me the negatives to the procedure.
As I had the replacement done in Feb. 2008, I would be doing this all over again and then some. He did say that t...

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Thanks for responses

Thank you to all for previous responses to my posts of "replacement battery, and Dr. reaction. I was happy to find this site as I was thinking that perhaps these things were in my mind...however, I know how my body feels is something is askew.

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Need to have upper lead replaced

I have a Guident 2 lead PM, implated in October 2007. Everything had been going very well, until a month ago when I started getting a slight fluttery feeling in my chest with an irregular heart rate. I went to the PM clinic to have it interogated. They told me that nothing was in the event recorder, but that I had over 1200 PACs since my last interogation. They called an EP in to look at the readings, he and the Guident tech were talking, saying something about the impedence being high on on...

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LONG LASTING PACEMAKER

I nearly fell out of my chair here in the UK this morning as I spotted an article about the worlds oldest pacemaker which is still keeping Lesley Iles in the land of the living. It has been pacing her heart for 25 years, yes 25 years already and is still doing its job. They dont make them like that any more. Shame.
She is 51 years old and plans to take part in this years Southend Bike ride. She is a history teacher with a history none the less. I do know of a neighbour whose pacemaker laste...

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Dr. reaction

I finally have an appt. next Thursday to see my original surgeon.
I do not care if he thinks these issues are in my"head". I know they are real and my body does not feel right. I maintained this after the surgery in February. Even after 4 visits, I felt dismissed.
Hopefully, this surgeon will listen as I don't feel there should be pain involved after 6 months.In addition, does anyone else feel the lead aside from the pacemaker. It feels like a thick cord getting longer by the month.

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replacement battery

Pacemaker replacement done in February. Since then I have been vocal to the nurse practitioner, cardiologist, surgeon... that something is not right. The pacemaker seems to fall to near my armpit when I sleep on left side. In addition, I feel a thick lead, wire, etc. to the right of the pacemaker and I have constant "sticking pain"I was told by the surgeon that it could be lead, scar tissue,etc. He never gave me an answer nor did he look me in the eyes for a total of 5 min. consultation.
He...

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Mom worried

My little girl is 4 yrs old she has had her pacemaker since she was 18 mo. She is 100% dependent. She has to have a battery change on July 9th and I am very scarried. i know it not just a battery change i know the change the whole machine. But if anyone can tell what to expect so i can help her that would be great. Any advice please.
thank You
worried mom

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scarried

my daughter has had her pace mker sence she was 11yrs old an now she is 15years old an we went to see the dr yesterday an they said she used it way to much.... more then they thought !omg!!.... she used about 75% of the battries they said that wasnt good but she has to see a specil dr. now on monday an i thinik she are ganna have to change it or do something else bevause it didnt last very long i am so scarried for my daughter.... does anyone no why the pacer didnt last so long ,do you think it...

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New Pacer - Adapta DR

My 22 month old son, Max, got his new generator and leads last week plus they repaired a hernia caused by the first implant at 1 day old. His new pacer is an Adapta DR model (epicardial/abdominal) and I am excited to read about it's stated ability to reduce the impact of long term pacing on the ventrical. He also got 35 cm leads to replace his 15 cm leads that had stretched too short from growth. He is 100% dependant. He is doing very well and though clingy and uncomfortable, he is well mana...

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wondering about lead placement

i assumed that the leads would go from PM basically straight into the heart but i had a peek at my x-ray which was recently done because, believe it or not they may have placed the lead in the wrong spot-i swear i'll give them a good......- anyway the leads went from the PM far over into my right chest cavity and looped back to the heart(i have about 2 feet of wire in there) Is this the way its supposed to be?
thanks

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pacer change?? 15 yrs old daughter

on wensday i take my little girl to get her pacemaker checked out see if we ave to have it changed its been 5 yrs battries are kinda getten low im scarried for her an she is only 15 oh pray for us

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Batt/lead concerns

Go to http://www.fda.gov/search.html, this is the FDA Home Site. In the search box type687423. This is an adverse event report written by an honest tech.Some great info here.
Best of luck to everyone
papaknight

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Pulling leads out

There has been a lot of discussion about how easy it is to pull a lead loose by raising an arm too high. Today I had a chest X Ray which happened to show the leads clearly. Guess what? The leads have a complete loop in them before attaching to the heart wall. There is virtually no way I could have raised my arm enough to use up all this slack in the leads. I don't know if this is standard procedure for all cardiologists/surgeons or not.

frank

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Battery life

Hi!
Can you tell when the battery gets close to end of life, or is it something that is found in clinic?
My last check was Jan 08 I was told I had approx 1yr of battery life left, although I have been feeling lightheaded, lathargic and have felt some unusual heart beats for approx 1 week. Saying all that I am also starting to recovering from a cough that I've had since feb. Could the way I have felt for the last week be been down to my pacemaker changing modes or post illness?

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You know you're wired when...

Your device acts like a police scanner.

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I am just grateful to God that I lived long enough to have my ICD put in. So many people are not as lucky as us; even though we sometimes don't feel lucky.