ENERGIZER BUNNY ~ ~ ~

Comment posted by Carolyn65 on 2012-10-11 02:05.

I have had my PM since 11/2009 ~ still going strong, but I am starting to have personal questions to myself. The heart doctor said at my last December check up, I would need a replacement in 2017 ~ my 1st replacement ever.

What I am wondering, is how does a person feel when their PM is running out of energy? Can I/Will I be able to feel this? Since I am 100% dependent, is there a possibliity it would just quit on me? I travel/live btw our two ranches in TEXAS. At both, I am about 45 minutes from any hospital/doctor ~ maybe an hour.

Also, will I be as sore around 'that' area (PM pocket) as I was the 1st few weeks when I had my first was placed?

Any other advice, thoughts, ideas, personal Xperiences anyone can share with me on this? I went thru my 1st only PM placement just fine ~ overnight in the hospital for observation.

THANX from TEXAS,
Carolyn G. ~ Bootiful, Bootiful TEXAS in the Fall ~

7 Comments

Don't worry!

by justin - 2012-10-11 01:10:53

I have no idea what Don is on about? bunnies and cattle!

All you need to do is go to the cheak ups, I'm on my 5th pacemaker now and they always change it with 3-6 months of power to spear. Also there is a back up system if the pacemaker fails in any way that will run you heart at 50 beats per minute. If something ever feels wrong take a heart reading and if it consistantly comes out at 50 bpm then you may be on back up. However, this almost never happens and as long as you attend appointment you are worry free.

Justin

Just go about your life ...

by lahbigbro6 - 2012-10-11 08:10:45

I had my replacement last year. I was bored the next day waiting to get out of the hospital. Mine is smaller than my 1st pacemaker. Easy transition except, I started exercising too early, so I stopped until that area was not as sensitive. I found out thru my phone check, mine made a weird noise I heard thru the phone line.

EOL What ???

by donb - 2012-10-11 09:10:03

Hi Carolyn, It's been a long time messaging you !! Guess everyone is a little differant with EOL. My 1st & 2nd PMs' both showed up on my call in as not responding to the magnet test (no change in HR). As my PM gal informed me that Medtronic had 2 stages with HR change with the magnet test. The 1st stage it increases the HR to a median change. The 2nd stage is when the magnet will not change your HR at all & is considered it's time for a replacement.
As I had been vacationing in Florida when my test was scheduled I found I was in EOL (no change with magnet)
In my case I felt no physical change whatsoever during that period of time as my PM was still keeping me paced enough to satisfy my needs. In my 3rd PM ithad to be removed because of erosion & I'm on my 4th for about 3 years. I have had 7 PM related surgeries including moving my last to my right chest. Pain, well #1 was the worst, replacements a lot less pain & healing time. PM removal & 2 restoration surgeries so, so. My 4th under muscle right chest, the least of all, but got to consider age. Now at age 80 we get used to pain. I wouldn't worry about your upcoming change, "Piece of Cake" like Frank always says.

Donb

Aaaarrrrrg! My Battery croaked!

by donr - 2012-10-11 09:10:18

Carolyn: Search on the topic "End of life." You will be inundated w/ hits.

The algorithm that checks battery & predicts when its demise is imminent is pretty darned good. As you get closer to that point, it gets better & more precise and accurate. You will have lotsa warning about when your Energizer Bunny will roll over on his back, legs in the air, bass drum silent (Thank God) & little crosses will appear where his eyes were.

Mine predicted a Tues & actually performed its roll over on the preceding Sat at 1220 in the afternoon. Although it's little bass drum still kept beating, albeit at a different rate (again Thank God) to keep me alive till the little bugger could be scraped off the road & replaced, which was done the next Thurs.

I have a Minneapolis Special PM (Medtronic) & when the battery went into End of Life (EOL) the PM stopped EVERYTHING except pacing & it did that at a fixed rate of 65 BPM (or some other ridiculous number) to keep me alive till they could extract its now worthless carcass & throw it in the trash heap (or along side the road of life). In theory, the PM is programmed to do that at a point that it will have enough juice to keep you plugging along for about 90 days.

You will know it has happened. You will feel like something you step in out in the south forty where you keep cattle (Everyone in Texas keeps cattle, right?). Just check your pulse when you think it has happened. That will tell you. I suspected EOL had come & had Wife check mine. I'm paced at 75 lower rate, & she counted 66 BPM. Figured that was close enough for PM work to 65, so called my Cardio's office. Drove 50 miles to get to it (see, you aren't the only one who lives a long way away) & arrived just at closing time. They downloaded the little sucker & sho'nuff, honeychile, it was, indeed on its back, barely quivering. A quick call to the EP & I was scheduled for 4 days later to have a new bunny put in. It's all that simple. And - you will know when it happens. No sweat!

Stick w/ me, kiddo & you'll be wearing diamonds as big as cow patties - & just as worthless.

Don

thanks

by ldebaugh - 2012-10-11 10:10:22

Great description! Now we all know what to expect!!
M'Liz

EOL

by greenbeanstock - 2012-10-12 01:10:10

I also got my pacemaker/ICD put in 11/2009. My pacemaker has NEVER paced my heart....and when I saw the nurse in August, she told me my battery life is 11 years. Which I found weird since in May it said 9 years....

So my quesiton is, if it never paces (it's set to pace if my heart goes under 40 or above 220), then will I know when the battery is at the end of it's life? Has anyone else had one placed and it never be used?

I'm young, so my cardiologist recommends continuing to have it placed since my incident was something that will probably never ever happen again, but if it does, it will save me.

Sorry, youi're NOT young...

by donr - 2012-10-12 08:10:39

...Young is hours after birth.

Don

You know you're wired when...

You read consumer reports before upgrading to a new model.

Member Quotes

I feel so incredibly thankful that I can continue to live my life.