Short battery life

After my initial implantation of my pacemaker the doctor stated it would be 7-10 years before it would be necessary for me to replace my battery. It would just depend on how much the pacemaker is required to kick on to pace my heart.

Almost 4 months now and my pacemaker runs almost all night long. You see I am fine most of the day, but at night when I sleep my heart rate drops down between 30-40 bpm. The doctor initially set the pacemaker to kick on when my heart rate drops below 50 bpm to ensure I don't pass out any more during the day. Well, that means EVERY time I doze off, my pacemaker kicks on. At my 3 month check-up the doctor seemed alarmed that my battery life is already at 5 years. He was very reserved about lowering my bpm, but finally set my pacemaker at 45 bpm. That still doesn't keep the pacemaker from running all night long.

Just getting concerned that by the time I go back in 6 months, they will be telling me I have to go back in for a new battery already. Has anyone heard of a pacemaker that is capable of having one setting for day hours and another for night hours?

3 Comments

battery life

by Tracey_E - 2011-01-18 07:01:12

How low it kicks in and how much you pace is only one factor in how long your battery will last. It also depends on the safety margins, the voltage and a number of other things. I pace 100% of the time, my first pm was estimated 4-5 years but I got 7 yrs out of it because my St Judes rep tweaked the voltage as low as possible and because I use it very consistently he was able to turn the safety margins way down. Or that's how he explained it to me, I don't understand all the numbers involved! My point is there's a lot more to it than how much you pace. What matters is how you feel, not how much you're using it. If you feel good, you are using it the right amount.

It's common for the amount of timing remaining to vary the first few times they adjust it as they get a feel for the right settings for you. The number is calculated based on the settings at that time, so every time you change the settings the estimated life varies. If he's done tweaking, there's no reason to assume that that 5 yrs is going to go down. Honestly, I think 7-10 years was a little overly optimistic. There are people who get that much or even more, but 5-6 is probably average. Don't let this stress you! I'm not hearing anything out of the ordinary from what you've said.

short battery life

by kubie1955 - 2011-01-20 10:01:24

I got just two years from my first pacemaker. This was due to a faulty lead that drained the battery. I had the pacemaker changed and the lead replaced (I still have the bad one as it would be major surgery to remove it) and it has now been 5 years with the second pacemaker. The two leads that are attached seem to be working properly and the bad one just flips around in my heart with each beat. I can't feel anything, but it looked strange when they let me see my heart beating during a checkup. I was hoping for 10 years with each but don't think that will happen. Keep getting your pm checked at regular intervals and you'll know long before there is danger that it is time to change to a new one.
Good luck to you.

batttery life

by bouget - 2011-01-21 12:01:00

I am on my third pm; when it was installed they told me it would last 3-4 years. My first one was replaced after five years, not because the battery ran out but it was a single wire which had caused desynchronization and a consequent enlargement of the left ventricle. My second one, an ICD, had three wires (one to left ventricle through vein outside heart) and lasted about four years. The estimate on my current one has been revised upward but no exact figure has been given. My pm (Medtronics) has a built-in alarm which signals that you should see your cardiologist because the battery is running low. These signals will be running for several months so not to worry. The replacement of a pm or icd is no big deal so long as they don't have to do anything with or to the wires. I am 86 now and will probably get my next one before I'm 90.

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My pacemaker was installed in 1998 and I have not felt better. The mental part is the toughest.