Pacemaker Removal

My name is Milton Hill. In 2007 I had a defibrillator implant. Now that it's 2011 I've been pondering on whether or not the pacemaker can come out. It's been four years and I haven't had any problems. I feel like I shouldn't have had it to start with but it wasn't my choice. Even if the doctor doesn't recommend it, isn't it still up to me to decide if I want it?

2 Comments

Pacemaker Removal

by donb - 2011-07-27 03:07:47

Hello Milton, I want to respond to your question. Generally most Drs' will not reccomend PM removal. Ever PM patient have had this PM removal at some time or other especially when they're doing real well. Having had PMs' since 1992 and being a pilot has been a hardship as my Federal license is only good if I have another licensed pilot in command. Even airline pilots can enjoy their skill being they always have another pilot in the cockpit And the FAA recognizes that they fly as their livelyhood.
AS this question has been kicked around so much and from my experience after having my 3rd PM removed due to erosion, I found I was doing real well without, ecg's were OK. I felt , Wow, now I'm all set, I'm one in a million, my electrical has healed, even a top Cardiologist at Uof M agreed. Two months later I again needed a PM as my resting rate of 60 with PM, now without dropped into the 30's.

So my 4th PM was in order. Lesson learned, to avoid all the risk of removal, why not just have your PM temporarily turned OFF. I know from my experience that my heart did an excellant job with it's own PM, from my resting rate of 60 to my high limit of 130. Naturally I had to go off beta-blocker med which no doubt confused my natural PM. So you can see, there are probably zillions of factors getting into living without a PM, even if you've had yours for 4 years. Also get more than 1 opinion from drs'. As I'm certaily no Dr. but thought I'd pass on my opinion. What do you Think?? donb

Pacemaker removal

by janiejane - 2011-07-29 04:07:11

Milton,
I am not sure if you have a pacemaker or defibrillator, if it is a defibrillator, I would go with your doctor's recommendation. As Cabg Patch said, if you have a defibrillator, you have the potential for SCA. They are not approved to put in without you meeting certain criteria. I received my ICD in 2005 and always thought it was overkill. In 2009 it went off while I was at work at my computer. My incident was real and I would have died, instead I sat back up and asked my friends at work what they were looking at me for. I made a call to my doctor and went back to work till my appointment later that afternoon. Other than being a bit shaken that it went off, I was fine. I consider myself one lucky girl that my doctor diagnosed and treated me correctly. It has not gone off since, but I am ok with keeping it.

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This is my second Christmas with my pacemaker and I am so happy to be with my family.