Recovery time after battery replacement

Hi! I'm having my CRT-D device (Medtronic Insync Maximo) replaced because the battery is running down. My leads are OK. How's recovery for this? I'm leaving for an overseas vacation about two weeks after the surgery.... It took me three weeks to recover from the initial implant, but most of my issues were lead related. I'm hoping recovery will be a snap!

4 Comments

Not as bad as first

by MSPACER - 2010-10-08 09:10:02

I had mine replaced in Feb of this year. I had pain for the first few days, but only needed a few tylenols to sleep and one during the day. After about 4 days, I felt a lot better. The surgery is very quick. I was given a local and a sedative. I was sleeping, although I heard everyone talking. I did not feel anything. I stayed in the recovery area for about 4 hours, then I was allowed to go home. You should be fine for your vacation.

Enjoy!

fast!

by Tracey_E - 2010-10-08 10:10:42

Replacements when your leads are fine are a piece of cake! They go through scar tissue and use your existing pocket. I had my 2nd pm replaced on a Fri and went to Key West on Tuesday. I wasn't on the jet skis (infection risk from the water) but I was a little sore but basically fine for anything else I wanted to do. I had my third one done two weeks before a hiking trip at high altitude. My got my husband to carry my bags through the airports, but that was more milking it than necessity ;o)

Have a great trip!

oh, a thought! Make sure you leave the hospital with a temporary id card because you probably won't have your new one before you leave.

Me too

by ElectricFrank - 2010-10-09 02:10:18

I was back to normal activities a couple of days after getting the replacement. I just gave the incision normal care while it healed. I chose to have only the local anesthesia, but no sedative. I was reading a book when they came to get me and went right back to reading when I returned.

You shouldn't have any problem with leaving in two weeks.

One other suggestion: let them know you want the replacement programmed the same as the old one before leaving the hospital. That will make sure you have the correct settings before leaving on the trip.

good luck,

frank

Thank you!

by lindalouwho54 - 2010-10-09 08:10:08

Thank you all for your advice. I didn't even know that local anesthesia was an option. I'll have to check on that. All the other advice is great, too. The Medtronic person says the leads are fine, so I should be OK. My only concern is that the alarm/alert I am hearing once a day is the bi-tonal (French ambulance) one that is suppose to warn of lead fracture. (I have one of the recalled Sprint Fidelis leads.) But the readings are not showing any problems with it.... I just don't know why I am hearing that alarm instead of the steady beep one that warns of low juice in the battery.

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