how would i know if my pacemaker stopped working ?

im 17 and have acquired complete heart block and i was wondering how would i know if my pacemaker stopped working ? and as my heart cant beat on its own what would happen if it did stop working ? how long would i have? i know the chances of this happening are very small but im just curious as to what would happen just to give me some peace of mind :)
thanks

7 Comments

Your peace of mind

by Sue H. - 2011-11-15 05:11:47

should be to have faith in the little computer in your chest doing it's job. (-: For it to stop working? Rare, rare but what were the symptoms you had before getting it? That's what it would feel like. Sue

How Would You Know

by SMITTY - 2011-11-15 08:11:17

Hello,

I'm not a health professional but the following is about the way I have had it explained to me.

For starters check your pulse or heart rate right now. If your pacemaker were to quit you would not be able to feel that heart rate, or if you could it would be very weak. But that does not say you would be dead in a few minutes. The heart is tough to stop. With complete heart block the electrical impulse to make your heart beat and is generated in an area called the SA Node is not making it to the ventricle, so you have heart block. However, if that impulse from the SA node is not making it to the ventricle there is a backup generating station in the ventricle itself. So it kicks in and keeps the heart beating. The heart will not be working at a rate that will let you go out and play football, but it will keep you alive for some amount of time so you can get help. And yes you will probably feel like death warmed over.

Now as for that pacemaker quitting, well we will all probably be seeing the sun come up in the west before that happens. Sure a pacemaker may get out of kilter and not be working as good as we expect it too, but stopping, well I think there is almost no chance of that. Now quit worrying about that PM and go get your lessons done. OK I apologize about the lesson comment, but I just had to say that again. It has been 40 years since I told our youngest son to go his lesson.

Good luck,

Smitty

Really want to know?

by ElectricFrank - 2011-11-15 11:11:38

It's easy if you have the guts and the EP is willing. There is a function in the computer they use to program my Medtronic pacemaker that lets the tech stop the pacing on command. The way it works is that when set he can stop pacing by pressing the space bar. To restart he just takes his finger off it.

A couple of years ago I asked that they run the test to find out what my heart does without pacing. I have 100% AV block and at the time I had the pacer implanted my HR was down to 26. At that time I was still functional but felt lousy at that rate.

We first ran the test with me sitting in a chair. My HR dropped to about 30, and I felt that same old crappy feeling, but no SOB or light headedness.

At my request we repeated it again and after pacing was stopped I stood up. I still did fine.

The results of this sort of test will vary greatly depending on condition, and also how the person reacts emotionally to the feelings during the test.

It's also quite possible that without pacing you would have no heart beat. In this case you have something like 15-30 seconds to say good by to yourself. Of course that can happen to any of us pacer or not.

frank

Pacemaker "quitting"

by Gitta - 2011-11-16 11:11:14

I just had my second replacement a couple of months ago. I got mine when I was 31. I have complete congenital heart block, meaning I was born with it. You should be seeing an electrocardiologist every 6 months and being phone monitored every 2 months. The phone checks can tell when the battery "dies". I say "die" because I've been told that the pacemaker never truly dies, but will operate at your lowest threshold when it needs to be replaced regardless of how much activity you do. Of course you will notice it because you will begin to feel fatigued doing things you normally wouldn't have. Even this doesn't happen suddenly. The pacemaker has multiple backups to protect you and give you and your dr. plenty of time to replace it. It's quite fascinating really. Usually the warning comes a month or so before it is critical, ad you don't even notice it.

Like what the others have said your dr. should check for an escape rhythm just so they and you know what your heart would do if your pacemaker should quit.

I know that having a pacemaker is kind of scary, it was for me when I was first told I would need one. However, it is an amazing piece of technology with many back-ups built into it to safe guard you. So just forget it is there and live life!

Gitta

Escape rhythm

by SaraTB - 2011-11-16 11:11:56

What Frank describes is known as an Escape Rhythm. At least, that's what I was told - I am 100% paced, because of complete heart block too. They demonstrated to me that, without the PM, I still have a remaining heartbeat of around 30 bpm - not much, but enough to keep me going until I can get to a hospital. Not everyone has an escape rhythm, but I think most/many do, so talk to your doctor about this and ask them to do this check for you.

It's not a fun experience, but only last a few seconds, and it's good to have the reassurance. I hope this works for you - let us know how you get on.

Knowing I had this escape rhythm certainly gave me confidence.

Pacemaker Quitting??

by donb - 2011-11-16 12:11:41

Good Comments, really covers the subject. I just want to add my experience as I had my PM removed because of erosion. The 1st thing I noticed in the recovery room was that I HR was locked at 60 BPM which was my low limit setting. Having a ton of scar tissue & swelling in my PM site I naturally accused my Cardiologist of not having removed my PM. How could I be locked into 60 BPM while at rest in my hospital bed syncronized with the quartz wall clock??
Well, after 30 days I went for a 2nd opinion to a the top Michigan Medical hospital and they found only 1st degree electrical block after being in 2nd degree & SSS with the 3 prior PMs'. I was sent home only to find that in another 30 days my heart functions returned to the days prior having my 1st PM, like 17 years prior. I had also had my PM shut down for 15 minutes during interrogation over the years finding no effects.

So, in my case from my experience it would take 2 months of PM failure before I would even begin to feel bad effects but I also know that after amount of time I would go downhill rapidly. I also learned that I will never be without a PM. Having an Escape Rhythm, maybe I don't have one but at age almost 80, maybe I don't want one. DonB

Escape Rhythm

by ElectricFrank - 2011-11-17 12:11:32

Don,
I thought that was the dance we do in our final minutes before "escaping". LOL

frank

You know you're wired when...

Your favorite poem is “Ode to a Cardiac Node”.

Member Quotes

I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.