Turning off the PM

So, after 3 years of going back and forth, tweaking and tuning the PM, my Cardiologist finally turned my PM off.
Reality is, I was pacing randomly, the last time I watched on the screen my HB go from 40 to 120, as per the doctor, both the leads to the upper and lower chambers are fractured and since there is no resolution to it, other than removing, which he thinks is more risk that its worth and since I am using the PM less than 1%, I am better off leaving it in and turning it off.

My question is and I need input from my fellow Pacemakers, is, I am stuck with an implant I never wanted in the first place and will have it for the rest of my life and can never use it. As It causes more problems when it is on...
What do I do???

2 Comments

not many choices

by Tracey_E - 2013-01-14 09:01:37

If removing it is risky and using it isn't an option, the only choices left are stress over it or try to forget about it.(I hope that doesn't come across as flip, that's not my intent, sometimes it's hard to say what you mean clearly in pixels) Sometimes there are no good answers and our only choice is to accept and move on.

Second Opinion

by ebfox - 2013-01-14 10:01:24

Hi Bombay,

I had mine removed on 10/31/12; the removal was very easy although mine had only been in since January.

My EP did say that the longer the leads have been in, the harder the removal.

I think you might have some interest in the attached study- it says lead extraction is catagorized as mandatory, necessary, or discretionary depending upon the circumstances.

http://heart.bmj.com/content/85/3/254.full

I think if I were in your shoes I would get a second opinion- I would definitely want the device removed and if the doctor could convince me that there was less risk in leaving the leads in place, that's the way I would go.

I will be interesting in hearing what you decide- good luck-

EB

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

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