100% dependent battery replacement

OK - obviously having just had my implant 5'weeks ago this is not a pressing question but I am curious. If I am 100% dependent! how do they change my battery when the time comes. Will they just let my heart stop?

10 Comments

Want to know too

by Theknotguy - 2013-11-28 08:11:48

I just got my PM under emergency circumstances about 10 weeks ago. Don't even know how dependent upon it I happen to be. So I'll be interested to read what other people tell you. I'm sure they won't let your heart stop, Lots of complications when that happens.

Theknotguy

Battery Life

by Marie12 - 2013-11-28 09:11:11

I'm certainly no expert as I've only had my ICD/Pacemaker a few months, however, I do know that when you go for your check up's (I go twice a year), they do a reading on the device and it tells them what battery life is left. As you gets to the end of the battery, they would schedule you for a replacement. It is not just a battery change, they replace the entire device. That's kind of cool because you get an upgraded model. I'm hoping when my ICD is replaced it will be the size of today's pacemakers.

Thanks for the replies

by rfassett - 2013-11-29 02:11:08

This is such a great site with such great folks so willing to reach out to others with questions and concerns. I hope I can be one of those as time goes on. But in the meantime, thanks for easing my fears. The thing that really got me wondering about this was my first interrogation when the tech was looking for the point where my heart would kick in, ie, by lowering the PM setting gradually. He did not find that point.

I am on my 3rd PM now

by janetinak - 2013-11-29 02:11:17

& had a chuckle with your question as I was afraid of that & more too before my 1st PM. Fortunately my EP & his ANP spent quite awhile with me answering my questions. I am 100% paced after an AV node ablation in 2000. Beckes76 above is certainly correct. They monitor me every 3 months (alternating office with a phone check). That went to monthly when time gets close to change out PM. When it came time I had 3 months to get a replacement. It was done in 3 wk's 'cause my EP was on a wk vacation. You may want to research on this site. On top of this page is a "Search" button & can put topic you are interested in & will bring up past posts. Also the "abbreviations" has lot of info.

Ask your questions here as there is a lot of experience here.

Janet

replacements

by Tracey_E - 2013-11-29 08:11:32

No, your heart won't stop! I'm on my 4th and also pace every beat. Pacing 100% of the time doesn't mean our hearts don't beat on their own at all, just that it beats too slowly. Even people who have had av ablation usually eventually develop a rate that their heart will beat at when not paced.

Every time I've had a replacement, at a check just before the replacement they've very very briefly turned the pm off to see what my heart is doing on its own. My underlying rate has been anywhere from 30 - 60, which is enough to keep me going for the few minutes the pm is disconnected. They have an external pm handy in case my rate is too low or connecting the new one takes more than a few seconds. I've heard of one or two people put on temporary pm's for the surgery, the kind that go through the femoral artery, but my dr has always just used the external kind.

The actual amount of time a pm is not connected is very minimal. They will have the new one all programmed and ready to go so it can be attached immediately when they disconnect the old one.

As for battery life, they watch it closely also and the pm has two built in safety features when the battery life gets low. ERI is elective replacement, kind of like the gas light on your car. It's fully functional during this time, which is about 3 months. After that it goes to EOL, end of life, when function is cut back to conserve battery life so it paces at a steady rate. If you pace 100% you will feel awful when it gets to this point, but you are perfectly safe and it is good for another 3 months like this. I've always had mine done as soon as it goes ERI. I've never been in EOL.

Finally - the two EXPERTS...

by donr - 2013-11-29 09:11:48

...have chimed in!

Following Tracey's comment - I THINK PacerRep addressed this issue in a comment some time back.

He described a change out by one surgeon as taking but a few SECONDS as he had the NEW PM all programmed & sitting beside the old one, still connected up. He was a very practiced surgeon at this & Very quickly disconnected a lead, moved it over to the new device & connected it up. Most of the time involved in the changeover is in unlocking the leads & relocking them. As soon as they are in place, they work. the locking procedure does not affect their electrical functioning.

Don

Going for #8

by Gellia3 - 2013-11-29 10:11:35

Hi,
I'll be going in for my number 8th change on the 3rd. Also 100% dependent.

I haven't "stopped" yet so I don't plan on doing so for this one. I've been paced for over 38 years now. My only concern is my very old wires (33 years old)but so far so good.

Don't worry about changes. Over the years they have become a rather simple operation. You go in in the morning and I hope to be home for a late lunch (we are two hours away from the hospital).

I think the hardest part will be having to leave our home by 4a.m. to get there at 6a.m.

Good luck with your new "ticky' friend.

Best wishes,
Gellia

100% and on #5

by Beckes76 - 2013-11-29 12:11:02

I am 100% dependant on my PM....I just had my 5th one put in yesterday morning. They monitor you very closely. A few Pacers back they actually told me that my heart was beating regularly the whole time. Usually the replacement surgery is 40 minutes tops. Very simple procedure compared to the initial surgery.

Becky

intrinsic rate

by Tracey_E - 2013-11-30 08:11:51

It can take a few months after ablation or pm input for the heart to settle down but most of us eventually end up with some sort of rate. Mine has been different every time we checked. My guess is if he was just checking in the office and didn't have a particular need to know what your heart is doing on its own, he probably didn't take it very low. Worst case, they temporarily pace you during surgery.

Temporary pacemaker

by vbilbrey - 2013-12-03 11:12:42

I believe they also insert a temporary PM through a catheter (however you spell it) while in surgery until the new one is connected and operating correctly. I'm on my 4th and I think that's what they do for me. I just go in, make a few jokes and then go night night. :)

V

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