pacemaker.defibulator

My husband has the device. He is in need of batteries being changed. His energy level is very low at this point. When it was checked in June we were told possibly replacement near Christmas. Now he has had two different vibrations 10 hours apart. He is in third stage CHF. The MD had a heck of a time getting the leads into the sweet spot back in 2009.

Needless to say neither one of us are looking forward to the procedure on the 22nd of this month.

Any words of advice? He has also been diagnosed with frontal temporal dementia do to his strokes.

2 Comments

Vibrations?

by golden_snitch - 2013-08-09 03:08:09

Hi!

Vibrations or shocks? I know that some defibrillators start beeping regularly when their battery runs low. Maybe there are other models that start vibrating? If your husband should have received two shocks within ten hours, after the doctor had already told you that the batteries need to be changed this year, the battery will now be running even lower. If I were you, I'd call the doctor and tell him about those vibrations or shocks or whatever it was.

The leads are usually not replaced when the defibrillator needs replacement. The leads last much longer than the unit's batteries; some people have their first set of years for 20 years or even more. So, you should not worry that the replacement surgery will be as complicated as the first surgery.

Best wishes

Inga

Reply to my husband with vibrations of device

by llee - 2013-08-13 04:08:15

Yes you could actually see the device vibrate and yes he will get the device changed next week. We have been told that the battery life is very low and the date of next week is the soonest they could get him in. He gets all his care at the VA in Lexington and has had very good care.
Any one care to respond about the FTD diagnosis?
Thank you.
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