Turning off pacemaker

Has anyone here had a pacemaker turned off after having several interrogations showing it wasn't pacing at all because the heart seemed to be working normally? (Not my situation -- just wondering.)

6 Comments

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by Theknotguy - 2013-12-10 02:12:45

You can search this site for "I want to turn off my pacemaker" There was a fairly long discussion about turning off pacemakers.

On the Internet, there is a discussion about turning off pacemakers at :
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pacemaker/MY00276/DSECTION=results

This article indicates turning off pacemakers are sometimes done when there is no hope of life. And, in another article it indicated people died shortly after pacemakers were turned off when there was no further hope of life.

Question is why was the pacemaker implanted in the first place. Is there a lingering problem which would necessitate having a pacemaker in the future? If so, taking out the pacemaker means the patient may die before the new pacemaker could be implanted. Most pacemakers are on-demand which means they'll just sit there and monitor the situation and then spring into action when needed.
So does the person have a medical reason for needing it?

While, in the United States, you can refuse medical treatment and end up dying, it still doesn't mean you'll be able to get a doctor to 1) turn it off, 2) risk his job and invite a lawsuit by turning it off. There probably was a very good reason for the installation and probably a very good reason for keeping it.

Does the person just want to get rid of it due to a psychological aversion to it? If so, they need professional psychological help.

Personally I don't like having two machines to keep me alive - 1) a CPAP, 2) a pacemaker. I can be just as upset about that situation as I'd like. Blame my grandparents. Moan and groan that God hates me. Tell everyone my life is terrible, etc.

But I do love the machines and what they have done for me. I have a "normal" life and my quality of life is much better than if I didn't have them.

So if your friend can't separate the two above distinctions they need professional psychological help.

Most people on this site will give you tough love and tell you to get on with your life in spite of the Pacemaker and they're right. It's a big world out there and can be enjoyed with a pacemaker.

Theknotguy

Yes Ellen

by IAN MC - 2013-12-10 03:12:09

There have been occasional cases where the heart self-repairs and a PM is no longer needed. It is quite rare but it can happen ! Maybe some of those lucky people will reply to your post.

Ian

Pacemaker Removal

by ebfox - 2013-12-10 05:12:37

Hi Ellen,

I am one of the few to have my PM removed. My original need was due to mini-maze surgery for afib. I woke up with a temporary pacemaker; unpaced I was in a junctional rhythm of less than 40 bpm. My surgeon was quite adament that my sinus node would recover, so I hung around the hospital for 5 days. Still no sinus node so he implanted a PM and sent me home.

Twelve days later I awoke in the middle of the night with a racing pulse; I was convinced something was wrong with the pacemaker. I went in the next day for an interogation and the tech said "you are in sinus rhythm" at which point I just about jumped out of the room.

It took about 6 months for chronotropic competence to return but my EP told me that if I wasn't paced for 3 months, he would remove it. I achieved that 9 months post op and the PM was removed a month later. I have it in my desk drawer.

The removal was 14 months ago and I am doing fine-

E. B.

HI

by TroyR - 2013-12-10 08:12:22

I am one of those folks. They don't really turn it off it is still there when you need it. Sometimes I need it,but most of the time I don't. No one knows why but it doesn't hurt to have a extra backup system
Troy

Interesting

by Jonny - 2013-12-10 09:12:23

Nothing to add as no experience but find this situation interesting psychologically. Many, many people come on to this site worried about having a PM implanted and asking advice. If a dr now said to me that my PM was never needing to pace would I let him switch it off? I think my response would be like TroyR says - doesn't hurt to have the backup. We soon become reliant and trusting of our new friend. John

Thanks

by Elleninminn - 2013-12-10 11:12:41

I appreciate all the informative replies. E.B. and Troy, you are so fortunate! Doubt I'll ever reach a point where I can have my PM taken out or turned off, but it's interesting to know some people do.

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In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.