Just a few questions?????

Hey just want to know, how does it feel when you get the battery replaced? Do they take the leads out as well? I have a pacemaker, and just need information. One thing I just found out today and want to know if it's true. The pacemaker is only being used whenever I have a low heartbeat? I was just wondering because my doctor said I have 12 yrs. to replace my battery. Do they really go that long? I read it was 6-8 years to be replaced. Could it be because my pacemaker is fairly new? Anyway hit me up, and let me know.

5 Comments

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by Tgirl77 - 2014-03-15 03:03:48

Okay, is there like any exercises or anything that can be done to prolong the battery life?

Battery life

by golden_snitch - 2014-03-15 04:03:26

Hi!

How long a battery lasts depends on several factors: Most important is the programmed amplitude = output energy needed to stimulate the heart effectively. Another is, of course, how much you pace and whether you pace in one chamber (ventricle or atrium) only or in two. Another factor are features activated, as for instance home monitoring or automatic checks and optimizations like automatic capture measurement.
Pacemaker manufacturers estimate how long a battery lasts based on all these variables. Usually when you read a projection from a manufacturer, it says what it's based on (pacing percentage, amplitude etc.).

I guess, generally one can say that today's batteries last longer than those from 10 years ago. However, I also know patients who received a pacemaker in the late 1990s or early 2000s and got 10-12 years or even more out of the battery. Like I said, how long the battery will last depends on so many factors.

Also, there are some manufacturers that offer the same pacer model in two variations: one with a longer projected battery life than the other. Don't know why, probably because of costs or because some patients won't need a pacer for more than 10 years?

There is nothing you can do to prolong the battery life, except for getting a good cardio or pacemaker tech who programs the pacemaker so that battery is saved. For instance, some of the automatic features are not needed in every patient.

Inga

battery life

by judyblue - 2014-03-15 04:03:47

I was told upon implant my battery life should be about 10 years. After my first check up, they reduced that to 3-4. I am only pacing 5% but due to scar tissue built up near the ventricle lead, more juice must be used. I just hope they don't reduce that number even more!
judy

Pacing

by Grateful Heart - 2014-03-15 11:03:20

The pacemaker will not let your heart rate drop below your lowest setting, usually 60-70 or as your Doctor has it programmed.

From what I've read, when your battery needs replacing you may start to feel like you did before having the pacemaker BUT it will not just stop on you. There are safety features in place and you have plenty of time to get it replaced.

How much you are paced depends on why you needed it. For example, I am paced 88% in the atria (it varies) and 100% in the ventricles so my ICD, the pacer part, is constantly working. Others can use theirs much, much less.

Battery Life is an ESTIMATE. I have had mine for 5 years now and my last report states I have another 5 years. Pretty good for being paced that much!! As that time approaches it will probably drop sooner then 5 years but then there is always the possibility it may go longer a little longer. So it's really hard to say. I think that is why we always say "We are all different" because there is no definitive answer when it comes to time. Just are feelings and reactions about it.

I think that's where we all come in.....to learn about it all and help each other through it.

Grateful Heart

Get your report

by Theknotguy - 2014-03-15 11:03:47

Ask the tech for your PM report the next time they do a reading. It will give you a lot of information and also give you an estimated battery life. Since the PM is giving the report it should be a little more accurate than a guess by a medical person.

There are a lot of advances in PM's that have been announced since the start of 2014. We (people with pacemakers) can look forward to a lot of positive changes in the future. The way I'm looking at it, you may not want to wait until the battery wears out before replacing the PM because the new ones will have so many more features than your current model. (Think of a Model A Ford car to what you can purchase now. Want to go back to the Model A? Don't think so. )

In the meantime, enjoy life.

Theknotguy

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