Replacement time

I had a difibulator-pacemaker implant about eight years ago. The first battery was replaced after five years, right on schedule.
The second battery was put in three years ago. So I go to have it checked last week and the technician says, "Well, we'll schedule you for another battery in 3-5 weeks.''
I was so surprised I was speechless. Last time I had months of advance notice and they drop this on me out of the blue on a battery I thought would easily last for another two years (what did I get, a couple of AA batteries?) . It's only gone off twice. Anyway, if anyone has had a similar experience I'd like to hear about it. At the very least there must be some sort compensation for a battery that under normal conditions needs replacing after three years....Thanks..

1 Comments

leads

by Tracey_E - 2009-08-24 09:08:38

I thought 3-5 was average on icd's but if everything is normal and you haven't missed checks, you still should have had more notice. Did they mention if you had a lead gone bad? I have an impeded lead and it kills batteries, they have to crank up the voltage to compensate for the rupture in the insulation in the lead. The first time I realized it was bad, I thought I had 5 or 6 yrs left but I had less than 1. Battery changes are easier than new leads so I chose to keep the bad lead and live with more frequent battery changes.

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