Replacing old pacemaker

My pacemaker was put in 2007. During my last checkup I was informed that I've got about a year and a half left of battery life left to go before it's replaced. I was wondering what signs or symptoms should I expect or to look for before it's replaced.

4 Comments

symptoms

by doublehorn48 - 2016-05-23 10:05:26

Every time I've got to replacement it's been different. The last time I was jogging and on my second mile I got short of breath. I knew that I needed a replacement. I've always known when my time was up. If your battery life is one and a half years, it's going to be very close to that.

My battery life is six years remaining, but my leads are starting to "act up". The hope is the leads will last until my battery needs replacing. The leads have been stable for a while. I don't worry about it.

If I were you, I would start paying attention to how I felt in a year and a half.

replacement

by zawodniak2 - 2016-05-24 03:05:37

When my Medtronic P M went into replacement mode, it locked my heart rate at 65 bpm, no more and no less-regardless of my activity level. Over a short period of time my body was fatiguing rapidly even with mild walking. Fortunately my electrophysiologist and Medtronic technician had it timed just right as I received my replacement shortly after going into replacement mode. Just stay in close contact with your doctor as you approach the time and be alert to your symptoms..

Rodger

Battery

by Good Dog - 2016-05-24 11:05:10

My last interrogation (before change-out) I had 2 to 4 months battery life remaining on my Medtronic PM. Within 2 - 3 weeks my unit went into elective replacement mode, which as the previous comment indicated, it locked-up pacing only the ventricle at 60 bpm. While I was not in danger, I felt terrible and swore that in the future I would get it changed before it hits elective replacement mode. This is my 4th PM, but only the first time that has occurred. Don't want to go through that again. Never again.
If you stay on top of it, when it gets close your doc should easily convince the health insurance to pre-approve before it goes into elective replacement.

No Big Deal

by AngrySparrow1 - 2016-05-25 08:05:49

I have a CRT-D, my warning was audible, not sure if it is only the ICD and CRTs that have an audible warning, I am guessing it is only the bigger devices.

My device lasted longer than Medtronic suggested. The only thing I noticed was that my heart beat was a bit erratic, that left as things readjusted.

I suspect each person is a bit different. I am sure each implant is different. There are so many nerves in the shoulder area, I am sure it is difficult to get everything to work well together.

As stated above, just get on with your life, fussing in the back of your mind is not helpful to getting on with reality.
In a year and a half all sorts of things could change.

You have 3 months of optional replacement then 3 months of end of life (of your device) before things start to happen. Changes will be gradual, you won't wake up one day with your device dead.

You know you're wired when...

Titanium is your favorite metal.

Member Quotes

It is just over 10 years since a dual lead device was implanted for complete heart block. It has worked perfectly and I have traveled well near two million miles internationally since then.