Replacement

Well since you asked...

by Cabg Patch - 2016-11-04 14:59:56

can I have your golf clubs, you won't be needing them anymore.

For God's sake, stop the senseless worrying. Your insurance will pay whether you survive or not...

Not to worry

by Good Dog - 2016-11-04 16:03:42

I know you didn't want a smart ass answer, so I hope this is one that may be helpful.

There is nothing to worry about. First-off, everyone has an intrinsic heart beat. It is called an escape rhythm and is ususally in the low to mid 30's. So even though you may be 100% dependant, your heart won't stop when they disconnect the PM. They always check for that rhythm "before" they do anything. They'll shut-off your PM to check while you are on the table. In the event that anything unusal happens, they have a temporary external PM that they can use. They just place it on your chest. It is pretty cool.

So there is absolutely nothing to worry about. Nothing bad ever happens with a generator replacement.

Sincerely,

David

Thanks

by rfassett - 2016-11-04 16:14:51

So I guess I will get to keep my golf clubs after all.

Thanks David - that helps and makes sense.  So even though my AV node was destroyed in an ablation procedure, my intrinsic heart beat will still keep things working, albeit, much slower?

Yeah

by Good Dog - 2016-11-04 16:26:16

It won't work the way it should, but you will be fine! They have multiple contingencies! Under normal circumstances the switch is made in a matter of seconds. You'll hardly skip a beat!

Thanks again

by rfassett - 2016-11-04 16:42:09

I guess I will rest in the "multiple contingencies"  Because it is in the "under normal circumstances" where I freak out! :)

It is fine

by Good Dog - 2016-11-04 17:04:44

You know, I freak-out everytime I get ready to have mine changed. I have had it done three times now. I am on my 4th generator. Everybody always sez, "no big deal". "What are you worried about?" Still, I am always a nervous wreck. Then, after each one I always feel so relieved and a little foolish! It really is a piece of cake! In in the morning and home for lunch! Just keep the incision clean and dry. Make sure you milk it for what it is worth. When you get home act like you are disabled and need to be waited-on. Maybe get a little bell that you can ring whenever you need anything. You'll likely feel great, but don't let on.

Write now, worry later

by Gotrhythm - 2016-11-05 18:43:32

Don't know much about replacement, but I can tell you that estimated battery life is not something I'd spend time worrying about, given that your PM is only 3 years old.

My PM is 5 years old. My battery life three years ago was 6 years. Two years ago it was 4.8 years. Last year it was back up to 6.3 years, and as of the last interrogation it was 8.4 years.

What struck me about your post was what a fertile imagination you have. A couple of your scenarios were truely funny. You might want to consider writing fiction, (if you con't already) thereby putting that excellant brain to work so that at the end of the day you'll have accomplished something.

Worry is a huge time sink hole. It's the one area in life where it pays to be a procrastinator.

I love the people here

by AddieJ - 2016-11-06 23:11:17

You guys normalize things so well, and in such a humorous way when our imaginations sometimes go to darker places.  Thank you!  

emergency back up plan

by Tracey_E - 2016-11-07 12:51:27

They've always put me on an external pacer as a back up during replacement surgery, big sticky pads so nothing invasive. I've heard of a very few people put on a temporary pacer which is run through the groin, tho I don't understand why a doctor would pick that over external sticky pads! I always ask for the good stuff so I don't remember anything so I have no idea if they've actually used it or not but I've survived 5 device replacements now and my underlying rate has been as low as 20. If they did kick it across the floor, I imagine the external pacer kicked in. I hope they took the extra time to wipe it off good. 

Seriously, they have the new one all programmed and ready to go in advance so it's literally seconds between disconnecting the old one and connecting the new one. At least that's what I've been told, because, you know, good drugs. 

milking it

by Tracey_E - 2016-11-07 12:54:41

 Between us, replacements are every bit as easy as you've been told, but there is absolutely NO reason to let your family in on that little secret. I got a new one earlier this year, was released before 11am, made my husband get me food on the way home, inhaled it in the car, got home and did some work email, took a nap. My sister offered to come cook dinner. I could have easily done it myself, but I didn't mention that. Pampering is good. 

They are FAST...

by donr - 2016-11-08 08:54:30

...in the OR!!  They also folllow Mom's "7 second rule" about things falling on the floor, so don't sweat it.  They have a special, extra fast nurse in there called the "Scrub Nurse."  All she/he does is watch for such happenings as a dropped PM.  If the scrub nurse can't get it w/i the 7 seconds, (Like if it goes under the operating table & gets lost among all the feet & she has to scramble around, groping in the dark while on her hands & knees) She licks it & scrbs it clean on her own gown before handing it back to the attending surgeon.

If it does go under the table, she shouts "I'm going down!" & all the operatives around the table plant their feet & do not move the till she gets out & shouts "All Clear!"  That's to keep from getting kicked in the teeth by someone wearing wooden bottomed Croc's.

They used to have a pair of Scrub Nurses - one on each side of the table, but several times they accidentally kicied a PM under the table & they simultaneously shouted "I'm going down," dived under the table, groping, & before they hit the floor, cracked their heads together, rendering them both unconscious.  Now they had THREE problems - two zonked out bodies lying on the floor & a patient zonked out on the table & no PM.  Not even a dirty PM - it was under one of the zonkees on the floor. 

I will leave you trying to envision how they got out of that sticky wicket while I go eat breakfast.

Cheerio!!!!

Donr

You guys are funny....

by NickyH - 2016-11-15 15:22:33

I literally have just discovered this site! and I'm thrilled to be here.... you guys have put me at ease.

I have had my PM for ten years and am due for a replacement hopefully soon. Can you believe my husband changed jobs just as the doc says, "right, when are we booking your procedure?" I then said, "we're not! I don't have insurance!". The doctor was perturbed to say the least because, according to the device checker thing, I have like 'weeks' left until the PM conks out altogether, and we don't have $18,500 to pay for it (that's with the 70% discount - $63,000 retail price).

My doctor was so sweet, she gave me details of some charities that would possibly pay for it and said if worse comes to the worse, she would do it free of charge!!

Anywho, I should be okay, as my hubby's new insurance kicks in December 19th and I'll hopefully be on the table getting my new 'baby' by December 20th. I have an underlying rythm of about 35, and as I won't be running any marathons between now and then, I'm sure it will hold out until then.