Pacemaker

life expectancy

by Tracey_E - 2017-03-22 09:30:47

Every doctor I've ever had has told me that my heart condition is treated and therefore does not affect my life expectancy. We are the first generations paced long term so there are no studies or statistics.

How Long

by doublehorn48 - 2017-03-22 11:51:16

I have to get a new health card each year to drive a truck.  The "doctor" I'm sent to always has a few questions for my cardiologist.  One question the "doctor" wanted an answer to was "how long I would live with the pacemaker."  The cardiologist wrote back, "only God knows for sure."

Have a good day.

Thanku

by Sona - 2017-03-22 13:00:34

Thanks all for your comments.

life

by BOBJ - 2017-03-29 13:45:48

No one can answer how long they will live. Studies can be thrown out the window because modern interventions have not actually had the proper studies to even give guidelines.

MY cardiologist told me. If left untreated they do know FOR MY condition.

2 years 50% morbidity

5 years 80% morbidity

10 years 96% morbidity

Allow 5% leeway in his numbers.

After meds - stopping nicotene - reducing caffiene and device intervention. 

The same doctor told me that he believes based on his expreience that I will live long enough to need 2 more pacemakers. Right now my battery life is at 10 years and I am 53 years old.

number five

by dwelch - 2017-03-31 00:35:46

been on pacers for right at 30 years now.  half way through number four.  with a two lead there is a problem that develops from pacing from the side which is not normal for that long.  It messes with the muscle and such.  I think they used to move the lead (add a lead somewhere else for a two lead pacer). but now they have three (and four) lead pacers, so I am getting one of those and my enjection fraction should come back up within months.  Being at 22 years on one, you might be dealing with something similar, or perhaps will in the next 5 to 10.  Perhaps you already know this perhaps the ICD was a result of this.

the pacer makes you normal, your ICD is a pacer with the defib feature, it makes you normal.  If you needed one at three and are in your twenties, my bet is you wouldnt have made it otherwise, so it is not a case of shortening your life expectancy, but extending it.