My doctor refused to replace my pacemaker

Hello

 

Im 81 years old and have now had 2 pacemakers.  The first one implanted 14 years ago and 7 years ago it was replaced.

I had a checkup recently and was told that my pacemaker is working 100% of the time.  My doctor said he did not want to replace my pacemaker because he said I would then have trouble breathing.  

I'm most worried about the battery dying.  Why isnt he?

Has anyone else been told this?

 

4 Comments

More information needed

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-09 22:00:09

Is your battery at endo of life?  If not, your insurance (Medicare) won't pay for a replacement.  You'd have to pay for it out of pocket.  Are you prepared for this expense?

Just because you're 100% paced doesn't mean that you'll die if your pacemaker dies.  Even if you're pacemaker dependent (100% paced with no SI node function at all or complete heart block) there are usually "backup" pacing mechanisms in the heart that would take over. If you were dependent, they may be a little looser on the meaning of battery "end of life" but otherwise you're probably still good.

 

more info

by Tracey_E - 2018-09-10 09:25:01

There has to be more to the problem. Is your battery dying yet? And nothing about a replacement would cause breathing problems. Maybe ask for clarification? 

Battery life

by PacedNRunning - 2018-09-10 16:33:27

can’t they tell at your check up how much battery life you have left?  

is that a problem

by dwelch - 2018-09-11 00:47:48

100% paced is not necessarily a problem, not something a replacement would fix.  You would be 100% paced on that one too.  I am 100% paced, I have a complete heart block with two ventrical leads (three leads total).  Okay just looked at a couple of printouts I had laying around one says 95% and 94% for the two leads the other sayd 98% for each.  These things are designed for this, 100% paced may be prescribed for your condition.   My batteries last something like 7-10 years with that workload.

 

What is your real concern about 100% paced and why do you think that is a problem?

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