Youngest Longest Living

Mileage May Vary?

by CatDad - 2019-07-30 19:33:03

I haven't had that many cars since '94.

What about their supposedly lasting 10-ish years? Are you 100% paced and therefore running down the batteries more quickly than most?

Last device lasted 8yrs

by jmeloni333 - 2019-07-30 19:44:36

My very last device lasted a little over 8 years.  It started making beeping sounds.  Its a funny story.  My device is on demand only. 

welcome!

by Tracey_E - 2019-07-31 10:11:43

Twinsies! I got my first in 1994 and am on #5. Do you still get "you're so young to have a pacemaker!" all the time, then try not to roll your eyes as you explain you're on your 5th? lol There are a handful of us here who have been paced 20+ years, 2 or 3 who are well past 30 years. We are an elite club :o)

CatDad, average life hasn't always been 10 years, more like 5-7, and many things can make it shorter than that, least of which is how much we pace. Condition of leads, safety margins, how much juice it takes to get the heart to respond, extra bells and whistles we use all have an impact on battery life. I had one that only lasted 2 years, longest has been 7.  My most recent is 3 years old and still says 9-10 so I might get to 10 this time. Doesn't much matter, replacements are super easy and the newer ones have better technology so making it last forever isn't always a good thing. 

excellent

by ROBO Pop - 2019-07-31 12:23:19

Well said Tracey, you nailed it.

I got my first defib in 2007, and am on #3. Number 2 only lasted 5 months until a doctor tripped over the leads and yanked the CRT and leads out. Not to worry, #3 is one of them St. Judes devices, you know the ones the batteries fail unexpectedly in. Maybe my next one will have the exploding battery, won't that be fun.

Long Timer.......

by steppingstones - 2019-07-31 18:28:05

I have been pacemaker dependent since 1977 (42 years).  I am depleting device #7 currentlyand have been told my heart has not required a lot of electricity to function so devices usually last me 7-10 years. I am wondering about the current model with a third lead being at 100% if it will shorten the battery life. My first pacemaker was recalled and so I had it for just 5 years. I would think all of this wireless connection monitoring would be a drain on the battery as well. 

me too

by dwelch - 2019-08-06 03:23:17

first pacer in 1994 and on device number five.  (was 19 so you are smidge older than me)  when I first came to this site a pacer or two ago, someone was on number 8 and had theirs put in single digit age.

At a site like this we are perhaps rare but not special.  But at the doctors office we are often special 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s we may be that doctors youngest patient.  if with insurance and life you stay with the same doc you may retire more than one.  My first retired, my current ones will see, have not looked up my other docs to see if they are still practicing or not, I dont live in that town any more.

I dont remember what the nurse asked me when I got to the hospital for the last one, but my response was no, this isnt my first rodeo this is number five.

Were you a two lead and have they switched you to a three lead yet?  They should have been doing echos for 15 years now looking for the EF to go down (if you have a single V lead).

You break any?  You have any removed?  I have a broken one that I think the doc broke but we wont ever know.  Still in there for 30+ years, a little skiddish about having it removed despite the number of folks here that have with no problems.  Im a big guy there was room for four leads on one side so we didnt have to deal with it...yet...

We have conversations like, well we want to preserve the right side as long as we can but if we cant get a fourth lead in there what do you want to do.   if you do the math even with 30+ years in we could still be alive in another 30+ years, those leads have to wear out at some point.  think of the ones that start at single digit age they are one or two pacers ahead of us.

I was allowed to keep my first three, they wont let me keep them any more...legal fears...you get to keep any?  its crazy how big my first one was compared to the current ones...

There was a teenager asking around earlier this year looking for other teens to talk to, first device, younger than 18.  Kids at school were not being very nice.  I was out of high school fortunately.   

And a mom was asking around not long ago too for a single digit age child, I think and someone remind me was there one asking around before the birth to see what was going to happen.

Wow!

by Teffri - 2019-08-08 08:32:13

Can I ask, does the scar change each time they go in? I’ve just had my first pacemaker at 42, and am expecting a few box changes over my lifetime. 

49 and counting

by Forever paced - 2019-08-12 23:56:22

I got my first pacemaker on February 9, 1970. I was 10 months old. Never knew life without one. I am on number 13. 

Seen and experienced LOTS of changes over the past 49 years!! 

Teffri

by Tracey_E - 2019-08-13 10:32:19

It depends on the surgeon but they usually go in the same place. Mine doesn't look too bad after being opened so many times. It's totally numb now. 

Age 32 and still kicking

by jeffreybiri - 2019-08-25 03:39:16

I got my first pacemaker in 1996 at the ripe age of 9 years old. I have had many since as well as other surgeries, operations etc. Besides have a pacemaker I also have double outlet right ventricle, pulmonary valve stenosis and transposition of the great arteries. It is definitely a mouthful but I am proud of everything I have and I wouldn't be who I am today without it. I definitely have been through a lot since birth so if anyone would ever want to chat about anything whether it be life or pacemaker talk or anything just message me. Newbies and Vets welcome :)