Coronavirus

Battery Change

by AgentX86 - 2020-03-17 15:59:26

Well, how urgent is the battery change?  How long will it last until it stops working.  What happens to you if it does.  These are pretty important quesions that will make the answer pretty evident.

im sure they will if they need to

by Philm313 - 2020-03-17 16:58:21

when you go for your check up they know roughly how long you battery has left, a friend of mine has just had his replaced after 15 years the checked the pacemaker said he had about 6 months left begining of december they had him in beginging of feb and had him in the next day to change the battery took them about 1 hour and was home 1 hour later so they will go off how long the battery has left if it not emergancy im sure they wont do it but they won't mess around with your heart if it needs doing they will do it i sure

I am hopeful!

by rfassett - 2020-03-17 21:13:55

I find myself right there
I was at 9 months remaining battery in January. My calculations are that I will require replacement right smack in the middle of this thing. And I am 100% paced.

Could get interesting and dicey for some of us.

Ron

replacement time

by Tracey_E - 2020-03-18 13:09:38

I'm on #5. I had one that said 6-12 months every check for almost 2 years. Had another that said 6-12 months but 2 months later it was in elective replacement mode. Once you get under 6 months, they should be check it more often because the estimates are a range and they are just a guess. The closer it gets to the end, the more accurate the guess but it's not like the tank of gas in your car where they know exactly how many miles are left. Once it's in elective replacement mode, you've still got about a 3 month window before it starts cutting back function. Once it cuts back function, you still have another 3 months before it stops altogether. So, if they are keeping an eye on it, it should never be an emergency. They do not just suddenly stop. We depend on these things to keep us alive, they have plenty of built in features to keep us safe. 

NHS Keyhole -

by Pacemum - 2020-03-19 03:58:41

This is from a statement from our hospital.  I expect others are in a similar position.

The capacity to perform cardiac surgery in Leeds is already reduced to the point that we no longer have the capacity to perform elective operations. This means that for the foreseeable future only urgent surgery will be performed.

For now, we are able to continue to perform elective keyhole procedures. We will call patients the day before the planned procedure to enquire as to whether you or any household contacts have any symptoms that might mean we should reschedule.

Battery change

by stevew49 - 2020-03-22 08:17:54

I'm in a similar position - 100% dependent on my PM. I've been on 2-3  month checkups since last autumn. My next check is due on April 15th at St George's hospital in London - I've phoned them to see if I could get it earlier but was told NO, also told that the Pacing Clinic might be closed by then. What am I supposed to do if it's already on 'safe' mode, but no-one checks it. Does anyone know what happens when the battery finally runs out - does it gradually stop (become intermittent) or does it just stop and you die??

eek

by Bearkat419 - 2020-04-05 16:05:02

The comment about what happens when the battery runs out is scary but a good one.  I mean if a shtf scenario meant it was gonna run out and replacement wasnt an option... what would that look like?  argh.  My brain did not need help freaking out lol.  

Elective vs non elective replacement.

by Tx58 - 2021-02-09 18:28:42

My device has only 2 months left on it.  Going to the cardiologist the end of the month.  I am concerned that it will be categorizes as elective surgery and due to COVID not allow it.  I pace 100%  but can survive a little longer without it damaging my heart.  It wii just decline my ejection percentage.