Nearing EOL phase of battery

I am nearing the redline in my battery life. They tell me I may be 4 months away from needing a replacement. That was in February. They say the insurance company will not replace the battery until you have entered the redline area. My question is this: I have been feeling a lot of skipped beats and either PAC's or PVC's the last week. I usually have these on and off, but this past week it has been a lot more constant. Does anyone know what I am suppose to feel as the End of Life phase of battery occurs? I don't go back to have the pacemaker analyzed again until May 3rd. Please advise. Thanks for any suggestions.

Trekkienurse

4 Comments

I am waiting Elective Replacement

by janetinak - 2011-04-02 04:04:24

period (ERT) since Dec., get checked every month. I have no symptoms as yet & if I were having more skipped beats as you been feelin I would get back in for a re-check. I have been told that I can have up to 6 months in the ERT period befoer I go into EOL & then get more time. But my cardio/EP says they will replace PM with-in a wk or so after ERT. This is my 3rd & that was done with the 2nd PM chage over. I am paced 100% so neither doc's nir I want to wait. I was told if I got symptoms to come back in for are-check. Soundslike a good option for you too. Just to have peace of mind if nothing else.

I think what is meant about "red line area" is the ERT & not EOL. I may be wrong but we have had this discussion of this site about Medicare replacement times (look under "search" on top right of page) to see comments.

red line

by kiml1123 - 2011-04-19 03:04:05

Hi , I just had mine replaced in Sept 10' I was told also insurance will not cover until it reaches a certain point, It is nerve wracking once the Dr says low battery" I Know. I was freaking out. I was told mine would beep once it reaches a point, And once the beep starts you have about 30 days to replace it. It is a Very faint beeping about once an hour.. They didn't make me wait the 30 days. It's like it has a "reserve" still in it.
Mine paces 100 % My first lasted 4 years and 9 months. I ;m praying by the time I need a new one They can just "recharge " the one I have. I had a bad experience during surgery..
Take care :)

Red Line

by trekkienurse - 2011-04-19 09:04:15

Thanks for your comment. I am pacing at 100% also, but just in my atria. I was told that as it gets near the EOL phase that it wouldn't beep. I too have a Guidant. I am almost at 7 years with my first pacemaker. I don't have a ICD. Just the pacer. I go in for another checkup on the 3rd of May. The tech wanted me to wait to be seen for 6 months. I said no way. So he said okay 3 months. He said most people don't want to come that often. I told him I don't mess around with my heart. I want to know what is going on with my pacemaker, especially now that I am getting closer to the red line area. .

Sorry to hear you had a bad time with your surgery. What happened? I am really nervous about having the pacemaker changed out. I also told them I want the same kind of pacemaker replaced. The tech said, "well that will be up to the Doctor". I hope not.

Thanks again,
Judi

during surg

by kiml1123 - 2011-04-23 02:04:45

I am not able to use Versed, I hallucinate.This is the white medicine they use to "put you to sleep" and most important. to forget. Si they used valium instead. I wasn't out yet and the Dr started to cut me. Three different times I remember this clearly. Screaming for him to stop..
I don't want to scare you as this rarely happens. as long as you are able to take the verced you should be fine
The replacement surgery isn't nearly as bad as the original since they don't need to replace the leads.
I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry about it, between the ins and Dr. There's nothing you can do until they say it's time.Good luck
:)

You know you're wired when...

Muggers want your ICD, not your wallet.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.