Battery Change Out

Hi there

by Lavender - 2024-10-16 21:27:00

Looks like you had a good run on your present pacemaker. I am on my first so I'll leave describing changes to those with experience. I read that it's pretty straightforward and not a bad recovery, though. My sincere best wishes for a smooth experience! Be sure to come back and let us know how it went! 🍁

Battery change out

by Seabreeze - 2024-10-16 21:33:34

I'll be back to let you know.

Thank you

Ck the search button

by Lavender - 2024-10-16 22:09:35

On the upper left corner of the forum you will see a magnifying glass at the bottom of the menu. Type in battery change. You will see lots of responses. Here are two that I copied:

Local anaesthetic, home in half a day

by crustyg - 2021-02-08 03:25:44

There are quite a few posts and replies to this on this forum over the last few months.

A box change of your PM should be done under local only and you can be home in half a day.  Local, skin incision, mobilise PM, swap lead connections, seat new PM, sutures, skin closure.

They may offer you a little IV sedation, in which case you can't drive for 24hr and *must* have an adult at home to look after you for that time.

I expect you'll be in at Southampton General, and their protection routines seem pretty good.  I'm local too.

depends

by dwelch - 2021-02-11 00:26:29

Ideally in and out same day.  If you need a new lead it might be an overnight stay (well pre-covid days).

Recovery varies, but if this is a replacement you have already been through this.  Some of us are up and driving to work two or three days later, others not so much.  I would argue that even though some of us are going back to work a few days later, there are still things like sleeping through the night, rasing both arms up to wash your hair or get dressed, etc.  That are not quite ready to call recovered.  It is weeks to months to fully recover as you should know, somethings get better in days somethings in a week and some things in weeks.

Battery

by piglet22 - 2024-10-17 01:44:01

Hello 

I hope you realise that it's not the battery that gets changed but the whole generator. One device is taken out and a new one put in.

This involves being disconnected from your leads and being off pacemaker support for a short while.

Depending on your condition, if it's thought that your residual activity is insufficient, you may be externally paced.

For instance, if you have heart block, you may be very dependent on your device.

On my last replacement I was prepared for external pacing, where a pacing lead is temporarily inserted through a vein, usually in the groin.

As it turned out, they went ahead without external pacing. It wasn't comfortable and I remember someone having a tight grip on my wrist checking my pulse. I was covered completely with a sheet so how long it actually took is a bit hazy.

No sedation, just the local anaesthetic.

As I had been admitted the evening before through A&E - battery failure - I had a night on the ward, op midday, consultant and team ward round, apology for the failure, discharged and home on the bus.

What you get in the way of treatment depends on your individual circumstances, as will the new device.

I hope you have the opportunity to discuss exactly what the new device will be and if it will be a like for like replacement.

Obviously, technology has moved on with Bluetooth enabled devices being introduced. This could be important in how you are monitored once home.

A lot depends on your team as to how much you are told. If you wanted, you could ask them what is involved or you might not wish to.

Your device will be with you hopefully for a good few years so it's not unreasonable to ask some questions.

Good luck and hoping all goes well.

easy

by Tracey_E - 2024-10-17 09:47:58

I'm on #5. They go in the same place, so it's all scar tissue. Assuming the leads are in good shape, they just disconnect the old and connect the new. Most of the pain the first time was making the pocket, most of the restrictions were the new leads. This time will just be the incision healing. I'm usually home fixing my own lunch. 

New ICD

by Emmitt - 2024-10-22 11:53:17

I just went through an upgrade from my pacemaker to an ICD. I was wearing the Zoll Lifevest until my surgery.  
My surgery was 5 hours because they did an EP study at the same time. Woke up with the ICD and a new ventricular lead. 
The worst part for me was recovering from being under for 5 hours.  And then I ended up back in the hospital for 2 days from a blood clot. That wasn't much fun either. 
BUT!   I never had any pain from the surgery.  I didn't even need Tylenol or ice. I'm almost 6 weeks post explant/implant.  It's weird how it affects people.