Longest Implant Time? I'm up to 21 yrs now..

hi all, just found this group, although a little late really! I've had a pacemaker for a long time, certainly the longest at the hospital in London I have my check-ups and I was wondering if anyone knew the current 'record' for the longest implant?

I had my Siemens pacemaker (St Jude bought Siemens Medical years ago) implanted in April 1986 when I was 11 years old for Bradycardia. I've been fit and healthy ever since, its used regularly (I can feel it) and I have been for regular check-ups in all that time but the battery refuses to die! Its so old, and lacking in telemetry that I feel like a museum exhibit when I go in! They have to almost brush the dust off the big adjustable magnet thing they use to prod my pacemaker (push my heart rate up to about 120 and see what happens basically)

anyway, if anyone knows the current unofficial record, or knows of anyone who has had the same pacemaker for any longer I'd be interested to hear about it. I was also trying to think of any other electrical implant that could have a longer 'record' but I cant think of any that would last that long

also, anyone who is young and worried that it will affect your life, it hasn't mine! I've been backpacking, extreme mountain biking, all night clubbing and I'm about to go travelling round Australasia for a month on my honeymoon. Lets just say it can make a good taking point at parties, although 'do you want to feel my wire?' is a slightly unconventional pick-up line, it gets a few laughs as well ;-)

12 Comments

Up to 21 Years Wow

by Tessy - 2007-12-03 06:12:13

It is good to hear that your PM is ticking over well after all this time. It may be that it is not being used much? I am about to have a dual PM fitted and am very nervous. I have been helped a lot by this wonderful website, but am still nervous. I am having it put in at Harefield Hospital which is not very far from where I live so I am fortunate in that. I think there are people on this site that have had PM since they were young children, I was reading the other day that someone, can't remember who now, has had one since she was very young, and now has 4 children and she is doing very well.

By the way how do you get travel insurance to travel abroad. I have just today informed my travel insurance company that I am having one fitted. ( I have annual travel insurance) I don't expect they will cover me for PM problems.
Hope you get more replies soon, it is an interesting question to see who has had a PM the longest.

Kind regards
Tessy

21 years!

by ela-girl - 2007-12-03 07:12:02

WHOA! That has to be a record! My question is...how often (%age) do you use it?

Congratulations on the marriage! Have fun in Australia...

ela-girl

PS: As far as travel insurance...I've heard others on this site who have had a hard time trying to get travel insurance and for the most part haven't been able to get it. Same with life insurance. I just think this is unbelievable...here we are healthier than before thanks to the pm but now considered a liability (but we could have gotten travel or life insurance with our dangerous conditions that lead to the pm!!!!).

21

by londonsteve - 2007-12-03 08:12:22

thanks! Not sure what % I use it, its for bradycardia so it only comes in if I've been resting for a while. Had a 24hr ECG tape recently as I think the cardiologist didnt believe that I was still using it, the results of that were simply that I am still using it!
Tessy-try not to be too nervous! You, and everyone else will soon forget that its there at all and you'll very quickly enjoy the times when you DONT have to deal with the effects of whatever condition you have. As for travel insurance, the vast majority of standard policies wont cover for any 'pre-existing conditions'. That includes stuff like my wifes back problem, so its not specific to pacemakers or cardiac problems. Insurance companies aren't fair, that's life! Its extremely unlikely that you'll suddenly develop a problem abroad that will need expensive treatment anyway. Hope it all goes well for you and that you'll soon be bored of telling people aout your pacemaker!
PS I've had 3 iPods without any problem, I'm posting this on my iPhone in fact!

london

by jessie - 2007-12-03 10:12:17

must be london england. i got mine in london ontario canada at university hospital. i was able to get insurance within 6 months barring no other problems i am 66 and got mine at 64 just before my 65 th b.d. anyway hi i just wanted to say hi . congratulations on your marriage. take care jessie have fun in australia

Arne Larsson

by vbilbrey - 2007-12-04 01:12:48

Arne Larsson lived 41 years with a PM. If you go to the FAQ section and search under statistics, you'll find his story.

Thanks,
Ginny

Long time battery user

by SusanBrookhouse - 2007-12-04 04:12:54

Hi
My first pm was implanted in June 1987 in Walsgrave Coventry and was left in situ till 2005. My pm was taken out purely because the hospital did not like pm's in use for that long, (leads could deteriorate). My second pm unfortunately, well I have not been so well with this one. Whether it is my age ha ha or not a very good make, but without one I would not be here

Arne..

by londonsteve - 2007-12-04 05:12:26

..had 26 devices in 41 years. I've had 1 in 21 years...

and yes Jessie, its London, England. thanks for the kinds words...

Hi Steve

by SusanBrookhouse - 2007-12-04 05:12:27

Hi Steve - It is good to know that people in my country are on here. I feel like an alien sometimes.
I live in the West Midlands, about 10 miles from Birmingham.
Keep in touch please
Sue

Hi,

by Gellia2 - 2007-12-04 12:12:25

The longest I had one battery last was 16 years. It was one of the first dual chambers implanted back in 1982, a Medtronic. It lasted until 1998. Then they added all these "bells and whistles" and the battery lasts much less time. I also paced with that one battery 100% of the time! For me, I'd gladly give up having a teeny battery with all the gadgets and for that straight good old 16 year Medtronic.

Battery life

by vbilbrey - 2007-12-05 11:12:14

Man, I hear you all about the life of the batteries. It seems each one I have has lasted longer than the one prior. My first lasted seven years, the second ten, and this one twelve. Now they tell me that when I have this one changed out in a couple weeks the new one will have more "diagnostics" and will last about five years...
:( What I dislike about it is that now it looks like I'll be looking at surgery every five years or so, which means more costs to me with deductibles, etc....

What my doctor did tell me was they could lower the settings to where it doesn't pace as much so that the battery will last longer. I do use my pacemaker pretty close to 100% of the time so apparently somehow they can still lower the settings. Just an FYI for those of you that are concerned about the shortened life of the newer models.

Oh well. Such is life for us folks.

any more?

by londonsteve - 2007-12-05 11:12:59

thanks for the comments sue, you had that one for almost as long as mine! good point about the leads, my cardiologist doesnt seem to be too worried about that but I might mention it next check-up. I actually had mine implanted in the famous Great Ormond Street Hospital, maybe they had special leads? ;-)

after seeing some of the comments on here about problems with the battery loife of current models, I think I'd rather keep this one in for as long as possible!

does anyone have any ideas about who I could contact to try to find out what the longest known single implant could be?

Single Chamber

by zutie - 2008-01-17 01:01:35

I have a Siemen's which sold their PM business to St. Jude. Mine has a single chamber and I had it put in in 1992, so I'm 15 years into this. I now am having symptoms of "pacemaker syndrome". Has anyone had that? Please tell me more.
Best, zutie

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