First battery change!

Hey folks!

I have my first battery change coming up, and truth be told, I'm kinda nervous. Anyone else had it done recently that can tell me what it was like. (Disclaimer: I'm naturally a bit of a worry wart, so would be most grateful to only hear good stories. :))

Thanks,
Uma

8 Comments

Battery Change

by dtp2183 - 2015-07-01 04:07:43

Hi, Had my implant in 1997 and first change out in 2011 for the battery. Easier than the original implant because you know what to expect. It is fairly quick because they use the original leads. Shouldn't be a problem for you.
Good Luck

I didn't but the guy next to me did

by Theknotguy - 2015-07-01 12:07:38

I didn't have the battery change, but the guy that sits next to me in church did.

There was some hesitation due to voltage levels in the battery and what medical insurance dictated. He had to go down to two volts before he was at the critical level. Not fun as the PM had stopped pacing on the ventricle side.

Was sitting in church with him on Sunday. Wasn't sure when the swap out would occur. Was back the next Sunday with the new PM. He called in with the info about the two volt level and not pacing on the ventricle so they did the swap out on Tuesday.

Since the PM pocket was there with the leads intact, they did a swift change. Attached the leads, made sure the PM was working, then stitched him up. He even went grocery shopping on the way home. "Shouldn't have done that.", he said.

Didn't lift weights until the wound had healed but was back up to 100% as soon as it did.

He wasn't pacing at 100% but they attached pads for a temporary pacemaker during the swap out. That was in case his heart decided not to work during the change over. Didn't need them, but they were there in case. (Talked with a heart nurse. She said keeping the heart beating during the procedure was their number one priority.)

Oh, and you get a whole new unit, not just the battery.

So, unless there are unforseen complications, it's a pretty quick change out.

Battery Change

by umita01 - 2015-07-01 12:07:39

Thanks, folks! Super helpful. :) Other stories most welcome.

battery change

by aldeer - 2015-07-01 12:07:52

It is so very easy without all the restrictions of having the first placement done. I think we are all a little apprehensive about the first change. I know I was. Had it done in December...was wide awake...ready to go home an hour after it was finished. It was nice being awake because I could ask all the questions I wanted to.Good luck and don't worry!!! aldeer

Third PM implant

by Vicens - 2015-07-02 05:07:41

Uma, no need to be nervous. Just yerterday I had my 3rd PM implanted.
Quick operation, as they use the same leads of 10 years ago.
Back home just after spending a night at the clinic "just in case".
Cheers !

Thank you!

by umita01 - 2015-07-03 12:07:02

Hi Vicens,

Thanks so much for your update! Glad to hear that you are doing well!

Uma

PM replacement

by Mayor - 2015-07-05 09:07:08

I had my PM replaced 3 weeks ago. Like others here have already said, it was even easier than the original implantation. I was back to work the 2nd day after the procedure, I was walking briskly around the neighborhood within a week, and returned to running after two and a half weeks.

At my first post-procedure interrogation, it was nice to hear that my "elective replacement life" is 10.3 years!

Thanks!

by umita01 - 2015-07-05 12:07:36

Great to hear you were back to activity within 2 weeks. I am getting married in October, and have been doing a lot of training, so was kind of bummed that I needed to have this done now, but two weeks is great!

Thanks everyone for your responses.

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