what does it feel like when your battery or pacemaker is dying?

ive called my cardiologist but i have to wait until wednesday to be seen. i can't do an over the phone transmission bc i dont own a landline (thanks to modern technology). im really faint and break out into sweats if i do too much. i cant breath and the entire area where my unit is sore (more than the rainy day usual). any feed back would be greatly appreciated. oh and specifcs, i have a kdr701 pm implanted in 2002/08. im 24 yrs old and this is my second unit, ive had a pm since i was 2yo.
thanks again.
courty

5 Comments

go get checked!

by Tracey_E - 2008-08-30 09:08:55

How often do you have the battery checked? I've never felt any symptoms because they always let me know when it's getting low so it's always been fully functional when I had it replaced. I'm 100% dependent so I don't let it get low.

Can they get you in sooner? If you feel chest pain/pressure, your color isn't good (fingernails more bluish than pink) or your left arm gets tingly or numb, get to an emergency room, k?

I agree with TraceyE

by ElectricFrank - 2008-08-31 01:08:53

Something serious is going on. I wouldn't wait until Wednesday for an appointment. You should be able to go the the ER and at least they can run and ECG which will give some idea of what is happening. I am also concerned about the pacer area being sore. It would seem that this is related. One thought that comes to mind is that there is either a broken or damaged lead in the pacer area that is causing the pacing pulses to irritate the pocket instead of pacing your heart. Anyway your symptoms would call for considering this to be an emergency situation.

I'm taking into account that you are an experienced pacemaker person and know that something has changed.

frank

ELECTRIC FRANK IS RIGHT

by pete - 2008-08-31 03:08:55

Get yourself into hospital. ASAP. Its your life and you want to keep it. Cheers pete

Safe mode

by heckboy - 2008-08-31 12:08:39

When the battery gets low, it will cease certain functions to preserve battery life. That's how I knew it was time for a replacement...I knew it was low, but when it wouldn't keep up with my HR while running, I knew what was happening. Two weeks later I had a new PM.

Hi Courty,

by Gellia2 - 2008-08-31 12:08:39

I agree with ElectricFrank. The symptoms you are describing are very much like what I had when I broke my ventricular wire. I snapped mine right under my collarbone and actually felt it break.
If I were you, I'd toodle myself off to the local ER and get an EKG as Frank suggested. Then you'll know. Don't wait until Wednesday. You shouldn't feel that way when the battery is going down.
Please get an EKG.
Best to you,
Gellia

You know you're wired when...

You’re officially battery-operated.

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.