New to site

Hello Everyone my name is Lisa and i am 29 years old. I am new to the site and wanted to introduce myself and had a couple questions for anyone out there who can answer them. I had my pacemaker put in about 3 & 1/2 years ago because my second ablation got to close to my natural pacemaker is my understanding from what the doc told me. My tachycardia came back after my second ablation and now i am scheduled for my 3rd ablation on jan 5th but i am terrified because of the last ablation. Im worried that the ablation will burn the rest of my natural pacemaker because i do not want to be 100% dependent on a battery. Does anyone out there live 100% on a battery op pacemaker? and how do you change the battery if you rely on a pm 100%? and any other info anybody can tell me would be helpful to maybe ease my mind a little...Thanks to all

7 Comments

Not An Expert

by ppt - 2008-12-28 06:12:29

I am new to PM but my understanding is that the battery gets replaced about 7 years after initial implantation It is about a 15-30 minutes surgical procedure. Perhaps others can add to this or correct me. :-)

I Was Wrong

by ppt - 2008-12-28 07:12:32

I was wrong above. Sooooooo sorry. Actually the battery is embedded within the pacemaker. Battery health is monitored by Dr. Entire pacemaker is replaced when Battery goes. Leads can last longer .. vary with each patient. Battery can last anywhere from 5 - 8 years. Again - sooooo sorry for misinformation above.

Living on a Battery

by Bruce Martin - 2008-12-28 08:12:49

I have had an ICD with two leads for more than two years. I go in tomorrow morning to have my unit removed and replaced with one that has three leads. From that point my heart will be paced 100%, I will still have the defibrillator capabilities should that need arise again. My ejection fraction has decreased, this resynchronization is suppose to help it beat more uniformally, helping the EF, and possibly avoiding further V-fib events and shocks. I will be able to tell you how it feels soon. Good luck with your procedure.

Bruce

eol

by Tracey_E - 2008-12-28 10:12:01

eol = end of life. It's a safety mode that cuts back to bare minimum until you get it replaced

Replacement is usually done under local.

EOL ?

by ppt - 2008-12-28 10:12:12

Is replacement done under general or local ? What does EOL mean please? Thx :-)

not a big deal :o)

by Tracey_E - 2008-12-28 10:12:32

I pace 99.4% of the time. I'm 42 now and got my first pm when I was 27. I have CHB so I'm ventricular paced, not atrial like you will be, but dependent on it nonetheless because without it my hr is low 20's so I'd arrest pretty quickly. It takes a little getting used to the idea, but I decided it really doesn't matter how much we need it. We need it, we have it, they're amazing and incredibly dependable computers there for us whether we use them occasionally or all day every day.

They change the battery just like they would for anyone else. You will be perfectly safe!!!! When I get down to the last 6 mos, they make my appointments every other month. When it gets down to 2 or 3 months left, I pick a time to get it replaced before it gets to EOL mode. EOL is a safety mechanism that kicks in so you still have plenty of time to get a new one. I'm on my 4th device now. My replacements were done outpatient. When I get an early appointment, I'm home fixing my own lunch.

Replacement...

by turboz24 - 2008-12-28 11:12:17

General or local is pretty much up to you.

All of mine, ICD placement and Ablation were done under General, not only because that's what I wanted, but because my docs did it that way anyways.

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I, too, am feeling tons better since my implant.