Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

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Simple arm restrictor

Just had PM implanted and woke up in middle of night with my arm raised too high over my shoulder. Had it checked out next day and all was still good with the PM.

To insure I didnt do that again I just took a length of narrow string and fashioned a 4 ft length consisting of one small loop that fits over my left hand and one larger loop that goes over my left thigh. This totally prevents me from raising that arm or elbow over my left shoulder while being totally comfortable while sleepin...

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Pacemaker lead - ruptured within 12 months

Dear All

I had PM operation May 26 2017 - never really felt well. Found out in April the lead was ruputured and thus had operation May 22 to replace.  I have been charged for second operation - told no recourse as I signed a form and also legally. First of all, has  anyone else gone through this? Secondly, is this right that we have no recourse? 

Thank you.

 

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3rd surgery since May 7

I was implanted with my first Pacemaker on May 7, 2018.  After 7 weeks, they discovered my leads came out, so June 21, I was back in for surgery to attach the leads.  I went back 7 days later at which time I was x-rayed and the leads were once again out!!!  I had surgery yet again yesterday, June 29 at which time the leads were taken out and replaced.  My Dr said in his 35 years this hadn't happened and the rep from St Judes was in the operating room and said she has b...

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Battery Replacement

 I'll be in MN this coming September to visit Son and family.  This time frame also jives with when my PM battery will be near it's EOL. - It's a Medtronic VIVA XT CRT-D.  I hear it announces its battery want (with  beeping  like a backing garbage truck) at 8AM every morning.  I MAY be snooping into having the battery/pm replacement performed at the Mayo Clinic in Rochestor, MN.

Anyone here have an experience with the EP department at Mayo in MN...

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Sedation

Hello,

I read most of the posts on here but don’t post a whole lot. I had My pacemaker battery replaced yesterday. I had a very bad reaction to the awake sedation they give you during my ablation years ago so for the first pacemaker insertion I was awake with just a local. They did it under the muscle and when they cut through the muscle it felt like they were cutting bone. It was awful. Anyway this time they didn’t want to give me that sedation because of the reac...

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replacement battery

what type of symptoms would one have if their device replacement leads were dislodged or it wasn't working properly.

 

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Icd lead dislodged

Going in tomorrow after 9 days icd lead detached. No symptoms but tired.  What can I expect now

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Replacing pacemaker

Could someone tell me what is involved in replacing the unit when the battery is done?  I assume there is scar tissue around the original unit.  Is it typically done with a local anesthetic?  Is it painful or less than the original placement?  Does it go in the same place as the original?  Are there restrictions afterwards for a while?  Can I return to work the same day?

Any information would be helpful.  

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Lead to vein interface

Hi Everyone,

I am 44 years old and scheduled on Wednesday for a Biventricular pacemaker for cardiac resynchronization. I am very nervous about this upcoming procedure and keep coming up with questions in my mind. Does anyone know how the lead interfaces with the vein that they place it in? How does the vein seal around the lead? I assume it’s a hole in the blood vessel with a wire sticking thru it. With all the pressure building up in the blood vessel, how does the vein seal off a...

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Battery life span

He everyone. I was just wondering since I am 100% paced ( Medtronic biventricular pacemaker,crt) about how long can I expect the battery to last. Implant saute was Aprin25th 2018. I know it all depends on a lot of things but can anyone here who is 100 paced( biventricle) tell me how long their battery works before needing replacement. Just trying to get some input as my EP says up to 7 years but I find this hard to believe since I am 100% paced. Thank you.

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How many replacements can I have?

Hello All, 

I have been a pacemaker dependent patient for the last 20+ years. I have had several battery replacements in the original location. During this last replacement I got infected and spent 24 days in the hospital. Now I have the pacemaker on the opposite side of my heart with a defibrillator. Could possibly be coming up for my next battery changed within the next few years. This was done on November 2012. 

Recently was asked to get an echocardiogram done bu...

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Low stamina: dead battery

My EnRhythm Medtronic battery died a few weeks ago and I am running on my backup until 5/4 when I will get it replaced.  I have very little stamina and I am wondering if it is my "situation" with the pacemaker?  EP said I had no exercise restrictions until the surgery.

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New* EOL and these palps

Hey y'all! So I have a boston scientific pm.. I'm at EOL. 😒 it's happened quicker than expected (to me) and I wasnt ready for the size effects. I am 70% paced top chamber & on demand bottom.. The palps SUCK!

History... 7 years implanted, in November i was told 6-9 months, at 6 mo (for diminishing) start coming monthly.. Well I'm 5 months in and can barely walk room to room with out heaviness and crazy thumping in my chest. The last 2 weeks it's been worse each da...

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Lead Extraction/New Pacemaker

Had a dual chamber PM with venticle lead in coronary sinus vein next to left ventricle for complete heart block. Didn't go in right ventricle as I had tricuspid valve repair in 2014 and didn't want to risk lead screwing up the repaired valve which is doing fine at this point. 

Last few months my PVC's have increased significantly and found out last week the PM lead wasn't capturing.  This was also causing a drop in left ventricle ejection fraction. They cut up...

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Replaced lead

I had a PM put in July 2017 due to low heart rate and BP. The first cardiologist injured me and I experienced horrific pain for almost 6 weeks before they realized what was going on. He had punctured a hole in my heart and it was leaking blood around my heart and lungs. I was rushed to ICU and another cardiologist replaced the lead. 

Since then I can still feel like something is poking me in the center of my chest. They had to open me up like open heart surgery but didn’...

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Battery Usage

Is it normal for battery usage to fluctuate ...I'm tested every 3 months..originally averaged 96% , then 70%, then 55%... now, 13%...Is that normal?...A little nervous...

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Lead extraction

i am due to go into hospital to have my pacemaker taken out and the leads extracted.  I won’t go into the reasons now. Too complicated.  I am however, going to have a new pacemaker put in and new leads both atrial and ventricle.  Has anyone out there had this done?  I am aware that it can only be done by a doctor who has done this procedure before.  I am extremely anxious about this.  I am having a general anaesthetic.

 

comments and reassu...

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Angiogram

Has anyone had an angiogram with a pacemaker fitted and also an MRI Scan.  I have both in the next month and am concerned the angiogram wire will be near my pacemaker leads.  Any comments appreciated.  Thankyou

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PM's Atrial Lead

Hi everyone...my son had his PM fitted in 2012 for complete heart block and since then he has been doing really well until late last year November they noticed he had some events recorded releated to "noise" on his atrial leads,sometimes three to four times a day.Took him for his 3mths PM check yesterday and the "noise" is still there having a total of 932 episodes as compared to 454 in Nov 2017.
Electrophysicist told us that his atrial leads has an insulation break s...

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New 3 lead pacemaker

i have 3rd degree heart block and totally dependent.  Now I have 2 leads top and bottom right side of my heart. My left side is working too hard and now have Cardiomyopathy. Infraction rate 35. So they are going put a 3rd lead to my left side hoping my heart will contract better.  Now they say it like agitates.  Anyone else had this done ? Thanks 

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