Most Recent Messages in Batteries & Leads

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feeling GOOD

Three weeks post pacer and lead replacement with no pain since day one.
Stitches still in place (suppose to come out on their own, but when) itches to no end (could use a WIRE BRUSH).
Only issues I have are with the 6 week restrictions and I think I could be dialed in a bit!

Happy NEW YEAR
Cecil

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The Leads!!

Hi,

I am 13 and I had my pacemaker fitted at the age of 4. Normally my pacemaker hasn't bothered me but I have recently been noticing a sharp pain near the PM, the pain moves about. I recently had an x-ray that shows the leads of my PM are worn.
As I am a kid I do use me pacemaker frequently and I am worried as this pain my restrict me from doing things as the pain also travels into my back.

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light shocking sensation

I have had this pacer for three years and a week ago I began too have a light shocking on the left where my pacer is . It starts on the left above the pacer placement and goes up my neck to my chin. The event lasts about 1 minutes or less and then does it off and on many times during the day. Any Ideas.

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Change leads at 100% pacing

I can't find the post. One member was asking about changing the PM while being 100% pacing. How do they do that? Obviously you wouldn't want to be lying there slowly dying while the cardiologist takes his/her sweet time to change out the PM. Good question!

Talked to people at my rehab session. Hey, how do you handle the situation when the person is 100% paced.

"Good question." she responded. #1 rule is to keep the heart functioning so they have people watching to mak...

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noodles69us

Has anyone gone over 3 months after EOL? Mine went into EOL 10-11-2013 but I need a lead replaced too, the nurse called and said it would be in Feb. (maybe?) She said they didn't know how the pacemaker will do after that. I'm 61 with heart failure, kidney failure etc. It makes me wonder about the DEATH PANEL, ANYONE OUT THERE GOING THREW THIS TOO?

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Guidant 8 yrs old

Yes I still have a Guidant Insignia that is now 8 yrs old. When originally implanted battery life was predicted at 9 years. At a recent interrogation the battery estimate said 5+ years left. Gas Guage was reading about 50%. I'm 100% paced and have a very active job. does anyone have experience with this? Has anyone had their battery last 13 years? seems way off.

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it's over!

Home after a brand new pacemaker replacement and a brand new lead. Three hours on the table but not even a pain pill! Wow, what a Christmas gift, haven't felt this good in 6 months.
Cecil

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Lead replacement or abandonment?

I have had a icd (pacemaker and defibulator)for eight years and I have had the battery changed 3 times and this last time I had lead revision done which included lead abandonment rather then lead replacement. My doctor said lead replacement was too dangerous. Has anyone had this done (lead abandonment)? Has it had to be done more then once? I have this constant thumping in my chest, is this normal?HELP!

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EOL/ERM

Had a PM check up in July and was told I had 12 to 14 months left. Well for the past three weeks I have had a constant 64 BPM at rest (low set point @ 60bpm for 10 years), I sent doctor list of numbers (BP) and an immediate appt was set up for Monday 12.9.13.
My breathing got compromised, I got very weak, lightheaded etc. Basicaly non-functional! A trip to ER indicated that I went into EOL on October 22,2013 and I am now scheduled for a replacement on Tuesday along with replacement of a...

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3rd PM in 3 months due to lead detaching

I am scheduled for my 3rd PM surgery in 3 months, next Tuesday due to my lead detaching. The first time, the top lead detached and now the bottom lead has detached. They replaced the entire pacemaker last time but this time I think they are just replacing the lead. However, I'm not sure. My friends,that have pacemakers, told me they felt better quickly after surgery. I felt worse and have had very erratic heartbeats constantly. I told my physician and he didn't think it was a big deal until my...

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what are the odds

Does anyone know of a study that addresses the chances of both leads becoming disfunctional in a years time. Everything about my pacemaker has gone perfect, has 'fixed' the problem of my heart stopping for 8 or 9 seconds every 3 or 4 months.

I ocassionally wonder "what are the odd" of both leads not working someday when im driving or climbing and need just one of them to work.

The clinic told me today that it is only at my yearly visit that my heart is increased. The othe...

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lead extraction

anyone here had a lead extraction done at Duke Medical Center. Expecting a PM change and a ventrical lead change sometime in the next two/three weeks

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Low Battery Patient Symptoms

I have had a Medtronic two chamber pacemaker for 8 years. My last pacemaker check showed battery life from 6 to 10 months. About 3 weeks ago, I suddenly began experiencing severe shortness of breath. Of course it was on a Friday, so I waited until Monday to see my Internal Medicine specialist. He ran a relatively simple Spirometer test on my lungs and a BNP blood test. The lung test showed lung breathing at 60% of normal and the BNP test read 8,700. Normal BNP for my age and sex is 0 to 400. He...

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EOL

I had posted earlier about my pacemaker rate changing from 70 to 63. I had been to the doctor on Nov 20th and had my battery checked and they told me that I had less than 3 months until I reached ERI. Well I went back to visit the EP nurse on Monday after the rate changed and they told met hat my battery had reached EOL. They both seemed surprised since I had not reached ERI as on Wednesday and now I was in EOL. When they check the time I reached EOL it was 4:55pm on Wednesday, 1 hour after I ch...

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Why would they add a third lead?

Hi! It has been almost four years since I have been to the club. My husband got a dual chamber pacemaker at that time and everyone here was SO helpful and kind to me when I had questions and concerns. He had a MAZE procedure after two failed ablations and ended up with a PM after the surgery, which is pretty common.

He has not had a single issue until they read his echo today. The cardiologist says (and I may have this mixed up) that he has an "abnormality" in the upper right chamber...

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Lead extraction

Hi all,
I am facing a lead extraction in the next few months and would like to know who everyone has used as their surgeon. I am paced 100% of the time and have had this lead in since 2001. Any suggestions would be very appreciated. Thank you !

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pacemaker beats

Last PM check I was told I had approx 12 month battery life left (this was in July '13) For the past 3/4 days my BPM has been at 64 to 66 BPM (normally for the past 10 years it has been 59/60.
Are these numbers telling me something? I don't have another check-up until mid February! I've felt better and also a lot worse (after all how good can one feel at 71?)
Comments please!
Cecil

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Battery Question

I had an appointment with the EP nurse last Wednesday for a battery check because my pacemaker was reaching ERI. She told me that I had less than 3 months, but she described it as less than 3 months before I reach ERI. This was the first time that I head it explained that way. Anyway, yesterday I started feeling lightheaded and was getting short of breath just walking to my car. I ignored it as when I have episodes of tachycardia I do feel lightheaded. Today at work I felt that way again. I am a...

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lead noise

I have a St judes pm that was put in 11/26/11. Six months ago I started getting fainting spells several times a week. Visited Heart Doctor, PM Clinic and personal MD. All thought it was due to my blood pressure. This past Monday my PM technician discovered 13,000 noise events on my PM. I am now scheduled for surgery Monday to replace the lead to my lower chamber that they think is compromised. I am quite nervous! My PM is in DOO mode and I am feeling great because it is ignoring the short...

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Lead extraction

Hi,
I had my current pacemaker changed 3yrs ago and was told that I may need the leads replacing at this point.

They were not changed but now need to be taken out and replaced. I have been told they are malfunctioning. The ventricular lead is over sensing at times and failing to capture.

Which is causing me significant symptoms, chest pain, fatigue, head aches and breathless are just some of my symptoms.

I am really scared about having this procedure done...

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You know you're wired when...

Intel inside is your motto.

Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.