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Battery Depletion
Hi All,
My Medtronic bi-ventricular ICD was implanted just over 4 years ago. I have been doing fine. When I went for an interrogation of the device last Thursday, the technician told me that my batter level is 2.68 and said we need to evaluate after 2 months. It appears, if the level goes down to 2.62, then Ill have to get a new device within 3 months! There was no sign of trouble when I did my previous scan in August last.
Frankly, it came as a rude shock. Since I am not covered by insurance, I have to find the money for a new device. My question is, is it normal for the battery to get depleted in less than 5 years (mine is 4 yrs + 1 month). While implanting, I was told that the machine should work for about 8 years.
Babuc
13 Comments
Depends on what it is doing!
by donr - 2012-05-20 07:05:51
All sorts of things can effect the life of a battery. You said you have been doing just fine for 4 yrs, but gave no details of what "Just fine" means.
Had it been shocking you frequently? At all? Does it do anything other than act as a Defibrilator? If ALL it has been doing is monitor, there is something weird going on for it to eat battery that fast. You should have been given more warning than this. Every interrogation should have given you a predicted battery life. What was it last August when there was "No sign of trouble"? If it was on the proper glide slope toward dying in about 8 yrs, then something has happened between Aug & now. That needs to be investigated.
You need to ask the Tech & your cardio why it went down so fast. That is usually a sign that something unusual is happening.
To answer your question, given the paucity of data you supplied, "No, it is NOT normal for it to deplete in such a short time if you were told it should last 8 yrs." UNLESS: Your cardio screwed up in giving you that prognostication.
If you read through here you will find many folks who have devices that literally eat batteries. But they all know what is causing it & live w/ their situation.
We are all different in this area, but it is usually quite predictable.
Don
Battery
by Brenda Price - 2012-05-20 08:05:24
My battery has been at 2.62 but was told they cannot change until they hear the end of life tones. So I listen very closely every day at 10:20 am
Nerve wracking
Ah, a clue! Dull Pain
by donr - 2012-05-20 08:05:27
No shocking or pacing - at least the BIG users of battery life were not present.
I do not understand what the relationship between Dr's & Techs in India is, so cannot comment on that part of your problem. I live in the US, & we have a significant number of Indian MD's living & practicing here. There are significant cultural differences in backgrounds, from native born Americans, so that could be a part of your challenge. I had a shoulder repaired by an ethnic Indian, who was born here of parents who had lived here for 20 plus years before he was born and he was amazingly no different than all the other US born Dr's I've seen.
Back to the clue: You might ask them to check out the possibility of a damaged lead. If a lead becomes damaged - like a crack in the outer conductor sheath of the lead, it can lead to "Pains" in the vicinity of the PM/ICD. I had that exact symptom w/ my PM - an annoying, small, nagging pain right at the pocket where my PM is located.
No guarantee that is the problem, but it is a start!
Does your ICD have any capability of pacing? Or, is it just a defibrillator? If it can pace, that increases the probability that my suggestion is the cause of the low battery life.
There are some folks here who know ICD's far better than I do - they will not be active till much later today/tonight. So, you can expect a hopefully better answer later - perhaps tomorrow this time.
Don
Battered Battery
by babuc - 2012-05-20 09:05:08
Hi Don,
I can wait for another day to get more info from members. But can't wait another second to say how much I appreciate the information and the speed with which it was provided.
May be it was a bit of a crude generalization from my part about my doubts about the tech/doc. Though most of the doctors I've met are true professionals, unfortunately came across a few who fell short in the honesty department.
According to the reading I have, no history of pacing. Will talk to my doc about the faulty lead angle and other possibilities for my low battery level.
Have a great day.
Babuc
Brenda
by Tracey_E - 2012-05-20 09:05:42
If you pace much at all, you will probably feel it when it goes EOL because the function is cut back. You'll be perfectly safe but probably not bursting with energy.
battery life
by Tracey_E - 2012-05-20 09:05:58
A regular two lead pacemaker can average 8-10 years. I pace 100% and have never gotten more than 7 years from a battery. I've used up 3 now, I'm on #4. A bi-vent lasts less than that because it's pacing three leads rather than two, and an icd generally lasts no more than 4-5. I don't think anything is wrong, I suspect the original estimate was way off and your dr's communication is less than excellent.
As Don said, I would have a chat with your dr. If it has been showing estimated life the same all along, they should have told you before now. If it's a sudden change, you need to know why. Mine had a sudden drop when a lead went bad. They cranked the output way up to get the signal through so it still paced normally but the battery life dropped off quickly.
btw, battery changes are super easy! They go in the same place so it's all scar tissue, and assuming your leads are good they just pop it out and connect the new one. Much much faster recovery than the first time and none of the restrictions because no new leads. Good luck.
battery
by kiml1123 - 2012-05-21 02:05:09
Hi, I had my first I CD for 4 years 9 months. I pace 100%. I've never been shocked. I was told it wold last 7 years.. anyways, I know it's hard to not this k about it once they say it's low... I was scared to leave my house. Dr. Asurred my I'd be fi e. I started to hear a fair t beep every hour... I called the Dr. Told them they called Insurance and got the approval ...
I'm sorry to hear about not having insurance. Hope everything g works out for you..
battery longevity important
by cardiacphysiologist - 2012-05-21 06:05:49
there are ICD devices that last over 10 years now, consider pushing for these as if you can reduce box changes will reduce complications
Battery Life
by babuc - 2012-05-22 01:05:38
Hi Everybody,
Thank you for your valuable information. While I am waiting for my next session with my cardio and technician, am exploring what to be done in the event I need a new ICD.
Question:
Can I keep the same lead wires and fit a
St. Jude ICD to them assumig they are in good condition?
Which are the reasonably long lasting models? Any price indications woud help.
Babuc
Boston
by cardiacphysiologist - 2012-05-22 06:05:41
if the leads are in a good condition then yes they can be fitted to any companies devices (some extreme exclusions but unlikely) the Boston company are offering big claims and warranties on devices
device longevity
by mrag - 2012-06-03 03:06:08
Please check:
http://wwwp.medtronic.com/productperformance/generator/family/ICD.html;JSESSIONID_productperformance=1shdPLqG6yT3nnrv3vhHDZ9QCskgvfvB1dvj14FqykMGYjQsp1jp!1343046143!1711771750
Four years is a short, but not unheard of time frame. I am not sure about your bi-ven model, but typically the idea with a CRT is to pace you a lot. This is why you have that device, to keep the different chambers in sync.
Do Your Homework !!!
by BMC - 2012-06-11 07:06:47
Little over a week ago..5-31-2012..The FDA just approved New labeling for Boston Scientific ICD's & CRTDs ..battery warranity of up to 10yrs.. It looks like the CRTD's are lasting 8+ years..not only that they are smaller and thinner than STJude or Medtronic(5cc)..Do your homework chk out the Product Performance of all Companies..but it does look like Boston last longer
You know you're wired when...
You play MP3 files on your pacer.
Member Quotes
The pacer systems are really very reliable. The main problem is the incompetent programming of them. If yours is working well for you, get on with life and enjoy it. You probably are more at risk of problems with a valve job than the pacer.
Battery Life
by babuc - 2012-05-20 07:05:27
Hi Don,
Thank you for the quick input.
Though I do not have details of the battery reading in August right now, during the past 4 years, there was not a single incident of shocking or pacing. After the interrogation, I was always told that the battery is in great health.
I do suspect, the technician could have messed up the settings or an electrical short circuit. I did feel a dull pain where the ICD is a couple of times recently. But the latest reading does not show any unusual activity.
As there is a nexus between the doctors and device providers, it is difficult to crack this one. Am trying.
Babuc