Battery Replacement/Fishing Trip

Hi Everyone,

I am scheduled to go on a large game Fishing Trip (75 pounds and up) on 12/8. My pacemaker just went into low voltage mode on 10/16. The tech said something about the pacer going from a dual to a single chambered pacer to conserve energy? He indicated that I would have 3 months to replace it, but suggested not to wait. Not being a gambling man myself, I agree and would like to get it done ASAP. The soonest I could get in for just the initial consult is 11/8. Hypothetically, if the surgery happened 1 or 2 weeks later, that is not going to put me in a postion to follow through with this trip (at least the fishing part). Of course, health comes first, but I have not done anything like this for myself in a while and would prefer to join the group and contribute to the fishing aspect of it.

That being said, what do you all feel the risks could be if I made the decision to have the surgery when I get back around the 16th of December? This would bring me 2 months past the low voltage setting.

Thank you all!!!!!!

7 Comments

I Say Don't Wait

by SMITTY - 2010-10-21 03:10:29

Hello Paceguy,

I don't know what kind or model pacemaker you have, but I had a dual chamber Medtronic that went into the VVI mode (battery saving). Mine was pacing the atrial more than the ventricle, but when it went into the battery saving mode (they told me I had at least three moths on the battery in this mode) it quit pacing the atrial and went to 100% pacing of the ventricle at a steady 65 BPM, no mater what I was doing. I do mean no matter what I was doing my heart rate was 65 BPM. The pacemaker would fire at 65 times a minute even if it meant is was conflicting with the hearts natural pacemaker. To say I felt bad would have be a gross understatement. Now let me add, I am atrial paced 90+% and ventricle paced about 5%.

So based on my experience my advice is get that thing replaced now, The restrictions on arm use are not as severe for a replacement as on the original unless they have to replace a lead so it may not interfere with the fishing trip. Regardless, I say get it replaced and rely on your doctor's advice about going fishing a month later.

Good luck,

Smitty

Consultation Delays

by paceguy - 2010-10-21 08:10:26

Thanks Smitty,

That is just it though, I can’t even get a consult until 11/8 which puts me at much less then a month away from the trip and forces me to walk away from the fishing. If the doctors themselves won’t get me in for a consult until at least 11/8, almost a month into the VVI mode, they themselves must not consider it urgent in nature so why waste a perfectly good opportunity because their scheduling confilicts with mine and delays the surgery for one more month, still leaving me that 1 month cushion on the VVI mode (assuming it always lasts 3 months). Like I said, health comes first of course, but I have little guidance from the doctors at this point. I think what I am going to do is see if I can get my cardiologist on the phone(not the electrocardiologist, I have not even met him yet) to see what he thinks, or, if he can get me in sooner. I would get it done tomorrow if I could so I don’t have to think about it anymore.

thanks again for your feedback Smitty,

Get it done

by MSPACER - 2010-10-21 10:10:35

Why do you need a consult-just contact the cardiologist, and he/she should schedule the surgery with the EP. In December of 2008, the medtronic tech told me I had about 3 months before it went into replacement mode (3 more months). By the first week of February, I did my phone check and the magnet test failed. On Monday morning, the doctor's assistant contacted me, got all my information, and sent it over to the EP. The next day, the hospital was calling me with a scheduled surgery date. The recovery time is much quicker. Even if you had the surgery in the middle of November, you should be good to go for the trip. You don't want to take a chance-it could be less than 3 months, and you don't want to have the pacer stop working, or be worried about that. I also felt horrible like Smitty was saying.

Replace it

by sln - 2010-10-21 11:10:23

Hey, it seems to me like having problems with your pacemaker out on the ocean would be a real drag both for you and for your fishing buddies. I bet they would also encourage you to get your new battery before the trip. You'd probably enjoy it more anyway if you didn't have that on your mind.

Get it replaced

by ElectricFrank - 2010-10-22 01:10:15

Once it goes into battery saving mode you aren't getting as effective pacing as before. Also, the remaining time is only an estimate. The extra exertion of the trip will speed up your HR which puts an extra load on the battery.

As for going on the trip after the replacement, there isn't much risk involved, but my guess is than you will still be pretty sore for handling 75# fish.

All this leaves me feeling like it wouldn't be a very enjoyable trip under either scenario. If you have followed my exploits you know I am one who isn't timid about getting back to normal activity, but I wouldn't want to try this one.

sorry,

frank

paceguy

by walkerd - 2010-10-22 07:10:06

like asked before why do you need a consult if the battery is almost done? That makes no sense but If your out on the high seas and your pacer quits because you waited could be your last one, get the pacer done like you should and there are many more trips and fish in the freezer or on the wall. Seems like a no brainer to me and im not trying to make you mad bud, I just dont understand why you would take that risk is all.

hope you make the right choice
dave

Get it done

by paceguy - 2010-10-22 08:10:00

Thak you all for your comments,

Like i said, i would do it tomorrow if i could but the delays in the appointment are frustrating me. I am a bit more uncomfortable(particularly when sleeping) in VVI mode and not getting as much sleep as usual is impairing my thoughts. I am going to get the cariologist on the phone to pick his brain and will go from there. It is looking less and less like it is going to make sense to go on this trip even though i hate to admit it. It is what it is if that end up being the case and that's life. if i can just get the surgery sooner, i could chill out some

thanks again everyone, have a great day!

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