New lead and battery replacement

Hi all, just joined this group. Maybe someone can tell me about a temporary pacemaker inserted into a vein in the groin. I'v got to have this done as I'm 100% pacemaker dependent. My Dr. said he had to perform this procedure to implant a second lead and a new pacemaker battery. I'm scared of this procedure...is it very painful? If someone who has had this procedure done could give me some feedback on what to expect, I would appreciate it. I'm going in for this on June 15th.
Thanks, MLValadez

4 Comments

Second lead implanted

by MLValadez - 2011-06-12 03:06:15

He is going to implant a second lead and change out the battery. They are not going to take out the lead that is already there. Thanks for the feedback. I'm having this done in a military hospital, and I have found from past experience that they do things somewhat differently than civilian hospitals. Sometimes they do certain things that are sometimes outdated, in my opinion!

ask

by Tracey_E - 2011-06-12 04:06:18

Oh good! It's a lot easier to add to what's there than extract first, that's what I did last time also. I'd ask about an external pacemaker, try to avoid the temp one if you can. One less thing to heal, and why do something invasive when there's an easier way to do it.

Temp. PM question

by MLValadez - 2011-06-12 05:06:23

Thanks again Tracey! I will ask about an external pacemaker. Makes sense to me! It might be too late as this is what he might have in his mind to do (temp. pm), You know how these Dr.'s operate! Hee Hee A little medical humor there...I think!

odd

by Tracey_E - 2011-06-12 09:06:49

They numb you when they go in through the groin so no it's not painful, but I've never heard of doing it that way. I'm no professional so that's not saying it's not normal but I'm 100% dependent also, I've had 4 replacements and last time I got a new lead and I've never had that done. I thought they used an external pm if they weren't able to make the change out quickly and my underlying rate is too low. Is this the same dr that did your first one? Are they adding the new lead or extracting what's there and starting fresh?

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I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.