Pacemaker replacement report

I had my Medtronic Versa rate responsive pacemaker replaced after 7 1/2 years on 02/13/2015 at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida medical Center. Dr. Platt, an electro physiologist, who implanted my original pace maker performed the procedure in less than an hour and all went smoothly. The new one is a Medtronic Advisa rate responsive. model which is MRI compatible. I still have the original leads, so hopefully I will not require an MRI at a later date. My original pace maker went into "End of Life/End of Service" about three weeks before my replacement and locked my heart rate at 65 bpm and I was really feeling lousy, especially with just walking. Felt my energy returning almost immediately after the replacement. Since I could not get my heart rate above 65 bpm during the "EOL" time before my replacement, I now know why the Medtronic technicians were telling me that I was 99% dependent . My initial diagnosis was bradycardia and the pacer settings were 60 low rate and 110 high rate. Most informative to me was how my interrogation reports showed how I became more pace maker dependent over the years and when I asked the doctor if I really needed the original pace maker 7 1/2 years ago, he said "You will be needing it as time goes on" and he was right!!
Rodger

1 Comments

Hi Rodger

by IAN MC - 2015-02-21 05:02:45

I was told a similar thing by my cardiologist . The cause of my bradycardia is Sick Sinus Syndrome and it is not unusual for SSS to start off as an intermittent condition but to become more permanent with time .

This in effect means that you become more pacemaker dependent. I also have the Medtronic Advisa and at the beginning did not need Rate Response switched on but as the SSS changed I found that I needed it .

I wonder if you also have SSS ? I guess one benefit though is that it is easier to get the right PM settings for a permanent electrical fault than an intermittent one !

Cheers

Ian

You know you're wired when...

You participate in the Pacer Olympics.

Member Quotes

To tell you the truth I never even give it a second thought. While growing up it never stopped me from doing anything and to this day my girlfriend or my kids need to remind me that I have one!