Surgery for new battery

So I'm going in for my first pacer change on Oct 31, doc told me my battery is at the reserve point & its time for a change, this was three weeks ago, my concern is, since I've had my pacer, I know when it kicks in cause i'm sensitive to it & I have felt it here & there but for the past two weeks while waiting for the surgery date to approach, I've been feeling sporadic intense dizziness... has anyone felt this while its on its reserve? prior to my pacer, I would have 20 second pauses and feel heavy,palpitations,syncopy,& ultimately fainting, just wondering why i feel so dizzy, i mean if the reserve is totally gone i think i would feel everything i did prior to my PM but i feel normal other than the dizziness...dont know if its the pacer or something else brewing up hmm...anyone got any input? thanks guys

5 Comments

Pacemaker Replacement

by donb - 2013-10-28 09:10:30

Hi Kaity, Just read both of your postings. As I'm on my 6th pacemaker in 22 years, I should have some answers for you but I've never felt any discomfort with EOL of any of mine. As to Brand of replacement I've had 5 Medtronic & 1 St Jude with St Jude leads. My recent was Medtronic with a new pair of Medtronic leads.
I have not noticed any differance in makes only the Manufacturer Reps doing interogation by St. Jude was excellant & complete. The worst was my 5th replacement as my Medtronic Rep completely missed my bad lead during interogation as my Atrial lead was not sensing causing my low HR to fall into low 50's which occured immediately after implant. As it turned out I had erosion & infection in the implant site & also infection of my Atrial lead hence no Atrial sensing. This all took place from Nov 2012 through June 2013. Dizziness naturally goes along with low HR. As I'm not dependent completely I was told by a group of specialists that my last pacemaker was only going along for a ride, as it did nothing from day of implant From my experience of my implants & others is the weakest link in many implants is how well their leads are attached in the heart wall so that good electrical conduction takes place. As far as pacemakers & leads are generally very similar with some having specialized features needed by some patients.
DonB

replacements

by Tracey_E - 2013-10-28 10:10:34

Ok, you just answered a question I asked on your other post, you did not have your replacement yet.

When the pm gets to the end of life, there are 2 modes. ERI is elective replacement mode and it's like the gas light on the car. Everything works as usual, it's just a warning light that the end is near. EOL is the next step, the pm cuts back to limited function and paces at a flat rate. How much you feel it depends on how you pace. I pace very beat and my rate won't go up on its own, so I would feel it immediately and it would not be pretty. If you just pace a bit here and there, that could explain occasional dizziness. Have you counted your pulse when you feel dizzy? If it's the same every time, probably 60 bpm, then you are EOL. After 3 months or so of EOL, the battery will totally die, it will stop pacing and you'll feel like you did before.

My guess is you are EOL, not totally kaput.

Replacements are super easy. I'm on my 4th. They go in through scar tissue so minimal soreness and none of the restrictions from new leads we had the first time.

I too just commented on your other post

by PacerRep - 2013-10-28 11:10:33

When you hit ERI as Tracey said, your device switches to a VVI mode...which means you just pace in the ventricles, it drops all the fancy stuff and goes into a mode to conserve energy.

As we discussed you are sensitive to VVI pacing. I'm going to take a wild guess and say your pulse is always at 70ppm right now?

Those sensors we talked about are now off, so if your own heart doesn't go up and down well on its own, the pacemaker isn't going to help. Is that dizziness worse when your walking around and doing things? If so it makes perfect sense.

You have a clear case of "Pacemaker Syndrome"....How's the ole blood pressure been? I bet it's been low....right?

Call the surgery scheduler if you can't handle it and make them do it tomorrow. It's a fast procedure, usually takes about 15 minutes (surgery time, your there all morning)

pacemaker

by wendywoo - 2013-10-29 07:10:21

hi lm new to this
waiting for my letter to go in hospital for a new battery as this is my first time to change the battery , when you have the opp haveing your battery chaanged is it the same as have ing the full op lm worried as l have had two opps on my pacemaker as the first time l had one fitted 6 weeks later one of my leads came out so had to have second opp so two scars on me chest please would someone explin to me what it is like to have a battery change l would be ever so greatfull xx

Battery finally replaced w/Medtronic & many thanks to my new pacer buds!

by Kaity - 2013-11-13 03:11:55

Tracy E, Pacer Rep & Don b, thank you guys so much for tapping into my post...sorry I didn't get back to this post the following day as I was feeling pretty miserable. You guys were totally right...my blood pressure was low & my bpm was always at 70...i'm now 2 weeks post- op & doing pretty well...the sight looks as if nothing was ever done, just feel the understandable tightening & soreness around the sight mostly when I raise my arm, thinking this will probably increase as I form scar tissue under there. As soon as I got home from surgery & the sedation wore off, I realized how different i felt, i realized right away that the severe dizziness I was feeling prior to surgery was gone :)...i still feel some little things, Ex: i noticed that when i'm in bed there are certain positions while i sleep where the pacer kicks in & as soon as i sit up.. it gets back to normal...don't know if this is an adjustment period since i never went through that with my old pacer, i'll be discussing that with the doc but nonetheless, i'm feeling pretty good. I pretty much have been resting but tomorrow I'm going to attempt walking 2 miles at the park & hope all goes well...thank you guys once again for all of your intellect & helping those like me learn something new everyday...u guys are awesome! ttys! :)

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

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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.