post PM - what I didn't know

I went for a device check-up yesterday. Ventricle pacing at 11%, atrium at less than 1%. Learned a few things:

- When the battery wears out, the entire device is replaced. I thought they popped open a compartment and put in a new battery. Nope. You get an entire new PM.
- When they test you, they can pace either chamber and increase your heart rate, in my case from 65 to 90. That was weird.
- Steri-strips. I'm gonna buy some for home and keep them next to the Band-Aids. Great reviews on Amazon.

3 Comments

Of course

by Beckes76 - 2013-11-26 07:11:17

You will keep on learning about your little PM....Haven't had it adjusted in a very long time but yes it does feel like being on an elevator and it stops. It is kind of a cool feeling in a way.

Becky

Weird and down right upsetting

by rfassett - 2013-11-26 08:11:38

At my first (and only interrogation so far), the tech was trying to check how low my pacemaker had to be set before my heart took over. Well, now we know that I am 100% pacemaker dependent because I flat-lined during that test. I did not like that one iota and afterwards told my EP (in complete jest, of course) to keep that tech away from me.

yep

by Tracey_E - 2013-11-26 09:11:54

We call it replacing the battery, but it's a sealed unit so we get a fresh new battery as well as the latest technology.

They can do all sorts of funky things when they test it! To me it feels like when an elevator is coming to a stop, that up/down feeling. Weird is right :)

You know you're wired when...

You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

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.