Low battery warning?

I have a St Jude model V-265. I've been told the battery is getting low. (implanted,7/17/08).
In the last few days, I have had 3 incidents where the pacemaker makes a loud whirring noise, accompanied by a tingling & nausea. Upon contacting the hospital, they checked with St. Jude & have no indication of low battery warning. Has anyone else experienced this?
I also have A-Fib & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Thanks!

1 Comments

Battery Getting Low - Maybe

by SMITTY - 2014-02-07 10:02:46

Hello MM,

Below is something I wrote for one of the members a few months ago that is based on my experience when the battery on my Medtronic had to be replaced. If you are concerned about the battery life and what will happen, this has helped others and may help you. Fortunately for me I had learned of the symptoms before my time for battery replacement got here. One thing I did learn is the life of a pacemaker battery cannot be accurately predicted and for that reason we watch for signs that tell us when the time in near. Even when those signs show up we still have 2 to 5 months of safe pacemaker operation remaining. A simple PM checkup will tell the condition of the battery.

When the battery power reaches a certain level known as EOL (End of Life) or the PM goes into ERM (Elective Replacement Mode) or called a VVI (I don't know what that one stands for) there is enough battery power left to safely operate the PM for at least three months.

You will know when the EOL, ERM, or VVI level of battery power is reached as the PM shifts from being an on demand PM to a full time PM. As a full time PM it will make your heart beat at a constant 65 BPM, regardless of what the low setting may be. When this happened to mine I knew it without a doubt. The low setting on mine was 80 and one morning I got up with a constant heart rate of 65 with a some irregular beats thrown in for good measure. It got my attention immediately. You say your low setting is 60. But when the PM determines the battery power is such that the battery should be replaced your heart rate will become a constant 65, give or take a couple of beats. The HB stays at this level regardless of your activity. The only exceptions are you can still have A-Fib and/or skip beats,

The thing is, don't be concerned about being left without a working PM because of a dead battery. Our PMs have enough safety features built in them we will not be left out in the cold without any warning the battery has reached the end of its life.

Good luck,

Smitty

You know you're wired when...

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Member Quotes

It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.