Replacement timeline

Hello,

I am 32 and have congenital complete heart block. My first PM was implanted in 1998 and it was replaced in 2007. After my last telephonic transmission, I was told that I have 9-35 months battery life remaining and that replacement will likely occur closer to 9 months than 35.

Can anyone tell me how much notice you had before your replacement surgery? Neither my husband or I can remember how much notice I received last time, and I have been thinking about it a lot lately.

Thanks for your help! Let me know if you need more info.

barnet38



6 Comments

making plans

by Tracey_E - 2014-07-17 03:07:36

Don't change your plans for this! Replacements are so easy and you can't predict how long it will take to get pregnant. Just go for it! I try to do the surgery on a Thurs or Fri, relax for the weekend. By the next week, I'm pretty much back to normal. A week or two of your life isn't a reason to change other more important plans, imo.

ask them

by Tracey_E - 2014-07-17 10:07:00

I'm on my 4th, also for CCHB. When it gets down to under 3 months, I go monthly instead of quarterly so I have always had at least a month notice to schedule it. I've never gone EOL.

Next appointment

by barnet38 - 2014-07-17 11:07:08

My next appointment is in December and they have let me know that I will be put on monthly transmissions at that time. I'm 100% paced and my doctors are pretty conservative, so I'll probably be having the surgery relatively soon.

I don't have any vacation plans or anything coming up, although we like to plan vacations for the school breaks. The main issue is that we have been trying to start a family and I don't want that to be on hold for up to 3 years.

As I was typing this my cardiologist's office called, lol. They said that 18 months is probably a good estimate, so we can continue with our plans! :)

Battery change

by wiredforsound - 2014-07-19 07:07:39

I was told that I would be brought back every three months for next couple of appointments and then I would probably need my PM changed but started taking heart palpitations a few days ago and when I went to get my PM checked they told me it has flagged up that it needs changed now and has gone into battery saving mode so only one of my leads is working which is giving me the strange feeling in my heart. So now I will be getting my PM changed in the next month, it can't come quick enough as the fluttering feeling I am getting is awful.

I wouldn't change your plans. I got pregnant with my daughter when my heart was bad and before I had my PM I was passing out (my heart was stopping) during my pregnancy, at the time I didn't know what was wrong with me and my daughter was healthy but if I had waited to find out I might never have had my georgous girl. You have your PM to keep you going so why wait.

Time

by lynn1234 - 2014-09-12 04:09:30

My first replacement was no time. I went in for a check up and was told I would be schedule in 5 days. When I was schedule to go in I couldn't hardly walk and talk. I got there just in time. I too have CHF.

My second one was almost the same thing. No one knows when they will go out. Some times it just happens. You and your doctor must decide. I would go in sooner than later. What a difference it made when the new one went in, it was living again.

stillwater3r

by stillwater3r - 2014-09-13 10:09:53

I just had my first PM implanted 4 months ago.it's a
St. Jude dual lead pacer. I went for a post op check a couple times and everything is working fine.So asked about battery life and the rep said mine should last 9-/2 to 10 years.I said how will I know when the battery gets low. He said you will hear this sound coming from your pacer and he played the sound.Funny hearing a sound coming from your chest. He said when you hear this sound you will have 3 months of battery left to have it changed out. Don't know if this is new or what. Just thought I'd pass it on.

You know you're wired when...

You can shop longer than the Energizer Bunny.

Member Quotes

Think positive and go out and take on the world.