elective replacement/EOL/feeling pacer work

I've never heard of EOL/elective replacement. If it's elective replacement does the insurance company deny payment because it's elective?

Does any one else feel their pacemaker pace? I'd like to know which percentage feel it and their ages? Not a STUDY as in offical but I just wonder

3 Comments

EOL

by kmom - 2014-09-16 07:09:50

I can't imagine insurance companies denying having your PM replaced just because it's an elective surgery doesn't mean that the insurance company will deny it --It just means that it wasn't an emergency surgery. All the surgeries that I've ever had--Open heart when I was 25 to repair an ASD, A couple of women surgeries for Endo metriosis incl. a hysterectomy, my gallbladder surgery and yes even my PM implant were all considered elective but my insurance company still paid for them. now saying that I am in the USA --if you're in a foreign country that might be different.

timing

by Tracey_E - 2014-09-16 09:09:44

Elective is just a name. Some insurance companies require it to switch to End of Life mode before they'll cover the replacement. Right before that is Elective Replacement, which is like a heads up that EOL is coming soon. So, the TIMING is elective, doing it is a given.

During ERI, which is about 3 months, it is fully functional. When it switches to EOL, it cuts back all the bells and whistles and paces at a steady rate, usually 60. It keeps us safe but if you pace a lot, it doesn't feel good. It depends on your insurance. I'm on #4 and have always been able to have it done during ERI.

I do not feel the pacing. I am 47 (for another week) There are some people who can feel it but it is very rare. The signal the pm puts out is very very small, mimicking what the heart should be doing on its own.

Elective

by pacemaker writer - 2014-09-18 06:09:25

Elective surgery is really a misnomer--it should be "scheduled" surgery. Hospitals differentiate between surgery that is scheduled and emergency surgery.

You know you're wired when...

You can feel your fingers and toes again.

Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.