Living with a dead battery

My pacemaker was implanted in 2000. I immediately began to have problems with inappropriately attached leads. This caused many problems over the years. I struggled with unwanted shocks and palpitations, etc. for about 7 years. First we turned off one chamber, then finally the other. Eventually the leads really shorted out and depleted the battery. In 2007, I convinced my doctor that I no longer (or never did) need the device and he and I agreed to leave it implanted. It has now been off for 7 years and I've never felt better. I play tennis 3 times a week and golf twice a week and walk 4 miles 3 times a week.

I spoke to an engineer at Medtronics about 5 years ago about the relative safety of leaving the device in place vs. removing the pacemaker and the leads. They said that they really didn't have much data about leaving a dead pacemaker in place. Like, what happens if the seal is compromised and bodily fluids get into the device. Will the battery leak into my fluids, etc. My Doctor said he could not recommend removing the pacemaker and leaving the leads, so I opted to just leave everything. I do know the removal of leads after 14 years in a patient over 70 years of age has considerable risks. Has anyone else decided to leave their inactive pacemaker in place and how has it been working for you?

7 Comments

Reply to Becky

by stricknein - 2014-09-19 03:09:22

Thanks Becky; that gives me hope, in case I have to have the PM removed. I know the trickiest part of the operation is removal of the leads!

Original

by Beckes76 - 2014-09-19 03:09:47

I have my original leads still intact...not a dead battery PM. I had my PM moved almost 21 years after my 1st PM. The leads were imbedded into my heart so they decided to leave them be and just cap them off. I have 2 sets of leads,

Becky

Dead battery

by WillieG - 2014-09-21 03:09:11

I found your information to be of interest to me as I am not totally convinced I need my pacemaker yet. They said I had 2nd degree heart block, Mobitz II but it was not documented on EKG and I wonder if most people's hearts were paced at "physiological rates" if they would go into block. I only experienced these blocks during extreme exercise and felt like if I didn't bike up the steep hills, I would be fine. But time will tell.....

I was wondering what your condition was for the pacemaker and why they couldn't at least take the pulse generator out and leave the leads. It does seem kinda strange to have it in with the battery dead. I am sure it is well sealed but I don't think I would like to have a dead pacemaker in my chest for years and years. Please let me know if you have others changes!

Thanks! Wilma

Dead battery

by WillieG - 2014-09-21 03:09:29

Yes, it does make sense to not have any unnecessary surgery. Infections can be nasty. Why did they implant the pacemaker for in the first place? Just curious...no big deal....

Dead Battery

by stricknein - 2014-09-21 03:09:48

My cardiologist told me that it was less risky just to leave the whole system intact, rather than risk infection by removing the PM and leaving the leads. Becky said they took her PM out and sealed the leads; I suppose they sealed the leads to minimize the risks of infection. Any time you go into the hospital you risk MRSA and I'd rather take my chances with the dead battery (so far)!

Dead Battery

by stricknein - 2014-09-21 03:09:52

Wilma, I passed out after a cortisone shot to my spine. They said my heart stopped and they brought me back with atropine. I later took a tilt table test and would pass out after about 20 seconds. I never had such a problem in my "real life". I was travelling worldwide at the time and my cardiologist said I should have the pacemaker as insurance just in case I was in China or some other far away place and passed out. I didn't have much time to think about it. If I would have known what I was going to go through, and had I known that my "condition" might just as well have been handled with medication, I would never have had the operation.

Dead battery

by WillieG - 2014-09-21 04:09:03

Wow! That is too bad that you went through all that! Some doctors seem a little too eager for procedures to me. But glad that you didn't have any "real" heart issues. Hope you do OK with the dead battery. I plan to read a bit more on the tilt table. Interesting...

Thanks for response!

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I have had my pacer since 2005. At first it ruled my life. It took some time to calm down and make the mental adjustment. I had trouble sleeping and I worried a lot about pulling wires. Now I just live my life as I wish.