Due for my first replacement

Hi All

I went for my regular 3 month check up a couple weeks ago and my pacer life went from 20 months to 5. I go back in a week to check it again. They haven't scheduled a replacement surgery yet, since this is my first one I'm a little nervous, and pretty frustrated with my doc for giving me so little info. I'd rather have the surgery sooner than later. Any advice?

4 Comments

thank you!

by ALbo - 2015-05-12 02:05:07

thank you all for the feedback!!

Constantlyred I'm right there with you. I have 2 kids and take care of my grandma. I am exhausted all the time!! Its so difficult.

the end

by Tracey_E - 2015-05-12 08:05:11

Albo, that's a big drop! Ask them if your leads are ok or if they changed the settings last time. Either of those can cause a sudden drop. Battery life is an estimate based on the settings at the time they run the report, so change the settings and the est life changes. It's usually a range, not a set amount, and it can change. It's just a good guess, not set in stone. I've had it say 3-6 months for over a year. Once it's under 3 months, I choose my time and get it done at my convenience. I'm on my 4th now. Replacement is super easy. They go in the same place so it's scar tissue, and if the leads are ok they leave them alone. Most of the pain the first time was from making the pocket, most of the restrictions are from the leads. This time it's quick and easy!

onstantlyred, is your rate going up? If it's not going up then you are in what's called End of Life (EOL) mode and it's time to change it. That means less than 3 months left. Until that point, and if your rate is going up and down normally you are not there yet, it is fully functional and you should not feel anything different.

exhaustion

by Tracey_E - 2015-05-13 09:05:05

Pacemakers work the way they always have right up until they go to EOL mode, which is the very very end. You can tell you are in EOL because it cuts off extra function so your rate will stay a steady 60 bpm. If you were in this mode, they would be scheduling your surgery, not sending you home so I suspect neither of you are in EOL. You should not be feeling extra tired due to a low battery, that's not how they work. It's more like a gas tank, either the car runs or it doesn't.

due for replacment

by kmartin60 - 2015-05-15 11:05:25

I'm on my 7th pacer the only part I dislike is when needing new leads! This last pacer in 09 had to have new leads and I fell right after I got home and pulled one out and had to wait like 3 or 4 weeks before they got me back in to replace them again...basically was in the EOL mode not fun.

If it is just battery replacement wont be to bad at all..
(or shouldn't be) Last couple of days its been being weird and I should have 3 more years according to last doc visit in Feb. 2015 waiting for new teletrace machine to check it out.

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I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.