Days until device vibrates for battery replacement

Can anyone provide the number of days after the day that their or a family member's pacer check indicated that their device batteries need to be replaced?

Thank you.

9 Comments

replacement

by Tracey_E - 2015-09-28 06:09:47

They don't all vibrate at the end. Most of them go to a mode called elective replacement when there is about 3 months left. It's still fully functional at this point so this is a good time to schedule replacement, assuming your insurance is ok with it. Some drs and/or insurance requires it to go into the next mode, end of life, before replacement. This mode also lasts approx 3 months and during this time it has limited function. It'll keep us safe but if we pace a lot, it doesn't feel too good because it paces at a steady rate rather than going up and down as needed.

How much time is left is a guess, and when they tell us it soon needs replaced varies depending on the dr and your insurance. I'm on my 4th device. With the first two, I had plenty of warning. When it got to under 6 months, I started going once a month instead of my usual 3 months, and when they said it was time I was able to schedule it at my convenience. With my last one, they said 3-6 months before ERI in early Dec, then I went back in Jan and it was already ERI, so I had it done that week.

Replacements are super easy! Most of the restrictions the first time are from the new leads, which are generally not replaced with the next battery. Most of the pain the first time is from creating the pocket. For replacements, they go in through the scar tissue, pop it out, put the new one in, done. If I get an early appointment, I'm home fixing my own lunch. Twice I left for vacation less than a week later.

Too Many Variables

by Artist - 2015-09-28 06:09:54

Battery life is at best just an estimate and differs widely from person to person. The battery life is influenced by pacing frequency and voltage settings and other factors. The technicians who look specifically at your family member's PM and have all of the data from their last interrogation, are only able to give their best "guesstimate" about battery life. As a battery approaches the estimated EOL, end of life, there will be checks/appointments with the EP or cardiologist to schedule the minor surgery needed to replace the PM.

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by Tom77 - 2015-09-28 07:09:25

The technician said that it is nearing the end of it's battery life and to call the office right when the first of the three vibrations is felt, to schedule an appointment for replacement.

What I'm asking is say the pacer check was July 25.... when did the first vibration occur.

It really isn't that difficult for technicians to keep track of and record to get a basic range for patients.

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by Tom77 - 2015-09-28 11:09:34

My questions shouldn't be confusing. I asked one question pertaining to a duration that obviously occurs... notified of something to the day it occurs is a total number of days.

It is just good to have a generalization of what the many pacer checks indicating the battery is getting low to when the first vibration occurs.

I can only go by what the technician said will happen, what to do when it does and let the doctor know, so he will do what they said he will do.

I understand there will be a series of vibration. The technician did say there will be three.

I understand

by Tom77 - 2015-09-29 09:09:33

I well understand that there are variables.

It doesn't change my interest in knowing how many days between that check indicating that the first vibration is approaching.

The way the tech made it sound, is that there will be an appointment for replacements when the doctor is called about the first vibration.

I will say "13" is a sarcatic answer.....

varies

by Tracey_E - 2015-09-29 12:09:03

There is no exact number, only guesstimates. It depends how much you use your battery- how much you pace, the impedance on your leads, how much juice it takes to get your heart to respond, the features you use, the safety margins. The best person to ask is your tech because only your tech knows exactly how you use your device and exactly where it was when he told you it was close.

Let's tak batteries for a moment...

by donr - 2015-09-30 11:09:01

...What we have been trying to say is that you have asked the question "How long is a piece of string?" "It depends," is the answer. No one, not even the manufacturer, can predict that.

When my original battery went belly up, it was predicted to happen on a Tuesday, some 30 days hence from the day I had my last check up. It actually happened on the Saturday previous to that day - the predictor missed by only 72 hours. Now that is pretty darned good, I'd say! But when it went into its EOL period, there was absolutely no warning - no vibration, bells, whistles or or waving of arms to get my attention. It just suddenly, at 1222 on that Saturday switched modes & I suddenly felt like smelly that I stepped in.! Got it changed out the next Thursday.

PM/ICD batteries use a chemistry in the same class as the rechargable Lithium-Ion batteries used in electric drills & other hand held power tools. Dunno if you have had experience w/ one of those devices, but as their batteries approach their EOL equivalent point they just suddenly quit on you. Their manufacturers build in a small LED indicator that warns you it is going to happen, just like our PM's give us warning, but it has all the same unpredictable characteristics as our PM's. Lithium based batteries do that - they all just suddenly quit with poor predictability as they reach their end point of usefulness.

Fortunately, the PM does NOT demand a lot of power to operate (unlike the battery-powered drill), so the manufacturers can pick a point in the battery's predicted remaining life to switch to the EOL mode of pacing to give you adequate time to get it replaced w/o it suddenly doing its final quitting act.

But, no matter what they try to predict, the Lithiuim based batteries do not act like standard flashlight AAA, AA ,C or D cells (or even the Lead-Acid storage battery in your car) kinda trail off into oblivion, getting visibly weaker as time goes by. They just suddenly quit. And that point cannot be accurately predicted. That's why they give 3 month's warnings.

Donr

Nothing not to get

by Tom77 - 2015-10-06 01:10:31

I am looking for what individuals have or those they know experienced between their pacer tech telling them that the vibration will be coming soon.

There is nothing not to understand. A general idea shouldn't be such a problem or be confusing.

Thank you.

Piece of string

by Tom77 - 2015-10-07 06:10:02

Then answer it it as if I as asking how long is a piece of string.

There can be individuals that know when their tech gave them the information and simply know how many days aft that the first vibration occurred.

It really shouldn't be a big deal. I wouldn't have asked it if I wasn't curious.

You know you're wired when...

You have a 25 year mortgage on your device.

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