Battery Question

a few comments

by dwelch - 2017-07-18 11:44:01

first comment is that you should ask your doc.

second comment is that all estimates are a guess, the software will report an estimate but until that estimate is within weeks, it is basically wrong.

your situation, number of leads, expected consumption, etc should have determined the size.  I have a dual chamber and the lower actually it is a three chamber now and the lower two chambers are paced 100% of the time, by design, have been dual chamber to date and the devices are generally not quite in the 10 year range, but still in that 7-10 range.  Some folks do better than 10 some it is shorter, and some the vendor didnt get it right and dont last as long as expected or designed.

What you dont want to do is stress about it and keep your heart working harder, there is no value in that. I am on my fifth pacer and the procedure is a walk in the park now, I think I was mostly functional in 48 hours, took a few more days to sleep comfortably through the night.  Dont worry about when my next one is, only worry about remembering to go to your scheduled appointments...

Need to ask the pros

by Gotrhythm - 2017-07-18 12:28:14

I'm not sure what "replaced my normal sinus rhythm" means. Even when people are paced 100%, unless they have had an ablation, they still have an intrinsic rhythm.  It seems like a question for your doctor who can discuss the specifics of your condition. 

As for battery life, that's a question to ask at your next interrogation. Obviously, the more you use your pacemaker, the quicker the battery will be used up, but that's not the only determinant of battery life. Other factors can cause the battery to be used up more or less quickly too. Part of your pacemaker interrogation summary (which you should ask for) is an estimate of battery life.

The tech can tell you whether the battery is being used up more or less quickly than it was.

But in the great scheme of things, it doesn't matter. What matters is how you feel.

Follow Up

by Liz22kmc - 2017-07-18 12:58:06

I feel great, so I'm definitely not worried. 

I have an interrogation next month so I'm sure I'll get some more answers. 

I'm sure, like everyone else, we'd all like our batteries to last as long as possible!

Escape Rhythms/Junctional Rhythms

by Janenotarzan - 2017-07-19 01:44:46

Hi! I could be way off base, but I'm guessing that your EKG showed that you were/are in an escape rhythm; that another part of your heart besides the sinus node had/has taken over as your natural pacemaker. Our hearts have failsafes that allow other parts of the heart, usually around the AV node, to become a secondary pacemaker when the Sinus node isn't performing it's duties well.

I have Sick Sinus Syndrome. Before getting my PM, I was in "Accelerated junctional rhythm-ACJ," one escape rhythm, for just over a year.  It was wonderful!  I felt great, and my HR was like a perfect sinus rhythm, with no tachys or bradys. My EKGs, however, showed evidence that each beat was originating in the ventricles, not the sinus node.  

My EP said that many people live out their long, active lives in ACJ. However, my Sinus node eventually kicked back in and did a pretty good job for a while. Eventually, though, I got my PM for the bradycardia, take meds daily for rate and rhythm control for the tachycardias, and blood thinners to prevent clots from bouts of AFIB that break through the meds.

Google can give you lots of sources to research escape rhythms. I think it's an interesting phenomenon.  A website with basic, simple information  is Lifeinthefastlane.com 

I'll be interested to hear if you have SSS, since you don't have a BIO here.  I'd also like to hear if I guessed correctly.  Haha. Take care!  ~Jane

Escape Rhythym

by Liz22kmc - 2017-07-19 13:26:55

Jane,

I needed my PM for a sinus node dysfunction that occurred after a sinus node ablation for my Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia. I will definitely look into these escape rhythms, but looking at my EKG, it just looks like my pacer is doing most of the work instead of what little sinus node I have left!