Replacement Battery Worries

I have had my current PM for 8 and a half years. I have my annual check up coming up this week, and I'm starting to get a little worried about them talking about a replacement. I have gone through the last 8 or so years without any worries or cares about it, but now it has hit me like a runaway train!

I'm starting to find that maybe the anxiety about it is making me feel unwell, and I'm feeling tired and short of breath. Short of energy and generally irritable. I'm usually full of bounce and always smiling and jolly. Could the two things be related?

A lot of people on here seem to have a lot of technical knowledge, and I wonder if it would be worth my while understanding this with my consultant when I go for my visit?

Any thoughts appreciated.

5 Comments

Nerves stink dont they

by walkerd - 2008-10-27 03:10:45

That I think is the worst part of surgery, any surgery for that part, knowing before hand you are having it, Im not a very smart person and there alot on this site a far site smarter than I am on these subjects. As far as i know when your battery gets weak the unit has to be replaced, by all means talk to someone about your anxieties, dont keep them bottled up inside, talk in here, post,post, and try not to worry as far as i know the procedure should be no worse than when they put your first one in. That is why Im so glad when i had to have my open heart surgery that it was fairly quick 5 days of worrying about it was enough for me, and talking to people nurses,friends, and family helps so much, dont forget to say a few prayers it all helps relieve some of the tension that your brain creates for you when you go thru things like this. Like I said benmolds talk about your worries with someone, it will help. And you will be ok, ill say a few prayers for you, Im not a real religious man but i can tell you the prayers that where said for me and the ones i said for myself helped, but talking helps so so much..
best of wishes for you
dave

anxiety

by Tracey_E - 2008-10-27 05:10:07

Dave said it perfectly... nerves stink! Thinking about it is a lot worse than doing it. Eight years is a very good battery life, you are fortunate. They should be able to tell you how much life is left in it when you have your check and let you choose a convenient time to schedule the replacement. It's not like a car running out of gas, it won't suddenly quit working.

First of all, if you're that worried, when the time comes ask for a sedative to take the night before the replacement and tell the anesthesiologist to load you up good on the sedatives when you get to the hospital. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, they will fix you right up so you don't worry about a thing.

Next, as long as your leads are in good shape (and it's pretty rare that they aren't) replacement is really a piece of cake! I've had three now and I'm usually home fixing my own lunch. They go in the same place- so it's pretty much numb scar tissue- and use the same pocket and the leads stay in so you don't have to worry about the whole don't-lift-your-arm thing. Quick procedure with a very fast recovery. You've already been through the worst, this is much much easier than what you've already been through.

Nerves stink?

by ElectricFrank - 2008-10-27 11:10:52

Hey, don't put down your poor nerves. Without them you wouldn't be concerned about walking across a busy street or a bunch of other things like that. If you listen to them when they have something important to tell you they will calm down when you tell them you understand.

As for the replacement it is likely to be easier than the original implant. They will just open up the pocket, disconnect the old one, and hook up a new one. Go over the procedure with the cardiologist and be sure you understand what will be happening. Don't be put off by statements like "you have nothing to worry about".

As for a disclaimer, I am expecting a replacement in the next year or so, but haven't had one yet.

frank

not long

by Tracey_E - 2008-10-28 02:10:56

If you have an office job and don't do any lifting, etc, you should be able to have it done Fri and go back to work on Monday. I'm self employed so I don't ask for time off but I had my last one done on Fri and left Tues for vacation. I took it a little easier than I usually would, but I did a lot of hiking and felt great.

Ask for the old one! It depends on your doctor. I have my first one but forgot to ask for the last one. It's in my scrapbook :o)

If they let you go a year, you likely had well over a year battery power left. They can estimate it very accurately and they do not cut it close. They're all different, but my doctor sees me more often the last year- every two months then every month. Once we get down to month-to-month, I pick a time to get it done. I always have plenty of warning so it's never a shock.

Thanks

by benmoulds - 2008-10-28 10:10:22

Hey guys, I have spent more time thinking about it, and the more I do the more it helps ease the nerves. I guess I'd rather know when it was going to happen so I can put it behind me and start a fresh 8 years.

I thought that my current run had been pretty good based on 65% pacing, and I'm probably just nervous because of friends and family talking about it.

In your experience how much time have you spent away from the office after the operation?

I wish I could ask for all the fancy new features, but the good old NHS will just fit me up with a PM of their choice!

Will they let me keep my old one?

You know you're wired when...

Your signature looks like an EKG.

Member Quotes

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.