Finally getting a new one, questions...

Hi all! I'm finally getting a new pm after 11 years. it will be in the next few weeks. My questions are: I'm going from a St Jude to a Medtronic, so will the leads need to be changed? Also, is it a pretty quick recovery compared to when i first had it put in? And the last question is, I have Sick Sinus Syndrome and could have had an episode like i did 11 years ago when all this started. Fast heart rate that lasted for about an hour. I'm 38 now but this all started when i was 26. I have read that SSS is a progressive disease...Is it?

3 Comments

NO

by pete - 2009-03-01 01:03:01

They are most unlikely to change your leads. They should be perfectly OK and compatible with your new pacemaker. Cheers Peter

Hey there

by Lotti - 2009-03-01 09:03:09

I have an ELA pacemaker and Medtronic leads from new.

I am told they are all compatible so unless there is actually a problem with your leads then I expect they will leave them alone.

Hope it all goes smoothly.

Lotti

recovery

by Tracey_E - 2009-03-01 11:03:12

Your recovery should be a lot easier than when the first one was put in. They usually go in the same place and try to use the same pocket, so it's all scar tissue.

I don't know much about SSS but when it gets bad the cure for it is a pm, so I wouldn't be too worried about it progressing since you've already got the cure.

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic man.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.