Pacemaker battery change due now

[Icenae]

Hi all. Hope you are well and not stir crazy.

I have sick sinus syndrome tachy/brady variety. 20 years. 3 ablations. Last one partially effective. Prof Schilling reluctant to do more.

Anyway I am on the list at Barts for an update as my current (2nd) pacemaker has a few months battery left. Had my pre op 17th March. Told would be any time. Before June !!!😊. New wires planned too as mine are 'noisy'. I am not expecting the call any time soon and would rather avoid hospital at mo.

I dont know what happens when battery fails. Luckily I am mostly tachy now. But when they experimented by putting pacing down to 30. I felt faint sometimes. So pacing put back up to 50.

Would that be the norm if not pacing. I can cope with that. Wont drive. Any advice very welcome please.

[Hidden]

I think that is one to ask your pacemaker clinic, I doubt any of us are qualified to answer this one, sorry

[irene75359]

Sorry I can't help at all, hope the clinic can give you some answers.

[seasider18]

Do they just change the battery or fit a new pacemaker ?

[Hatten28]

Hello, I am in a similar position as you, had my last test in November last year, next is in June this year. In January had three very bad episodes of fibrillation which were dreadful to experience. The hospital I am being treated, never tell me anything regarding my test only see you in six months, the last test said I had eight months left on my battery.

I was previously at another hospital where the staff were excellent and gave me confidence, have not seen a cardiologist since diagnosed twenty years ago.

Recently been advised I have heart failure and need an echocardiogram, that was in January heard nothing yet and in the present climate don’t think it will happen anytime soon.

However I am concerned that if my pacemaker is not changed and my existing one fails, what happens?

[Icenae in reply to Hatten28]

We are in the same boat. But I am concerned to hear you haven't seen a cardiologist for so long.

They could adjust your meds to help with af. I am under Barts and have had private care in past I am on an anti coagulent. Rivaroxaban. And a beta blocker. Nebivolol. Also had 3 ablations during last 20 years. Last ablation helped. Doesnt go over 120 much now. But fairly constant af/tachy. No more ablations probably. Joint decision. Good luck. Good thing is if battery goes I might faint a but. But unlikely to die. 😄👍🏼👍🏼