Pacemaker at Mayo

Yes I have a pacemaker I had it about 5yrs ago following open heart surgery.

@espin
I have had 3 pacemakers inplanted since 2006. I had all 3 done at Mayo Clinic. I had an outstanding EP doctor Dr. Kusumoto who is world known, has written books, and gives lectures and seminars to other cardiolgoist and EPs.

When I first came to Mayo I lived down in Vero Beach and Mayo was in Jacksonville. My cardiologist heart failure dotor and my EP Dr. Kusumoto worked with my cardiologist in Vero Beach and sent him the test and office visits information. It worked seamlesly.

In 2015 I moved to Ponte Vedra just south of Jacksonville and now all my medical care is at Mayo Clinic.

Regarding how did it go. My EP explain everything to me. What to expect, what I would feel, how long to get used to it and the benefits of the ICD/Pacemaker. He was right on. It took me a year like he said to be accoustomed to the device being in body and forget it is there.

There is some discomfort until both the outer skin heals. Most pacemakers are put under skin but mine was put under my chest muslce because my skin was so thin in chest area and I was so active. So I had the healing process of the chest muscle also. I don't know it is there these days unless I raise my left arm above my head and it causes pacemaker to move and thus I feel it.

I do sprint triathlons since 2017 and have done about 50 of them. I have no exercise restritions and told to exercise. My device has gone off but not lately. I was told that my device is like having a EMS squad inside my body and ready to assist and that helps me with the device.

He will get used to having it but make sure he gets instructions on keeping his phone away from device, precautions with MRIs, going through airports that use detectors (most use devices now that do not interfere with pacemakers) who are old style metal detectors.

Good luck and if you have questions I would be glad to answer. Like I said I have had one for 18 years and on my 3rd one. They last about 8-10 years.

I have a peaceless pacemaker that only paces on my heart stops are when it slows down to 40 beats per minute no I think 35 is set up but kind of makes me upset because my EP doctor thinks that's fine cuz it goes down that low when I'm walking around you know how long those last I'm pacing about 4% right now at 4% of the time.

I had a ST Jude pacemaker implanted in March 2022. All good until May 23, 2023 when my heart rate fell to 44. Surgery repositioned the ventricular lead, then 24 hours later it fell to 35. Went in an ambulance 5 hours to a tier 1 hospital where they discovered the lead was in fact broken. Replaced it, and all is good. EXCEPT, tests show since then that my generator is requiring 5 volts when 1 volt is normal. This means the device will not last as long. So how will I know when it about to fail altogether? Do I have to wait for a life-threatening emergency? Anybody else have a pacemaker requiring so much energy?

beachpedro
I am on my 3rd ICD/Pacemaker (Boston Scientific). First your pace clinic will have the answers to your questions. Second you can also contact St. Jude and they will have a ton of information on your specific ICD/Pacemaker.

When you have your devices read it will show the batter life and how many years. That is what they use to plan when to replace so it is done prior to battery getting to low.

Also your ICD/Pacemaker when battery gets low starts a beeping sound that you can hear (at least mine did). Your device, like mine, then if not replaced will go into safety mode which is the ICD part will be where battery life is priortized.

You have good questions but your pace clinic or EP or St. Jude can address your specific ICD/Pacemaker device with more precise answers. It is unusally for a lead to break. The can deveolped high inpediance but breaking is not normal. Did you have anything strike your chest? Did the EP or surgeon break the lead?

All good information, except the St Jude Pacemaker does not have any kind of alarm when the generator is reaching the end of its charge. The St Jude rep has been great, and he suggests I have him check it every 6 months to determine how much life it has left. BUT, he cautions this is not an exact science. His current estimate, based upon a check up last November, is 3 more years. He and the cardiologist "think" the surgeon "abused" the cable, but why did it take 15 months from implant to failure? and they also "think" the current voltage requirement is due to the cables. Too much "thinking" and not enough conclusions. And so far, St Jude, which is owned by ABBOTT, is being defensive, not helpful. They claim the surgeon is at fault. And no, nothing impacted my chest when it failed.

@beachpedro
The provider who inplanted your ICD/Pacemaker did they offer a system called Latitude? This is a home monitoring system that can do a remote check of your ICD/Pacemaker. I have this through Mayo Clinic Jacksonville.

Mine is set up for every 3 months for a remote check and once a year I go into Mayo Pace Clinic to do a check on wires and other tests that the reomote can't do. The Latitude done remote is sent to Mayo Clinic and they read it and respond with any issues or need to come into clinic. Part of this 3 month check is battery life, espisodes, PVCs, and electrical functions.

I think this has to be set up by your provider and maybe then don't have the facilities or ability to do it. The remote monitor is free to me with insurance covering the 3 month test which is done by Mayo Pace Clinic not Latitude.

My information is 10 years old. I love Mayo Clinic, but did not have a good experience with a replacement pacemaker. The battery had almost completely failed. Despite having requested a replacement several months in advance, schedulers messed up and finally fit me in on late Friday afternoon after a week at the Medical Center. 30 minutes before the procedure, I was asked which pacemaker I would like. The nurse gave me a general description of options and because of lack of time I went with the flow and had a replacement of the original Saint Jude’s with another from the same company. When I started the procedure, I was in rhythm and when I was released, I was in AF. By the next morning, I was back in rhythm. I have to believe that this was a one off. Again, I’m guessing that this was just a horrendous scheduler error that resulted in my being fit in at the last minute before the weekend.

@marcher , Was this a Mayo? I go to Mayo Jacksonville since 2006. I had my first ICD/Pacemaker implanted in February 2006. I am now on my 3rd one.

My EP pick my device and maker saying to me "I am picking what is best for you and best available device at this time." I have Boston Scientific. My first one had issues with battery and had to have it replaced sooner that should have. Boston S. paid for new one and the increased cost of monitoring the old one. No problems like that on the other two.

I also have the home latitude which is used to monitor my device every 3 months. Once a year I go into Mayo Pace Clinic for more tests.

When you first get your pacemaker you have to remember you are placing wires on your heart. The heart can get very irritated with touched or things placed in or near it. Over time your heart will develope coating around the wires as wells a body covering the actual device.

At Mayo Jacksonville once you hit 6 months on battery life you are placed on schedule for getting a new one.

jc76
Just wondering, You mention (6-Months battery life) I am going to be getting a pacemaker soon and was told battery life is 8 to 10 years.
Thanks jp