What to expect when pacemaker quits

[ccironwood]

My Dad is in stage 5 vascular dementia. His pacemaker reports that he has 6 months batter life. Because of the prognosis, we have decided to not replace the pacemaker. He is 100% dependent on the pacemaker. What should I expect when the battery runs out? His doctor told me that it won't just quit at that time. They really don't know how long the pacemaker could last.  I'm worried about pain. I will be discussing this with his PCP and his cardiologist. I would just like some answers before then. Dad's health is not in crisis right now.

[ireneo]

My Dad had congestive heart failure and had an ICD. At one point they said he was in end stage heart failure and only had weeks to live. His ICD battery was extremely low too. We had the same worries. His doctor felt the least he could do was replace the ICD with a basic pacemaker to keep him comfortable. LOL  My Dad somehow rallied and lived for almost 2 more years. Cancer finally took him, not his heart.

So unless your Dad is in his very last days, I would hope the doctor would replace the pacemaker. It's not a complicated procedure, only takes an hour or so. Perhaps they don't want to spend the money on him. Hmmph. As I said, my Dad's doctors thought he only had weeks, even had him on hospice care, but still thought he was worth the trouble of putting a pacemaker in to keep him comfortable.

[ed34]

Putting God aside for just one moment, there is also the possibility of medical breakthrough's. Every day new discoveries and treatments are being made in labs all over the world. Look how far things have come in the last 10 years alone. I would always hang in there while hope exists, and hope always exists.

[crow260]

I agree with all the comments made.  My battery got very low last October and thru a mixup in scheduling I was at hospital 1 hour early so I was in waiting room for about 2 hrs. and thank God for one of the volunteers who could see I was on verge of passing out he went back and told them to at least take me back to where there was medical personnel.  They came and he took me back in wheelchair and that was my last memory until new pacemaker was in.  I suffer from afib and sick sinus syndrom.  I agree to not put off replacing battery.  Only God determines when it is our time not the life of a battery.  

crow260  

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

very WELL said. i agree with you . i would never never let the battery run out of my love one. i would replace it and let GOD do his will.

[ChatterAlly]

How very well said!

[LivingInHope]

Well beyond dependency on a pacemaker, ultimately your dad's life is in God's hands, including his number of days, planned before there was even one of them.  So even if you let the battery run out, if it's not your dad's time to leave this earth, it won't happen just because the pacemaker stops working.

  But since you are worried about pain, why even allow the potential to inflict pain in his chest by letting the battery run out?  Why not just replace the battery and leave the number of his days to God?   My grandma was on a pacemaker for a number of years for skipped beats.  She had peripheral vascular disease and a leg amputation, as well as congestive heart failure.  But when it was the right time, pace maker still working, God called her home.  And the last time I saw her in her wheelchair she gave me a smile like I'd never seen out of her before- with joy shining from her face.