Dead Battery in Pacemaker

[Nell1936]

My pacemaker battery had been dead for over a year and a half, and I just now was told that the pacemaker will have to be removed because it can damage the heart if it doesn't have a battery.  Is this true?  Incidentally, my pacemaker had not been activated for several years, as it was set for the minimum and didn't ever have to kick in.

[grendslori]

...and you had pscemaker, why????

[ireneo]

To remove the pacemaker itself isn't difficult. They make a small incision like the first time, remove the pacemaker and disconnect the leads, clean out the "pocket" and close things up. Or they can connect a new one before they sew you up again.

If they also want to remove the leads, that's another story. The leads become rather embedded in the heart tissue and they don't simply slide out like unplugging the toaster. Be sure to talk this over with your cardio about what's involved.

I think it's odd that they let the pacemaker battery go dead. My Dad had his interrogated at regular intervals and they kept track of the battery life. When it got low, they changed his out. They didn't wait for it to die completely. And I'm not sure how a pacemaker without power can hurt anything. It's just a foreign object sitting there doing nothing.

[Jerry_NJ]

Sounds like you don't need a pacemaker.  I think I'd want it out if I didn't need/use it.  

I do not have a pacemaker and don't have any idea how difficult removal is, hope (would guess) it is a out-patient (same day in/out) procedure.  

You say the pacemaker never "kicked" in, I assume you don't have any related heart problems like dizziness or shortness of breath.  If you do, perhaps you should consider having the pacemaker set to cut in sooner.