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Question:
What alternative do I have for my heart and pacemaker?
I am 57 yrs young. I have a pacemaker. I have had it for 5 yrs. I was told that I will need a battery for it in 2 yrs. I really don't want another cut on my chest. What will happen if I don't get the new battery? I am already very tired and sleeping a lot lately. This is going on now for about 5 months. I recently had shoulder surgery. I tore my shoulder socket in an accident. It was my left shoulder. It is still recovering. I just am so tired of so many surgeries in my life. I still have chest pains, so I have nitroglycerin spray that I use for the pains. What other alternative do I have for my heart and pacemaker?
submitted by Geri, from Port Arthur, Texas, on 11/5/09
Answer:
by Texas Heart Institute cardiologist, Jaime Benrey, MD
I am sorry your options are limited. If indeed you need the pacemaker to function properly, when it reaches end of life the battery (generator) has to be changed.
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Updated November 2009
