Andrew's 6 month appointment

[Dolly (Andrew's mom)]

Well we got a bit of a shock (and confusion) today at Andrew's appointment. At his last ICD interrogation 6 months ago we were told if it continued on the course it was taking at that time to expect a replacment around Nov due to a depleting battery. They interrogated his ICD today and the battery has not depleted one bit since his appointment in April! The 6 months prior to the appointment in April the battery had depleted at a rather quick rate, they "thought" from pacing, and they just assumed it would continue to deplete at that rate and would be running out this month and had us prepared for surgery this fall. But for some reason it has not changed a bit since April! I asked why that would be and they could not answer my question. He had no clue why it all of sudden stopped depleting the battery. They are going to leave it in for now (no surgery!!) and went through the steps we are to take if his ICD alarm goes off (alerting us of a low battery) before he is scheduled to be seen again next April.

He also had a echo today. His septum size has increased more then I expected in the past 12 months. It has gone from 2.6 cm to 3.0 cm. It has been averaging about .1 cm - .2 cm increase per year and this past year it increased .4 cm. I was concerned about the rate of septal increase, but the cardiologist didn't seem too concerned and said to come back in the usual 6 months. He did stress to Andrew it is extremely important that he not miss his daily atenonol though. He also looked at Andrew in a reassuring way and said "We all should be relieved you have that ICD in there!"

[Reenie]

Re: Andrew's 6 month appointment

I'm glad that you have no impending surgery! Yayy!

Reenie

[Midge Rollins]

Re: Andrew's 6 month appointment

Dolly, those ICD replacement times can be tricky. I was told the same thing as Andrew and would you believe mine went 2 years past the time they said it would they had told me to plan on it in 3 months. So every 3 months for 2 years I planned on it. Finally did it last April. Sometimes we are like the ever ready bunny we just keep on ticking. They do not know why but sometimes the battery just plateus off and continues. Even when it is at its end you have 30 days before they need to replace it. They did tell me if I had lots of firings it would make a difference and to let them know. Just wanted you to know it is not unusual. Good luck.

[Dolly (Andrew's mom)]

Re: Andrew's 6 month appointment

Thanks Midge and Reenie.

Midge your reply made me feel MUCH better! I was confused enough before I asked the tech "why" the depletion rate suddenly stopped completely, and even more confused after he said it confuses him too!

At least I know it is not that unusual now!!! So I feel better and will just chalk it up to yet another mystery of modern technology.

[Lisa Salberg]

Re: Andrew's 6 month appointment

Re the battery life - I too am heading down the road to replacement - 4 months ago they said - maybe in 6 mo to a year. Last week at the check the battery was at the same point as it had been. SOUNDS THE SAME?? Odd but true!

I was told and me being me...researched this to death... that the battery sometimes runs down rather fast and then balances off - why?? no one really knows...but heck no surgury for either of us this fall/winter!!!

RE the septal measurement - he is still growing - - the numbers are likely to change. I would not read too much into the numbers as there is an error/reading difference of .2 on most tests - therefore the last one could have really been 2.8 and this one maybe as well. Check in 6 months and that will help figure out the numbers -

Yes, I am happy he has the ICD with his measurements that high and still growing, but lets hope he never needs it

Lisa