Pacing when it shouldn't

Hi was wondering if anyone has ever had their pacemaker pace before it should. Mine is paced to kick in below 50. I have Sick Sinus Syndrome. I am on 24hr event monitoring because I feel my pacemaker pacing and then my HR jumps to 100. When I spoke to the people on the phone who are monitoring it they say It shows that I am in normal sinus rythmn like 70 and then it starts to pace so my heart rate is not dropping below 50 but it is pacing was just wondering if this has happened to anyone?? Monday I can call my Dr office and see what they say but just wondering if this happens very often

4 Comments

thanks

by cfritza - 2014-04-26 01:04:18

Thanks eveyone for the input . I had my PM interrogated in March but I have been feeling my PM pace just like when they put the magnet on you, and there are several at a time. They said my PM was working fine and the settings were the same as they have been for the past 5 years and I was not feeling this pacing until this last 6months. They would come and go and I noticed them more if I was stressed or drank too much caffeine. I was worried maybe I was starting to have AFib so that is why my Dr recommended this monitor and this pacing which makes my heart rate go from 70 to 100 is what they tell me they see when I call the Number. So I didn't know if maybe sometimes the settings get off. I do always get a print out but even after all these years there is still only so much I understand of all of it but when I first got it they had to adjust it so hopefully Mon. I can find out for sure.... Thanks again for the input this is still such a great site for information!

How do you know---

by kmom - 2014-04-26 11:04:11

if it's the PM that you feel pacing?? I don't feel mine I don't think?? could it possibly be a tachycardia or afib?? I know I feel my chest beating a lot more than my actual HR but it's my afib kicking in (I think??) got my PM April 7th for SSS and the meds I am for afib were dropping my HR too much. as far as I can tell I do NOT feel my PM when it kicks in. although at last check it was pacing at 64% of time in atria and 6% ventricle.

Of course

by KAG - 2014-04-26 11:04:27

A PM paces when it's programmed to. Depending on your condition there are different algorithms turned On to support your activities. Many people seem to think that their PM only paces below the lower rate setting. Depending on your condition your PM will be programmed to support your activities. They start with average settings so depending on your activities many times the settings need to be tweaked for you.

For instance I'm in total AV block so my PM paces my ventricles 100%. My sinus node works fine so my PM mainly just senses my atrial rhythm. However at night when I'm sleeping my atrial rate will sometimes fall below my programmed low rate of 60 and then my PM also paces my atria. That only happens about 3 % of the time.

For you with SSS your PM is probably pacing your atria. How much depends on how well your sinus node works or doesn't work. It may also be pacing your ventricle depending on your AV node function. There are sensors in your PM, the type depends on your model, which sense when you need your HR raised or lowered. All this is under the Rate Response function of your PM.

Next time you go to your PM Dr ask for a printout of your PM interrogation report. It has all the modes and settings of your PM. You can ask for help in understanding it, if needed, on this site. Lots of people can help.

For me understanding what and how my PM works helped me to adjust to it much quicker. I'm a retired engineer so that probably is why.

Remember that knowledge is power.
Kathy

sinus pacing

by Tracey_E - 2014-04-26 11:04:49

There are several kinds of sinus pacing. It will kick in if your rate drops under 50, but it will also kick in if it senses movement and your heart isn't going up on it's own. That's rate response and the sensitivity of it can be adjusted if needed. It can also be set to prevent drops. Sometimes when I'm working out, my rate will suddenly take a nose dive. If this happens, it paces to keep my rate steady. So, just because your rate is over 50 doesn't mean it isn't pacing. It's very common to need to fine tune the settings. They start with a good guess, but it's just that- a guess.

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