Newbie thanks and update

I want to thank you for the comments on my last posting. It
made a difference. Went for 1st visit today..here is story.
Boston Scientific-Altrua60 implanted Nov 24. Now DDD, set
at 140 (I exercise a lot), pacing is 28% Atrium and 96%
Ventricle. Delay setting is 360ms. Pulse rate for arrythmia is
set for 60. Diagnosis: left anterior vascular block, right bundle
branch block and 1st degree Atrioventicator.

I am shocked at the 96% pacing rate, didn't know I was that bad but feeling fine. I have both the pre and post test results.
Any comments, advice etc would be most appreciated. I run
some support groups at local hospital and I know how invaluable advice from users can be. Thanks in advance.

3 Comments

96% pacing

by ElectricFrank - 2009-12-02 01:12:41

That's not unusual or an indication of a problem. All that means is that your heart falls short of the conditions they have set for pacing to begin. I've been at near 100% since I got mine 6 years ago. I also have AV Block and am set for DDD mode.

I have asked the Medtronics rep to turn mine off for a short interval just to see what happens if I lost pacing. In my case my HR drops to somewhere in the 30-35 bpm range. I feel lousy, but don't become light headed.

Feel free to get back to your exercise and enjoy yourself.

frank

A newbie - what is DDD

by Pelelives - 2009-12-02 12:12:04

I am a newbie as well, and I don't know what DDD means - please advise!

DDD mode

by ElectricFrank - 2009-12-05 12:12:37

The pacemaker has a number of modes that determine the operation of the pacemaker.

In DDD mode the pacemaker uses a lead wire in the atrium to sense a contraction. This information is used to time a very small electrical impulse to another lead in the ventricles to cause them to contract. This mode depends on your heart being able to control atrial heart rate on its own in response to exercise. The atrialventricular block means that the pathway the heart normally uses to pace the ventricles has a problem so the pacemaker replaces it. This is one of most benign forms of block and is easily treated with a pacer. The nice thing is that your heart still responds naturally to exercise.

Hope this makes sense. Be sure and ask if you need more.

frank

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