Doing Very Well But Confused

It will be 2 years in February 2012 that I received my pacemaker for third degree heartblock. It came on all of a sudden and the doctors were stumped. I was in the hospital for 5 days and they ran tons of tests. The EP felt bad for me since I had no pre-existing conditions that would explain why this happened to me.

So for the first 7 months of being paced almost 100%, in September of last year (2010) the doctor decided to make an adjustment in my pm and while doing so saw that my heart was beating on its own (I also wore a holter monitor earlier that month since I had not been feeling well - rapid heartbeats, etc). So after being paced nearly 100%, in November 2010 I was only pacing 30%. In May 2011, I was paced 20%, and now November 2011 I am paced less than 14% of the time.

I mean i am grateful that I feel great, but why can't someone explain to me what exactly was it that landed me with a pm. I would think the doctors would want to conduct some kind of tests to find out more. Maybe if they find some explanation it could help others. How many are being paced unnecessarily while something else could be done to eradicate the problem?

Thanks for listening...vent over

1 Comments

Cause of block

by ElectricFrank - 2011-12-06 02:12:41

Unfortunately, it's one of those things that is very difficult to diagnose. A common suspected cause is a bacterial or viral infection that impacts the electrical areas of the heart. Even if they could discover the source it would likely require a catheterization procedure to biopsy heart tissue. I wouldn't want to have that procedure unless it had a good chance of making a difference. A pacemaker would almost certainly been a good idea at the time to provide support. Even with 14% pacing you need the pacer. Having a low or paused HR for only a minute or 2 can be a real problem.

Having it come on suddenly is very common. I was doing great and then my HR dropped to 40. So I think the statement to you that they are stumped is more PR than anything else. Or maybe a way to increase the bottom line. 5 days in the hospital running tests for heart block is a bit much, but a real money maker.

best,

frank

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