Great news!

Hi all
I had my PM check today. Deputy Head of Pacing did it as the Head of Pacing is off work due to the sudden death of her mum. That is so sad.

Great news!! You may remember from 3 weeks ago that they found my sinus node was working again on exertion but was still only running at around 50 at rest.

Now it is running at 70-75 at rest which is fantastic news!! Before I had my arrythmias & ablations, my normal HR was always around 70-75. When my SA node was damaged by 2 ablations near it (for atrial tachycardia) my HR dropped to 50 & even lower. So now it appears to be running at the level it always did before it was damaged! I was SO excited when I heard this news today!

However, my atrial pacing has only dropped from 100% to 98%. To me that is fantastic, even though it is only a small drop in 3 weeks, it is going the right way.

It appears I am still using the rate response a lot (showed me the histograms etc today) so they won't change that which is fine by me.

We did have a discussion about turning the lower rate down to 60 (from 70) but the Deputy tech said I'll need to discuss that with my EP in clinic on Monday. As they have only recently sorted out my neck pressure (by doing the AV optimisation) & chest pain (by increasing my upper rate).....he was reluctant to change it today as he feels they have only just got me sorted out & that I should leave it a bit longer to see how my SA node recovers. He said when the SA node recovers it can be intermittent in its function. Fair enough, I can totally understand his point. I agree that it should be discussed with my EP on Monday & I am happy to do that.

He did do a quick trial of turning the lower rate down to 60 today & indeed my SA node was working by itself at 70-75. So it is looking hopeful. I never expected it to start working at 70 again, I thought it would remain at 50 at rest....so I'm just SO pleased at this news today.

No more episodes of VT have been recorded which is great news too.

I did ask about having surgery, being PM dependent with no AV node....as I have been recently diagnosed with a prolapse & may need an op. The Deputy Head said not to worry, as I am going to the same hospital for my gynae care, they will liase with the gynae team & anaesthetist if I need surgery...they deal with this all the time, it will be fine. So I feel much better about all that now too.

So....next appt is with my EP on Monday in clinic. I will discuss my SA node recovery & lower rate etc with him.

I'll keep you posted! It is all so exciting & such positive news.

Best wishes
Janey

4 Comments

Good News

by ebfox - 2013-05-09 06:05:11

Sounds like good progress Janey. I can tell you from first hand experience that sinus node recovery is a bunch of small steps. I was 100% paced for less than 12 days but it took 10 months before the EP was comfortable in removing the PM-

I am glad for you-

E. B.

Progress

by Janey L - 2013-05-09 07:05:03

Hi ebfox
That is very interesting that it took 10 months for your PM to be removed.

I will always need the PM as I had an AV node ablation last October (for another arrythmia) & so have complete heart block as well. But it will be fantastic if my SA node recovers enough to minimise the atrial pacing. They say it is always better if your own heart can do some of the work on its own.

What I find so amazing is that it is nearly 2-3 years since my SA node was damaged by 2 ablations near it for atrial tachycardia (2010 & 2011), I never expected it to recover after that length of time. So all this news is just fantastic.

I'll keep you posted.

Best wishes
Janey

That's Awesome!

by Many Blessings - 2013-05-09 11:05:21

That is great news! Best of luck to you! When I read your post, it immediately brought a smile to my face!

Need PM

by Janey L - 2013-05-11 03:05:49

Hi Ronaldo
I will need to keep my PM as I had an AV node ablation last October (for another arrythmia) & so have complete heart block & am 100% ventricle paced.

I have always been 100% atrial paced since I got my PM in 2011, due to the sinus node damage. However, now that my sinus node seems to be recovering (so fantastic!).....maybe my %atrial pacing will soon be a lot less. Maybe it might eventually drop to zero.

I'll be really pleased if the %atrial pacing drops, even though I'll always be 100% ventricle paced. They say it is always better if your heart can do some work on its own so I'll just be really pleased if my atria can be controlled by my sinus node again....even if not completely, just some normal sinus node function is fantastic. I never expected it to ever recover from being damaged 2 years ago.

I'm still really excited about it all. I'm seeing my EP on Monday & can't wait to see what he says about it all.

I'll keep you posted.

Best wishes
Janey

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