is my heart getting worse

Hi I have had a pm for about 15 years I have only ever used it 20% of the time my tech now tells me I am using it 90% of the time insnt that a big jump ? Here in England we don't get the followup you seem to get over their I am unlikely to see my specialist until I need a new pm (5 years away) so I have no one to ask my local doctor just told me not to worry as long as the pm is working I would be fine but that's not the point I want to know is my heat getting worse and if so why

Maureen

5 Comments

hard to say

by Tracey_E - 2013-01-14 01:01:32

It's possible your heart isn't beating as fast on its own anymore so the pm is working more, or it's possible the settings were changed so the pm kicks in sooner. Hearts change with age. Medications can make the hr drop so the pm would kick in more. Lots of things can happen to change the amount we pace. Once we have them, it doesn't much matter how much we use them. There is no magic number that is good or bad, the important thing is how we feel.

20% to 90% is a very large change. I would press for more information, at the very least an echo to make sure everything still looks good structurally. I would ask to see the cardiologist just for a check up.

Thanks Tracey

by maureen.coxsey - 2013-01-14 01:01:48

The penny has just dropped I am now taking beater blockers that will be what it is , wouldn't you think my local doctor would of thought of that, seeing he was the one who increased the medication .

mystery solved

by Tracey_E - 2013-01-14 02:01:23

beta blockers will definitely drop your rate and cause the pm to kick in more! It would make sense he should know that but I'm not surprised he didn't put it together. When anyone other than a cardiologist or EP looks at the pm reports, they generally only look for abnormalities and signs of malfunction. Glad you have an easy explanation.

Moe...........

by Tattoo Man - 2013-01-14 02:01:27


.............I am more than a little puzzled. I live in the Midlands and my PM was done at Glenfield Leicester. I have a direct phone line to Lawrence, my Tecchie. I can call him to ask for info (only needed to on one occasion ). I get 2 'downloads' a year.

The department is known as Medical Physics..the Hospital where you had your PM done should be able to give you a contact number. Make sure you have your NHS / Patient number.

Apart from this fabulous site a source of huge information..you can also ring the British Heart Foundation on

0300 330 3311

Best of luck Tattoo Man

tattoo man

by maureen.coxsey - 2013-01-14 03:01:38

Hi I wish whiston was like that I see the tech once a year she just runns the usual tests then says see u in a year I never get to see the specialist. I suppose I could ring the ECG departmentand ask to be put through to the tech but she isn't approachablel, I feel she would say your PM is working don't worry see u in a year.some times we just need reassurance. But I think its because I am taking more beta blockers now for Pvs

You know you're wired when...

A thirty-day guarantee is not good enough.

Member Quotes

One week has passed and I must admit that each day I feel a little stronger.