Pacemaker check

Well i received my new st jude pacemaker on 11-10-14 had my first PM check today have had no issues other than i slight infection early on.As of 10/14 I was pacing 92% of the time when they did a check today I have paced less than 1% on both wires this seems very odd to me i was told that everything is working as it should be and the only change the Dr made was the low setting used to be at 70 and the new one is at 60 it showed no events or anything like afib So at this point the number change is the only thing that he thinks could have made this massive difference in amount of pacing .Any thoughts ????? lol

4 Comments

Maybe

by Creaky - 2015-01-08 02:01:02

the docs want to evaluate how well your heart can do with minimal assistance. For example, my lower rate is 60. At that rate when I am active there is no problem. However, if I happen to be sitting around after dinner watching the TV my rate will want to drop below the 60 level and at tiimes I can feel a weaker than normal pulse and irregular rhythm. It is disconcerting but the alternative is changing the lower setting to 70. This would likely shorten the battery life and be otherwise unnecessary.
So perhaps it's a "pays your money, takes your choice" situation. Best to discuss in depth with your doc.
Creaky

Creaky

by Tracey_E - 2015-01-08 03:01:21

Changing the lower limit shouldn't have much effect on battery life. The safety settings and how much juice it takes to make your heart respond and a whole list of other things come into play. Percentage pacing is actually a very small part. Replacements are super easy, do what makes you feel best.

wow

by Tracey_E - 2015-01-08 08:01:21

What a huge difference! Sounds like your natural resting rate is somewhere in the 60's. Why did they have it so high? How do you feel at 60 vs 70? Less pacing is good, but if you feel better with it higher, put it back.

We're all different

by Grateful Heart - 2015-01-10 11:01:09


So to keep you heart pacing at 70 bpm, your pacemaker needed to keep the pace 92% of the time. At 60 bpm, your pacemaker only needs to pace 1% of the time. Your heart is keeping that pace on it's own most of the time (99%). So like Tracey said, your natural resting rate is somewhere in the 60's. If your HR falls below 60 your PM kicks in....in your case, only 1% of the time. That's great.

Even if it's only 1% of the time, which may not sound like much, it's what your heart needs and that can change at any time.

Like Tracey asked, how does if feel at 60 bpm? If your are comfortable, stay with it.

For example: in my case, I have an CRT-D and started out at 60bpm. After a few months, I felt like I needed to catch my breath all the time. My EP set it to 70bpm and it felt so much better. I always pace 100% in the ventricles and currently, 97% in the atria. A few years ago it was 93% in the atria so it can change on it's own at any time. Just rest assured knowing it will pace you as needed.

You may know all of this but possibly it may help some newbies.

The main thing is hopefully you are feeling well.

Grateful Heart

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