EKG showed two skipped beats

Recent EKG showed two skipped beats. Have Medtronic dual chamber pacemaker pacing 100 percent for past three years due to bradycardia.. Do not feel palpatations in chest or other symptoms of afib. Thought pacemakekr would control rhythm problem but now fear afib or other rhythm issues can develop. Cardiologist being cautious and will do another EKG in two months since I've never had symptoms of skipped beats before.
It is common to have more than one rhythm disturbance? Getting really stressed about this. Any advice or comments would be appreciated.

2 Comments

Definition of skipped beats

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-26 10:11:51

What is the definition of your "skipped beats". I'm always learning things from this forum and I am wrong in my comments sometimes but strive to get my facts straight.

Based upon my knowledge of the PM it is impossible for your heart to miss a beat. My PM is set to watch my heart, and if it doesn't initiate a beat within a certain number of milliseconds, it steps in and initiates a beat. If the ventricle doesn't follow within a certain number of milliseconds after the atrium, it steps in and initiates a ventricle beat. So it's impossible for my heart to "skip" a beat.

What can happen, and does, is that my heart fails to initiate a beat on time. The PM steps in and away we go. Used to get coughing jags because I was used to my heart doing its own thing. Suddenly I was getting regular beats - really felt strange at first to get a good heartbeat.

What I'm thinking is they may have seen where your heart failed to initiate a beat on time and the PM stepped in. In that case, you should feel grateful the PM has done its job.

Is it common to have more than one rhythm disturbance? Yep, sure is. You may have had them all your life and have gotten along fine. Now you have this device that records EVERYTHING and they see things because you have the recording device. Also, because of your heart problems, other problems can develop over time. I've got three rhythm problems of which I am aware - may have more.

In answer to your other question, afib or other rhythm problems can develop. But there are two ways of looking at that. 1) They were going to develop anyway. 2) Without the PM you might not have lived long enough to have the new problems develop. I don't like to have new problems develop but I'm glad I'm alive to have the experience. 3) Medical science in the heart related area is progressing very quickly. Sometimes when they discover the new problem there is already a solution in place. Once they've identified the problem they can apply the solution.

Getting stressed about this is the worst thing you can do. It doesn't help with the rhythm problems. I know it's almost impossible to get the nagging thoughts out of the back of your mind but try to anyway. Here are some thoughts:
1) With the PM you don't have to worry about dropping over dead because your heart suddenly stopped. The PM takes care of that.
2) Medical people say things sometimes that we interpret incorrectly. My rule of thumb is not to get upset until you see people running down the hall. If everyone looks bored, you're OK. So your tech/doctor/EP may have said "skipped beat" but that means your heart didn't initiate a beat on time - not that your heart just stopped beating and the PM didn't do it's job. Ask for clarification.
3) Additional heart problems may show up or be discovered. But that doesn't mean your life is over. Got into a discussion about mitral valve regurgitation which I have. Did research on internet - all bad. Sudden imminent death, etc. Did more research - 15 - 20% of people are walking around with mitral valve regurgitation and get along just fine. My wife has an enlarged aorta - big deal - 15-20% of people are walking around with an enlarged aorta and are doing just fine. In both cases it doesn't mean imminent death.

So, in your case, I'd get clarification on your "skipped beats". Since they didn't rush you to the emergency room I'd guess it's no big deal. Scary, yes, when they use the words, but not a threat of imminent death.

Go back to your medical maintenance plan. Do your walking, do your exercises, watch your diet, take your meds. Quit worrying - which I know is hard to do. Get on with your life.



Missed beats too

by NormaLou - 2014-11-27 11:11:24

Hello, Just want to chime in here and say that I also have the missed beat event. It happens at night when I lay down; when I breathe in my heart either misses a beat or it delays a beat. Knot guy, you say it's impossible to happen with a pm (which makes sense), but it is happening every night. I have talked to my EP and he just dismisses it (like everything else I tell him) and says it's part of my Afib. I know it is not Afib related because my Afib is episodic and only happens about every 4-6 mos. All tests (echo and stress test) show that my heart is otherwise in good shape. I have the pm due to slow hb--going as low as 30 during the night.
NormaLou

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