dependent or not

My EP assures me that I am 100% dependent on pm in atrium but not ventricle. I had a routine ECG through my GP who said I was not pacing. I then had an Echocardiogram at the clinic, and the radiographer said I was not pacing. I mentioned this to EP who stated that they were not reading it properly! So I wonder who is right? My PM is set to 50 beats per minute, very slow. I would like to know for sure, but who to ask?!! Cardio/EP has the reputation of being the best in Australia.
I would be grateful for any comments.

Alma Annie

4 Comments

Pacing 100%

by heckboy - 2015-11-19 11:11:00

...doesn't mean you are dependent, but I've had nurse practitioners use the term interchangeably. When they do a PM check on me, they turn it off for a few seconds to see what my natural rate is.

The question you can ask is, "What is my non pacing heart rate?" If they say zero, that's your answer.

Dependent or not

by Good Dog - 2015-11-21 12:11:45

I can tell you from experience that GP's and ER docs only know what your pulse is. They also can usually spot a heart block on an EKG. However, they know little else. Your EP is the specialist. He understands pacing. He is the one you need to trust. If you can't get a straight answer and want a 2nd opinion, I don't blame you. Thing is; you need to go to a Cardiologist/Electrophysiologist. So if you are still in doubt and need answers you can't get from your regular EP, find a new doc or at least one that will give you the answers that you seek. Just be sure he is an EP.

Sincerely,

David

HR

by Gotrhythm - 2015-11-24 07:11:30


I'm told that the new PM trace on EKG is harder to see than it used to be, so the GP may have made a mistake reading it.

In any case, like Dave, I say ask the EP for an explanation. The meaning of 100% dependent is not as self-evident as it might appear to a lay person.

Thanks

by Alma Annie - 2015-11-24 11:11:58

Thanks for your comments. I am not concerned as I trust my Ep who is also a cardio. After I was discharged from hospital after a heart attack 4 years ago, my son made an appointment with his friend, my now cardio /EP He was horrified that I had been discharged, promptly admitted me to another hospital as an emergency and treated me. I was there 3 weeks. He said that he thought my heart could stop at anytime! Everything is fine now.

Alma Annie

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