Need a little help

Hello I Had my first pm put in over 10 years ago. At that time it was pacing about 40% on the upper part of my heart & not at all on other. About a month ago at my check up I asked if I were pacing more now. He said "no". This time I said nothing & he brought it up.Said the upper heart was pacing 99% .the lower part at 80%.I was so shocked I couldn't speak before he left the room.I am 73 .Is this is normal?

2 Comments

Pacing vs need

by Theknotguy - 2015-05-07 10:05:47

The part of your heart that is the natural pacemaker can have problems as you get older. The guy who sits next to me in church is 90, is on a PM. He used to pace at about 60% but is now closer to 100%. His father lived to 105 and didn't have a PM.

Some people get hung up on how much they pace but you've got to remember just because you pace at a certain level doesn't mean your heart would stop if the PM would quit. It just means the natural pacemaker in your heart isn't keeping up at the same level as the mechanical PM.

Because of medical advances we are more aware of medical problems. So for the guy sitting next to me, he's got the PM because they found a problem with his heart. His father may have needed a PM too but may have never seen a cardiologist.

The most important thing is your PM is working. It also appears you're doing pretty well otherwise. So, like I said, don't get hung up on how much you pace.

thanks

by neff - 2015-05-07 11:05:58

thank you. I feel better. I have a friend that tells the alternative to old age is death. that's kinda what your saying about a pm.

You know you're wired when...

Your ICD has a better memory than you.

Member Quotes

I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.