Does Pacemaker Record Activity

Having just had a pacemaker, I think I can feel and hear it working most nights, in that I have a pulse tinnitus where I can clearly hear my heartbeats (both annoying and sometimes alarming).

When I attend the clinic and they give me checkups on it, does the pacemaker record the demand upon it, ie how often it is being made to work and under what circumstances? I am jotting down a lot of questions for my next visit to both cardiologist and clinic, but this is the foremost one.

3 Comments

New PM, higher voltage

by Theknotguy - 2014-02-22 10:02:30

They kept the voltage on my PM higher for the first 90 days. I feel it was to "train" the heart so it would kick off when the PM did it's thing. So when I went to bed I felt a lot of "pounding" from the strong heartbeats. Pretty distracting. Also sometimes got pain going up into my left jaw and would get a thumping on the left side of my neck. All would wake me up at night.

At 90 days they dropped the voltage. Was sitting in the chair watching the PM tech when they did it. Didn't feel a thing. Everything kept going on same as before. After they dropped the voltage, didn't feel the pounding, pain and thumping went away. Started sleeping a lot better.

(Don't worry, when they drop the voltage they won't drop it to a level below what will work. For example, if your heart will initiate a beat at 1 volt, they'll drop the voltage to 1.5 or 1.75 volts. (Not actual voltage - just numbers to give you an example.))

You may be one of those people who are more sensitive to the electrical impulses and it may be very distracting to you. So you may want to discuss this between your EP, cardiologist, and PM tech. Maybe they would be willing to drop your PM voltage a little to see if it will give you some relief. Or, worst case, they won't drop it until the 90 day period, but at least you'll know you only have to wait for that time.

Living with a PM for the first few months is living with a moving target. Just when you think you've got it figured out, something new comes into the picture. However, you're alive and on the green side of the grass. So that's positive.

Hang in there. Life gets better.

Theknotguy

Statistics

by golden_snitch - 2014-02-22 11:02:01

Hi!

Yes, the pacemaker records the demand. You usually get several statistics at the check-ups, as for instance a 24 hour heart rate trend (some pacers provide that for not only the past 24 hours, but also for the last couple of days). Your cardio should be able to see, if you are paced at night or not. In my last two pacers, the heart rate curve was printed bold when the rates were paced, and printed normal when I had an intrinsic (natural) rhythm. And of course it showed higher average rates when I was active, and slower rates during periods of rest. You also get overall percentages of pacing and sensing for the atrium and ventricle.

Just from hearing your heartbeat, you usually cannot tell whether it's a paced heartbeat or not. You might be more aware of it now as a pacer newbie, though, and that could explain why you think you can hear a difference. Hearing your heartbeat in your ear can also be a symptom of high blood pressure or circulation issues.

Best

Inga

Ask for a copy...

by KAG - 2014-02-22 11:02:11

...of your interrogation report when you get your device checked.

It will have loads of info on your device modes and settings, pacing, etc.... You don't need to understand everything but if you have questions this info can help to get suggestions on this site. Loads of people here that can help you understand anything you don't.

Great that you're going in with a list of questions.
Kathy

You know you're wired when...

You can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.

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