What is the correct voltage number?

What do the volt readings mean? At my 2 week check up they lowered the volts but I only know they lowered from 3.5. Is there a number we should be at or is different for each of us?

4 Comments

Depends upon your body

by Theknotguy - 2014-12-07 10:12:35

It depends upon the resistance in your body. It's different for every person. I think I'm running 8 tenths of a volt on my atrium.

They run a check to find the minimum that will make your heart beat, then increase the voltage to give you a safety voltage. So the PM will always make your heart beat when needed.

They increase the voltage at first to get scar tissue to form and to make sure the leads are firmly implanted. Then lower it later. Some people can feel it when the voltage is set higher.

Don't get concerned if your voltage is higher than mine. Like I said it's different for every person.

Your PM tech should check the voltage when they check your PM. It's part of the process.

Hope everything else is going well for you.

Voltage

by golden_snitch - 2014-12-08 02:12:21

Hi!

It's different for each of us, because it depends on the so called pacing "threshold", which is the minimum voltage required to make the heart beat, as Theknotguy already explained. So, don't worry, if your numbers are different from other patients'.

Many of today's pacemakers have an "automatic capture management", so they can measure your thresholds automatically on a regular basis and adjust the amplitude (output voltage) accordingly. It might not be switched on in the beginning, but after a couple of months when everything has healed nicely this feature can certainly come in handy and help to save battery life. I have mine switched on, and it checks my threshold every night at 2 a.m.

Inga

Thresholds vary

by pacemaker writer - 2014-12-08 04:12:39

Plus voltage needs can vary depending on where the lead touches your heart. And your "threshold" changes over time--it's the lowest it ever will be at implant, then increases, then decreases a bit and plateaus. But sometimes over the long term, it may go up or down a bit. That's why they check it each time.

Automatic test

by golden_snitch - 2014-12-09 01:12:55

You could have changed it to a different time, so that the test doesn't wake you up. In my pacemaker you can program the test to be done at any time, day or night. The test can help to save battery life.

Inga

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