New to CRT / Results drastically different

Hello! I had a CRT-D implanted in December. It is my first one. They decided to do the surgery in November and scheduled it for January, but, I got them to do it right before Christmas when a slot opened up, because I maxed my out of pocket (so I didn't have to pay woooohooo). 

In January my Interrogation report read Right <1% paced. Left 100% paced. In March it read Right 32% paced and Left 100% paced. Now, just today it reads Right 76% paced and Left 100% paced.

This sudden pacing of my right side is throwing me off. I am not sure how to approach my cardiologist about this. I see these results, because, the Boston Scientific guy that does the Device Checks always gives me a copy, because every time I see him (even in the hospital) I always ask for a copy. He now does it automatically. 

The cardiologist just ordered a few tests, but, won't talk about the results. The cardiologist that ordered the tests is not my primary cardiologist. My primary cardiologist won't take any actions because she is a referral factory. She's a new cardiologist, just a few years of practicing on her own. But, she manages my cardiology team in Los Angeles pretty much and does all my scheduling. I have a Electrophysiologist, a Genetic Cardiologist, a Congeital Cardiologist, and a another cardiologist that specializes in the Left Ventricle. 

All my life my heart has been about issues on my left side, my aortic and mitral. It was always left, left, left. 

Now, these readings in this checkup. I am wondering why is my right side suddenly paced? I have been feeling a lot more fatigue than normal, but, I been so busy lately and attributed it to that. I wonder if there is something deeper. They were afraid of my heart getting weaker when they did the implant, which was why they ended up agreeing to rush it. 

Does anyone have experience with this? What happened when the other side of your heart's pacing changed?

2 Comments

Questions: we all have them

by Gotrhythm - 2018-05-15 13:23:03

Why is it so hard to get a straight answer to a simple question from a cardiologist? When I know that I'll be the smartest person in the world.

Until that day comes, here's what I have learned. The more specific I can make my question, the better answer I'm likely to get.

It seems to me that "Why is my right ventricle suddenly paced at 74%, when at first it was only paced les than 1%?" would be a good question. A follow up question would be, "Did you expect to see this much change over time, or is this unusual?" A third question would be "Does this change mean my condition is getting worse, or better?"

Disclaimer. I don't have a CRT. I could be completely off base. I certainly don't know why the right ventricle would be paced more but I can't see any harm in asking straight out.

Update!

by ashkir - 2018-06-23 03:28:00

Hello! It has been a while. I questioned it. It appears they programmed the heart to bring the right ventricle up. They want to get the hearts to pace at the same time. This now means 26% of the beats are because the right side did not beat in sync with the left side, so it was a correction for this. 

I am still getting chest pain randomly, but, the cardiologist are certain it is not related to the heart. I am still showing extremely high number sof PVCs unfortunately. 

I kind of feel I want t oget a second opinion but I don't know where to go for a second opinion :/ I need someone who isn't afraid to tell me what is going on. If I need surgery, I'd rather to know now than too late like that happened last time.

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