Pacemaker Self Test

Last night I experienced what felt like palpitations for about 30 seconds.  Today, just so happened, I had a follow-up appointment with my cardiologist to check how well the PM is functioning.  Technition informed me that what I experienced was a PM self-test.  I neglected to ask the tech how often and/or when this is scheduled to occur.  Does anyone out there know the answer? 

6 Comments

24

by ROBO Pop - 2018-09-17 13:05:03

It performs self test on a 24 hour cycle. So 24 hours after you felt the last test it'll do it again

Autocapture Threshold

by Selwyn - 2018-09-17 13:10:41

This is a test to ensure that the pacing pulse is always at just the right level to ensure that the ventricle contracts.

The function can be set to a time of the clock most suitable for you ( eg. when you are asleep), hourly, daily, weekly, or at the longest 30 days. It can also be switched 'off'.

Further information: 

http://www.pei.ie/PEI/media/PEI-media/PDFs/PDFs_Cardiac/PDFs_Cardiac_Products/autocapture_pacing_system.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1501074/

Selwyn

Self-test

by IAN MC - 2018-09-17 14:10:06

I found the self-test to be quite unpleasant so I asked my cardiologist to switch it off which he happily did . I am still alive 7 years later !

Ian

Ian

by ROBO Pop - 2018-09-17 19:58:21

Buddy, I've got some bad news for you...Didn't you suspect something was off?

ROBO

by IAN MC - 2018-09-18 04:58:42

Yes I have suspected for some time.    Also why did my cardiologist insist that I carry a card saying   " Do Not Resuscitate Under Any Circumstances "  ?

Ian

Every day....

by BOBTHOM - 2018-09-20 07:54:27

I have an ICD and am not (yet) paced full time but I had issues every morning at 12:30am.  Originally I thought it was random, but after the EP and his team ignored my complaints I started tracking it more closely.  Turns out that, although it sporadically happens other times it was consistenly happening at 12:30am every day.  The EP still ignored my complaints.  I finally called Medtronic who told me that it was a "feature" and that it could be turned off.  It apparently does a sensor recalibration daily to ensure it will shock me just the right amount when I need it.  I called the EP and as soon as I started talking they cut me off and said everything was normal, that's when I informed them that I had spoken with Medtronic and they say it's a "feature" that can be turned off.  The EP's office said they would call me back.  Next day they scheduled me to come in to have that "feature" turned off.  I'm getting tired of firing doctors!

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