Lower and Upper rates

numbers

by Tracey_E - 2020-08-02 13:47:08

First of all, the numbers don't much matter. There is no number that's good or bad and most of us with 3rd degree av block pace 100%.

Atrial sensing/ventricular pacing is the number to look at. That is how much of the time the atrial lead is watching, the ventricular lead is working. Atrial pacing would be a separate number but odds are you don't do that much if at all. 

It's common to go between 2nd and 3rd degree block, so that would be why both are on your records. 

No unfortunately

by IAN MC - 2020-08-02 13:47:16

All that checking your heart-rate will tell you is that your heart is beating which is always a cause for celebration !  It tells you how fast it is beating , but It won't tell you if your heart is beating naturally or if it is your PM producing the beats.

But every time you have a PM interrogation this information is readily available. Ask  your Dr / technician or better still get the printout.

It sounds as though you are doing fine.

Ian

Heart rate / Numbers

by Sisterwash65 - 2020-08-02 14:23:59

Thanks Tracy E and Ian. Got my PM on May 28 and at my first and only device check ( so far ) my rates were 93.7 % VP and 5.9 % AP. Also MVP is turned OFF. I guess this is because I really need that VPacing ! 

My leads are in the Atrial appendage and the Apex of the ventricle. And like Ian said that heart beating is a cause for celebrating !!! 

Thanks again !!!

more numbers

by Tracey_E - 2020-08-02 19:03:27

So you are pacing 93% ventricle, 5% atrial. And yes, you really needed the ventricular pacing! 

Numbers

by AgentX86 - 2020-08-02 23:34:43

If your resting heart rate is above the set minimum, you're not atrial pacing.  If you have complete heart block, you're pacing V-pacing close (plus or minus a PVC or two) to 100%.  Heart block is a continuum, so V-pacing may not be 100%. 

Numbers

by Sisterwash65 - 2020-08-03 06:52:01

Thanks for your input, AgentX86. This forum has really helped me and I thank you all !

all the time

by dwelch - 2020-08-07 01:59:00

As with Tracey_E, myself and many others with AV block, the pacer is pacing the lower chambers near 100% of the time.  And that is perfectly normal, expected, and planned for.

Your upper chamber rate has to do with you and your activities and such. I was well under 60 when I started this journey, I dont have the printouts from then, didnt know that was a thing, was well before the public internet and this site, knew pretty much nothing about pacers.  So dont know what my A percentage was those first few years, dont actually know what it is now.  But even there nothing to worry about, and/or perhaps to be proud to have a A rate as that means to me you are fit (again assuming you were lower than that before).

I had complete AV block, before the device (I knew years ahead of time this was going to happen) I could feel and hear every heart beat, didnt need to put a finger on my neck or wrist, simply looked at a watch or clock.  Could see my heart pushing between my ribs.  That all stopped with the first device, it was a long empty year I didnt just take my pulse a couple of times a day, I was taking it all the time.  And you know, my heart was still working every single time I checked.  I learned to trust the device, and now am very greatful, there is no way I would still be here, no way I would have been around to raise my child, have friends, develop relationships, etc.  

You can try to google what an EKG looks like for complete heart block, not too hard to find, but anyway.  You can next time you are in the doctors office, have them show you yours, if you are having level 3/complete at that time then it is trivial to see, every beat is messed up the A and V are out of sync, and if you can see that on a trace or visiualize that, every beat the pacemaker is fixing the V pulse to make it in sync.  Of any of the heart problems you can have, AV block is one of the best because it is so easy to fix with a pacemaker, completely fix.

Good luck, welcome to the club.

All the time

by Sisterwash65 - 2020-08-07 08:39:55

Yes, DWelch, the day I went from the doctors office to the hospital, they gave me 2 papers. One of them had a copy of my EKG on it. While wait8ng in the lobby, I took a picture of them both using my phone. Of course, I didn’t know how to read an EKG but I knew it looked very weird ! A few wavy lines and instead of usual QRS spikes, there were more DOWNWARD spikes. Much later, after using google, I think what was on my EKG was escape or junctional rhythms. After the cath, he told me he had found the problem and I really needed a pacemaker. I felt like I was watching a movie- totally zoned out. I couldn’t even ask a coherent question. I just said OK. Later the same day, I got wired ( Lol) and here I am today, still processing it, 10 weeks later ! I feel SO much better and I’m learning a lot due to the very kind and knowledgeable people who are willing to share their experience and expertise with us.