Abnormal EEG results

I would speak to your clinic for reassurance

by Gemita - 2022-09-01 13:48:32

Simon, you have given very little information and there may well be more to your “Abnormal ECG” than the finding shown of:  “a Ventricular rate which has decreased by 8 bpm when compared with your ECG of 21 July 2021”.

In your shoes, with your health conditions, I would speak to your clinic and ask whether the notification of a decrease in Ventricular rate by 8 bpm is significant for pacemaker dysfunction and whether you will need an earlier appointment to have your device checked?  From where I am sitting I would not regard an 8 bpm decrease over a 12 month period on its own as particularly significant, but it would depend what is causing this.  You do have right sided heart failure, so the fatigue and muscle weakness unfortunately could well be coming from that too.  Have you had a change in your meds?

As to whether this is a PM issue, the only thing I can think of is whether this could be a pacemaker “output failure problem” where the pacemaker is unable to generate an impulse, resulting in a heart rate lower than the programmed lower rate limit?  A device interrogation should confirm this or perhaps a surface ECG, but if you are being closely monitored, I would have thought a problem like this would have been detected by now?

Simon, as always, I hope your health improves

Abnormal ECG

by Rch - 2022-09-01 17:00:01

Any paced ECG is interpreted as abnormal ECG. 

Response

by simonsimon - 2022-09-01 17:39:41

I asked - My question is - Is it possible to have a pacemaker output failure problem where the pacemaker is unable to generate an impulse, resulting in a heart rate lower than the programmed lower rate limit?

the answer

The short answer is yes, but, we are not seeing any evidence of that from your device. With each transmission and interrogation we monitor the lead trends and parameters to make sure the pacemaker is functioning appropriately and its programmed to provide the appropriate amount of energy to make sure that it captures the heart tissue.

Your pacemaker is set to a lower rate of 60, meaning the pacemaker will not let your heart rate go below that. It is normal to see a variable heart rate as you are seeing on your recent EKGs and again rates are greater than 60 bpm.

Hope that makes sense and we are always happy to review your transmissions.

Me too

by Lavender - 2022-09-01 17:40:26

My report always says abnormal ECG due to pacemaker. 
 

If your EP or cardiologist got those results of that test recently as you did, you could call their office and ask about the vent rate decrease. That way you don't have to be concerned all the way until November. 😉

edit-oops I see you were posting their response as I was writing. That was a fast answer and a good one!👏🏼

Paced EKG

by AgentX86 - 2022-09-01 17:41:44

LOL!  I was in the ER last weekend for a dumb stunt then admitted for low sodium (I didn't think it was possible for me).  Later on, the nurses were running around with their hair on fire because my heart rate suddenly dropped to 50bpm. It took a few minutes to convince them that that's what my pacemaker does at midnight.   It turns into a pumpkin.  Come back at 8:00 and it'll be just fine. They tried to tell me that my heart should still be keeping it above that minimum.  Umm, maybe I'm dependent? She still looked skeptical. 🤦

Simon

by Gemita - 2022-09-01 17:58:47

That is excellent news to have been reassured so quickly and thank you so much for the feedback.  That is very helpful.  As your clinic says, they are always happy to review your transmissions should you ever be concerned.

I have taken out your duplicate post for tidiness.

I hope your doctors can help you to feel better because that is what really counts.  

Sodium

by simonsimon - 2022-09-01 21:32:01

Yes, they were reassuring and so are all of you here, thanks again for the help.

Agent x39  I perked up when I heard low sodium, I have had consistent low sodium and low chloride for years, no one seemed interested. I took it upon myself to increase my sodium intake, it made me feel a lot better. My last blood test, my sodium levels are almost normal. I don't think I told you people here that I was diagnosed with heart failure, after my pacemaker was inserted I went to see a heart failure specialist and was told I was no longer in heart failure. I never knew that could happen. 

Hyponatremia

by Rch - 2022-09-01 22:05:31

If you have chronic hyponatremia, you may want to talk to your PCP or ask for a referral to a Nephrologist. There are a myriad of reasons, the most common being the medications! 

hyponatremia

by AgentX86 - 2022-09-01 22:56:20

That's why they held me for 48hrs.  They topped me off and had no problems after that. 

I'd walked two of my three hours outside but the heat got to me so cut it short.  I didn't realize how it got to me.  I drank a lot (too much, no doubt) of water but the pretzels didn't do enough. 

I went to the ER for being a klutz and was held prisoner for something completely unrelated.

Heart Failure (HF)

by Gemita - 2022-09-02 04:11:46

Simon, just seen your comment about your HF and being told by a specialist that you are no longer experiencing this condition. I am aware that HF is usually a chronic, progressive disease although I too have seen some incredible improvements in this condition with medication alone, seeing my sister's EF (ejection fraction) improve from 16% to 45% in around 8 months.  

Perhaps your original HF diagnosis was caused by another condition which has now been resolved or is being effectively treated and this has made all the difference.

My husband has right sided heart failure which apparently is very difficult to treat, so your news is particularly welcome.  Now let us just see if we can improve your fatigue and muscle weakness, but your progress so far has been truly inspirational

Poppin in

by Lavender - 2022-09-02 09:33:49

Poppin in to say that I too must make sure to get enough sodium. At one point on a warm day, I was drinking a lot of water outside. I got woozy and had to lie down. I called the cardio nurse and she said that I was "overwatered"! I had never heard of such a thing. She also told me to have pretzels or saltine crackers handy so now there's a baggy of pretzels in any car in which I ride. 
 

C'mon AgentX86, fess up on your klutzy reason for an adventure in the ER🤪

HF

by AgentX86 - 2022-09-02 13:22:10

Fifteen years ago, whe they diagnosed me with AF, I was in HF with some serious adema.  Treat the AF, add some ferosimide (Lasix), lisinopril (BP was 260/200) and the HF went away. Lisinopril would bring my PB down 40pts in five minutes.

Lisinopril eventually got to my muscles and joints that I all but lost use of my left arm and my right was getting worse. I dropped it and I was back to normal in a couple of weeks. Gotta watch those side-effects.

Anyway, I've not had any issue with HF since. 

A night out (exitement but no dinner) at the ER:

I was working on some lighting that I'm installing in my  basement shop.  I was coming down off the ladder (for the millionth time that afternoon) and missed the bottom step.  I fell backwards, picking up steam trying to recover and ran my back into the corner of a bench (note to self: round them off). I thought I hit on my side below the ribs and was worried about internal damage.  Actually, I hit the bottom rib in the back, then slid along my side.  Hitting my back saved any real damage.  A cat scan showed no damage so, other than pain, I'm OK and sleeping in the recliner once again. I didn't break anything but I sure whacked that rib.  I can feel where I hit and it radiates to the end of the rib.  Pain just tells us that we're alive.

Maxwell Smart’s folly

by Lavender - 2022-09-02 14:58:23

Sorry about that, chief! Rib pain is nasty. Good thing that recliner feels just right. When you think of what you could have hit and hurt😵‍💫!! I always think of head injuries or hitting an eyeball etc. 🥴

It's getting old having pain tell us we're alive-I prefer pleasure reminding me that. Lol

get better quick!