ATR & Vtach

Hello Everyone!

Just got back the other day from my six month interrogation for my pacemaker.

I was please to learn that my usage has dropped significantly. Currently, I am only pacing 6% of the time in the ventricles and about 10% of the time in the atrium.

The tech told me after looking at my numbers over the past year, that he didn't see why I still needed my pacemaker. That sounded good to my ears.

Nevertheless, I've learned that you can't get out of the office without hearing something that you haven't heard before. This time was no exception.

After the words of encouragement, I asked to have a copy of the interrogation report as I keep them all to compare.

This time I happened to be able to look at the screen on the machine while I was wearing my 'necklace' and noticed that it was indicating that I had had several episodes of Vtach, ATR, and PVCs(ok..these I knew about).

I asked him about the Vtachys and he said that since the implantation in 2007, I have had 72 of them.

This was news to me...as no one had ever mentioned them before and that info was not included on my past copies of my reports.

Well, he told me he wouldn't worry about the Vtachys because the heartbeats were matching in both chambers when they occurred. He said that if the beats were mismatched, then I should be concerned.

Also, he said that because of my age(42) they shouldn't pose a problem for me as long as they kept matching.

I guess the only thing that bothers me is the fact that I was never told I was having them...I don't seem to be able to feel them since they are so very short. They didn't last long enough to get a time on the duration.

I do feel the PVCs and they bother me somewhat.

He lowered my lower rate limit to 55 from 60. He said that he would like to see my percentages eventually come down to zero on usage.

I have a couple of questions, please.....

1. Should I be concerned about the Vtachys? Some of them were in excess of 230 bpm...but, just for microseconds.

2. What is ATR?

Thank You,
Sandra

2 Comments

Comments

by ElectricFrank - 2009-11-27 01:11:52

I just did a search on ATR and it stands for Atrial Tachycardia Response. One the report it likely means that the pacemaker responded to an Atach event.

As for the Vtach's even those with normal hearts have short bursts of all sorts of events. The heart just doesn't beat evenly all the time.

The PVC's are a nuisance (I'm going through a period of almost constant PVC's) but they are generally benign.

As for removal of the pacer it would seem to me that the best approach would be to simply turn it off for a few months to see how things go for you. That way if it doesn't work out all that has to be done is turn it on again.

frank

Thank You Frank!

by sdjones - 2009-11-28 09:11:36

Thanks for the information Frank. I've been looking for ATR, but, haven't found anything yet.

On December 22nd, I'm going back for a recheck to see how my new settings are treating me...so, will post more then.

Take Care,
Sandra

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Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.