More Dependent

Happy New Year to Everyone!

I found in a recent check up that I am pacing more. I have a dual lead Medtronic PM. I am at 58% in the atrium and 100% in the ventricle. In 2009 I was at 40% last Mar 60% and now 100%......
Getting a bit of anxiety about this. How have others handled the increasing dependency and those too that are totally 100%?
I still find after 3 years that I am having a hard time wrapping my head around being PM dependent. Probably sounds dumb, huh?

CJ

5 Comments

don't overthink it

by Tracey_E - 2011-01-01 06:01:50

It doesn't really matter if we use it all the time or only occasionally, if we need it we need it. Think of it as being pregnant LOL, either you are or you aren't. I've been completely dependent (100% paced) for years now. They don't fail and I feel great so it is what it is, I don't give it a thought.

Pacing 100%

by SMITTY - 2011-01-01 07:01:12


Hello CJ,

Your pacemaker pacing one or more chambers of your heart 100% of the time and being pacemaker dependant are entirely different animals.

As you know, your pacemaker has two settings, a low set point and a high set point. This means when your heart rate as created by your heart's natural pacemaker is below the low set point your manmade pacemaker steps in brings it up to at least that point. Your heart's natural pacemaker could be very capable of making your heart beat 100% of the time at a rate that will keep you alive and well, but it just doesn't have it beating as fast, or faster, that the low setting on your pacemaker. Therefore you will be paced 100% of the time and still not be pacemaker dependant.

I'm a good example of what I'm talking about. My natural pacemaker will give me a heart rate of about 55 to 60 but since I have a low ejection fraction and other problems that rate is not high enough to give me a sufficient blood flow to keep me vertical. So I have a low PM setting of 80 and the result is my PM paces my upper chamber more than 95% of the time. Add to that, since it apparently takes an act of congress (and we all know how seldom they act) to make my heart rate increase, I have the rate response activated and it speeds up my heart rate even more when I need a rate faster than 80.

Then there are people like Tracey who has had a procedure which effectively stopped that part of her heart where the natural impulses originate to make her heart beat from working. This results in her being pacemaker dependant 100% of the time.

As you can see having your pacemaker pace your heart 100% of the time and being pacemaker dependant 100% of the time are two different animals.

Good luck,.

Smitty

Those pacing % numbers

by ElectricFrank - 2011-01-03 02:01:40

As far as your atrial pacing increase it can be affected by a number of things other that the condition of your heart. A simple change in pacemaker settings will affect when the pacemaker takes over. An example of this is that my atrial pacing is near 0%, except when the checkup routine is being run. At that point the pacer uses atrial pacing to jump my HR to 85bpm and then on up to 100 BPM. During those times I am 100% atrial paced.

The other thing that can affect pacing % is your activity level. If you take a trip to somewhere at high altitude or do a lot of fast walking or hiking, you may need more pacing.

I've posted this a number of times before, but consider this. If you fly on a modern airline your life is 100% computer dependent. Most of the new aircraft can't be handled by the pilot alone so if that little computer up front comes up with a blue screen that says it needs to reboot, get your mirror out and tell yourself goodbye.

enjoy your next flight,

frank

I know how you feel

by Pookie - 2011-01-06 01:01:32

Hi,

When I first got my pacemaker in November of 2004 I was only pacing 27% in the atrial lead and less than 1% in the ventricle.

However, it seemed to creep up just a bit every time I went in for my "interrogations". Then I developed Junctional Rhythm shortly after receiving my pacer (but it was ignored/dismissed) ...fast forward to this past April and my pacemaker settings were finally adjusted properly by an EP - I am now pacing 90% in the upper lead but still less than 1% in the ventricle.

The 90% really stressed me out!!!!!!! However, as my EP said: would you rather feel like crap & pace at 27% or have your life back (I was profoundly exhausted and short of breath and my heart would thump & pound for hours) and pace at a higher number.

Now I look at the 90% as only a number. As long as I feel good that is what really matters.

Hope this helps
Pookie

Clarifications

by CJD2007 - 2011-01-18 04:01:36

Hi All,

I am indeed 100% pacemaker dependent. I have Bradycardia, and w/o the PM my heart rate would be 30bpm. My settings at 50. The atrium paces at 58% and the ventricle is 100% paced.

Thank you Tracey & Pookie . I had anxiety about the idea of being 100% paced.

Thank you Smitty for the clarifications too.

Thank you ElectricFrank.
Love your interpretation:

"I''ve posted this a number of times before, but consider this. If you fly on a modern airline your life is 100% computer dependent. Most of the new aircraft can't be handled by the pilot alone so if that little computer up front comes up with a blue screen that says it needs to reboot, get your mirror out and tell yourself goodbye.

enjoy your next flight,"

With Gratitude,
CJ

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Member Quotes

I'm 35 and got my pacemaker a little over a year ago. It definitely is not a burden to me. In fact, I have more energy (which my husband enjoys), can do more things with my kids and have weight because of having the energy.