rate of usage..


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Hi - I am 47 and had my pacemaker implanted in December of 2005. I have not seen my questions asked anywhere in this forum - but maybe I am just missing them;-)

My questions are - - - Is there an average percent of usage for a pacemaker - what I mean is, when I go to the pacemaker clinic, the technician tells me that my pacemaker is working fine, and the rate of usage is 88%. Last time I was in to the clinic, the technician was concerned because the usage had gone up by 18% in 6 months (saying "the heart that God gave you is pretty much not working at all - only 12 % of the time."). I have been told by others that 88% usage is very high. Another person said there is a concern about strokes when the pacemaker is used almost exclusively to make the heart pump.

Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

6 Comments

I'll try to answer this as best I can

by pacergirl - 2008-10-10 10:10:09

I'm not the best person to answer this... However I will give it a go. I am like you and I pace at a high percentage. I depend on my PM to keep me going. The rate has gone up over the last year from 65% to about 95% now. As the pacer works more my heart works on it's own, less.
Each person is different and each heart unique. We all have heart problems but we are all different. So there actually is no average pacing percentage as I have learned.
Of course there are those whom have a much better understanding of such things and I too would welcome their imput with this question. :)
Good Luck to you,
Pacergirl

Pacing forward(LOL)

by Ignatius - 2008-10-15 03:10:47

Hi, I have the same problem. I had a dual chamber pacemaker implanted in 2006. Last checked the top heart chamber uses pacemaker about 80% and the bottom chamber about 30%. Will be seeing the doctor on the 22, and also a pacemaker checkup. In the first year the pacemaker were only needed about 20-30%. Hope not to see the that the pacemaker is working harder and battey gets flats faster. Will try and get answers from technician with check up.
Happy pacing
Ig

Lenegre's Syndrome

by mjmj6 - 2008-10-16 12:10:38

Thanks for your input - I appreciate it.

I don't know if it is 'just in my head' - - - - - - is it possible to feel more fatigued the more the pacemaker has to be used?
Does it matter - maybe - what the underlying condition is that requires the pacemaker in the first place??
Has anyone else been diagnosed with Lenegre's Syndrome?

Me too!

by Rosiep - 2008-11-05 07:11:19

I had office check yesterday and was told I had "lots"of PVC's and PM was pacing 97% of the time! Worries me a bit, and pisses me off too, since I have been waking up with pounding heart several times a night. Cardio told me nothing going on-"PVC's are not serious"
Quality of life with no sleep stinks!

Was on metropropol for a while but side effects bad and no real effect on pounding heart, so GP stopped.

Anyone have experience with PVC's and PM and any info or encouragement about 97% pacing?

Rate of Usage and PVC's

by brooksbaby - 2008-11-10 02:11:36

Wow! It has been awhile since I have been on this site. But I have been waiting for a comment regarding usage and PVCs and I wanted to share my experience. My implantation date was September 2005. I have a dual pacer. I pace at 88% in the upper and less than 2% in the bottom chamber. I have sick sinus syndrome. I started off with bradycardia and now have bouts of slow to fast (brady/tachy) heartbeats. I have been told not to focus on the increase in the percentage (for me this was hard because I started out pacing at 11%) by the EP doctor and nurse practitioners. I use to worry, but I don't anymore - not because of what the doctor says, but because obviously, I would not have done so well with my heart beating on its own.

I take a beta blocker (Atenolol) for the PVCs and BP. It works well for me, but it also slows down the heartbeat which also may make the pacer work more frequently. My pacer is set at 70. But my heartbeat can go from 70 to 170/190 in no time and that's uncomfortable and it makes me really really tired.

Although not serious, the PVCs are AWEFUL for me, so if you have bad PVC's I recommend trying Atenolol. PVC's are disruptive not only at night but during the day too.
Best to everyone!

Janet

by jtaheri - 2008-11-27 03:11:56

Hi There,

I have dual chamber PM which was replaced in Sept 2008. I have had the same type of un comfortable heart beats that woke me up at nights. This was due to the noise generated by the wire on the upper chamber of my heart. After complaining so much about it, my cardiologist had prescribed Coreg ( type of beta blocker). I still complained to the Doctor that Coreg was not solving my problem. Finally after some tests during the interogation of my PM, he decided to disconnect the wire connected to upper chamber. Now I have my PM with one live wire. I also have stopped taking Coreg because it is not necessay.

Please remember that no matter what " We should be our own Doctors" since the Doctors are not iside our bodies to know how do we feel??

Best to all

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