Anyone Get Better???

Just had an interrogation. PM tech said that I appear to not relying much on the PM right now. Got me to wondering if the systemic inflammation (from a systemic diagnosis of AS) that caused my block at the His Bundle (if I remember correctly) might be going away???? My printout shows the rate histogram %'s as follows: AS-VS: 24.5%; AS-VP: .1%; AP-VS: 75.5%; and AP-VP: .1%. Am I kidding myself or is this even possible? This is so out of my area of expertise; appreciate any input on interpreting these percentages.

5 Comments

Things can improve

by ElectricFrank - 2013-03-01 01:03:26

Inflammation can heal. You still are atrial pacing 75% of the time. The meaning of this depends on how the atrial pacing threshold is set. The tech may mean that you aren't dependent on the AP or VP, but may feel a lot better with it.

The hard part about interpreting the readings is that the setting of the lower limit can affect the amount of pacing. Let say for example that your resting HR is 60 bpm. If the lower limit is set to 55 you won't be pacing during the night or during relaxes times. Now suppose they increase your lower limit to 65. Now during sleep you would be pacing 100%. These are just example figures and not necessarily what is right for you.

Hope this helps.

frank

Atrial pacing

by golden_snitch - 2013-03-01 03:03:00

Hi!

If you had a block, then why are you pacing 75% of the time in the atria? Makes no sense. Heart blocks require ventricular pacing, not atrial.

Inga

Drop Like a Fly

by Yakkwak - 2013-03-01 07:03:57

Thanks all for the comments. Helps me to understand. I will certainly ask my EP to explain further next appt. One thing I can say with certainty, I haven't "dropped like a fly" like I did before PM - LAST time before PM was at the Tom Thumb, suddenly, with absolutely no warning signs at all; had no idea until afterward. Go figure.

possible, but not likely

by Tracey_E - 2013-03-01 08:03:08

I'll second Inga's comments, you don't pace like someone with a block. Atrial pacing is for sinus dysfunction, not block. If you have an atrial problem AND block, it appears the block may be going away, but you are pacing 75% of the time so it's not realistic to think you aren't going to need the pm. Not relying on it as much isn't the same as not needing it at all.

I'll tell you a story. I was born with 3rd degree block, pace 99.9%. Twice in a row I went for a check and was only in 2nd degree block, underlying rate of 50 instead of my usual 20. The tech was surprised and said I was beating on my own some. I got all excited and asked how much.... drum roll please... 99.4%! Now, when you do the math that's actually quite a lot of beats, about 500 per day, but I guess I'll keep my pm :o)

Maybe not 100%

by Yakkwak - 2013-03-01 08:03:53

I don't understand my own condition thoroughly enough. However, I do know that atrial pacing is sometimes the function of a PM and, less often, pacing is directed specifically to the bindle of His. Would be nice to understand reasons for atrial pacing before my appt. w/EP next month. My interrogation was due to mri w/Medtronics mri-compatible Surescan. Did not know the Medtronic rep who interrogated me after the scan to put the PM back into my regular mode. It was she who made the statement of my needing it less.

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