New fully paced, weak muscle response -- Ack!

Hi,
I'm worried sick again. It's been 6 week since my device implant and my doc did an echo. He said that the heart muscle response was on the low end (a 53, not pulse) and could be because of the new electrical connection not working as well as a natural electrical impulse. He said low was 55, whatever that means. Again, not a pulse thing. Should I be worried about the heart muscle? Do they do reposition surgeries to get a better lead position? I am a stage 2 AV block and am fully paced. I have to go in for a treadmill test next week and there is concern about my borderline blood pressure as well. I'm losing sleep again... advice? Thanks so much to this great community!!

2 Comments

Thanks, worrying less now ...

by tutu - 2011-03-04 10:03:33

Smitty, thank you. My doctor didn't communicate very well what he was measuring on the echo, but what you're saying sounds right. I'm worried far less now hearing what you've said. Yes, I've been hitting a treadmill for a good 20 minutes at 6mph and barely break a sweat nor feel winded so my general health feels vastly improved with the pacemaker. I still have bloodpressure that is borderline hypertension, 140/80 roughly, and an LBBB he wants to look at on the stress echo treadmill thing. He told me worrying doesn't help, but it's hard not to when you don't understand what's been discovered or aren't clearly told at the office. Thanks for explaining this, reducing my anxiety. I love this forum. Best to you, Smitty. And thanks again.

Try Not To Worry

by SMITTY - 2011-03-04 12:03:55


Hello Tutu,

My suggestion is if you are not feeling poorly try not to worry. With a pacemaker, usually, if something is not right with the heart or pacemaker we know it pretty quick.

I'm 99% sure the numbers and the heart muscle response your Dr was talking about is ejection fraction. An echo is one of the tests used to determine EF and that is what I base my guess on. While all Dr have their own numbers for what a patients EF should be, most of the literature says a normal EF is anywhere from 50% to 70%. If that be the case for you, then yours is on the low end of normal, but not drastically low. Again, the Dr usually determines what is low for a person based on what he knows about that person and their heart. A good example is my EF. I have had mine reported as low as 35% and the last test I had it was about 40+% and my Dr was saying that is on the low end of normal for me.

As for your low blood pressure and the stress test, that is one you should leave the worrying about to your Dr for certain. Exercise will usually increase our blood pressure, but if that doesn't work for you, your Dr knows several ways to increase blood pressure quickly if need be.

So, back to my first statement, try not to worry. Like I said if you are feeling reasonably well, and you have tests coming up next week, wait and see those results and then let your Dr tell you if you need to worry.

Good luck,

Smitty

You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

Member Quotes

The experience of having a couple of lengths of wire fed into your heart muscle and an electronic 'box' tucked under the skin is not an insignificant event, but you will survive.