Big jump?

Went in for my second pm check (implanted June 28 th). Last month he said I was pacing minimally, however this month I'm pacing 87% of the time. Wow!!! That's a jump. He also changed my settings to 70 -120 because I was too lightheaded and now I am better re dizzy/lightheadedness ( some say that's just my natural state, humph) anyway that's what's new with me. I just don't understand why the big change, is that the norm?

3 Comments

The big jump!

by donr - 2011-09-22 10:09:21

Could be for a lotta reasons. Could have little significance or a lot, depending on the situation. Why are you paced? Atrial or ventricular?

I'm paced 99% +. But I have bradycardia, w/ an unpaced rate of about 59. My "Normal" rate is 72, has been almy adult life. I'm set at 75 (as close as they can get to 72 & still be slightly above it) - so I will naturally get paced "Most" of the time. To be expected. How does your "Normal" rate compare w/ the 70? If it is less, expect to be paced more frequently. Each & every beat is a separately timed event - some clock in your Sinus node starts counting down (or up) & at its appropriate time sends out a wave (Or be an engineer & call it an electrical pulse) that causes the atrial sections to contract. If that pulse is going to come later than your PM wants it to come, the PM sends a pulse instesd, causing an atrial contraction. The PM clock is probably more accurate than your biological clock, so if the bio clock varies very much, especially being slow, the PM fires more frequently.

The Ventricular pacing is triggered a bit differently. After the atrial contractions, the pulse travels down the heart to the ventricles - but the heart builds in a delay line for the ulse - sorta like a horse having to slog through heavy mud. That is so that the atriums can finish their contraction & fill the ventricles w/ blood while they are relaxed before the ventricles contract. The PM sensed the atrial pulse (if it came on time) or counts down from its own atrial pulse (if it created one) an adjustable time, & if the atrial pulse doesn't come on time, it creates a ventricular pulse to cause them to contract. Now, the travel time for the pulse down the heart varies a bit more than the sinus clock time, so some variation in ventricular pacing is expected.

Me - my V pacing is in fractional %'s, so my delays down the heart must be pretty regular. That's good.

Apparently there are questions about the long term effects of high LEFT Ventricle pacing %'s. (or is it the RIGHT V?) Either way, since the ventricles do all the heavy lifting in circulation, it's better if they work on their own. They are the "High Pressure" section of the heart, moving the blood either through the lungs or throughout the body. All the atrium does is create suction coming in & move the blood downstairs to the ventricles.

So, whatever caused your exaggerated normal state (you said it, I didn't) must have been caused by lack of regularity in pumping. You didn't say whether the 70 was an increase or decrease, so cannot comment on that.

You ask if that condition is the norm - norm for or from what? We are all different, & our conditions & cardiac reactions to the new situation w/ more regular functioning are different.

The important thing is that you FEEL BETTER!

You should ask your cardio the question about the significance of the big change in pacing. One thing, though. Thy said it was "minimal" last month then 87% this month. How the Devil can you compare those two descriptors? Kinda tough.

Stay away from powerlines!

Don

paced 86%

by biceps72 - 2011-09-22 11:09:52

of the time in the atrium an .3% (1/3 of 1%) in the ventricle. I have bradycardia and my heart rate was in the 50s going into the 30s while sleeping.

My PM kicks on at 60 beats/min. I am still light headed but think this is anxiety-- horrible GAD which I can't seem to beat!

jump

by sarge - 2011-09-23 12:09:53

I have a question for you.....are you on any type of Beta Blockers? They will slow your heart rate down which causes your PM to work more. Just a thought.

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

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