In need of information

Hi,
It has been a while since I have posted. I have a St. Jude's pacer that was installed in 2006 due to a botched ablation for correcting WPW. The Dr. burned through my av node and I am in permanant 3 degree heart block. W/o pacer, I am at 38 bpm. I just met with St. Jude's for my annual 2 months ago and have my phone in check last week.
I have had what feels like a change in rhythm? But I am not sure what that would feel like. I have this sensation where there is a off beat in my chest. I sense it in my sternum. I am very slightly short of breath each time I feel the thump in my sternum, but am able to walk and fucttion but just feel miserable. It lasts for varying periods a few minutes, couple of hours and I have been calm or sitting when it begins. I spoke to the tech last week about it and he said to make an appt to come in if it happens again. It is happening right now and I will most likely call on Monday for an appt. He told me at the office they can see the history where over the phone they can not.

Does anyone know what this feeling is? I hoped I described it correctly. It just feels like an odd thump in my chest and of course I am panicing about it!

Thanks very much!
Eric

5 Comments

Heart failiure?

by Terry - 2008-08-24 01:08:10

See your doctor right away. If he says it's heart failiure, write me a private message. There have been many patients whom have experienced heart failure after many years of ventricular pacing and had the heart reverse remodeled back to normal by pacing the heart's natural conduction system calld His bundle pacing. I can tell you who in your geography has experience with His bundle pacing. In the mean time, to learn more Google "catrdiac conduction system" to learn more. Let me know what you think.

Terry

pvcs?

by elfinbee - 2008-08-24 02:08:57

i have exactly what you are talking about. my cardiologist says its nothing serious. that they are okay.

i still worry about them, especially since i never had them before the pacemaer.

Thanks for the help!

by Eric - 2008-08-24 11:08:57

Frank,

I am planning on seeing the cardiologist to confirm this. When they test me, does the PVC need to actually be happening at that point or will they be able to read my history from the pm and know? I feel like a car to be taken to the shop for diagnostic. The mechanic says well I don't hear the noise you were complaining about and of course you can never trigger something like that when you are in the presense of someone who can help.

I always thought it would be the opposite with me. I thought when I exercise I would have problems. I supposidly have the latest and greatest in adaptive pms but I always assumed I would have to slow down as a result of it.

I wonder despite the light dizzyness/lightheadedness if I were to get my heart rate up would it momentarily correct itself? I wonder if you have ever tried this to bring relief? I cannot imagine 2400 a day, I would go insane.

Thank you both very much for sharing your experience with them to me. I feel better knowing that I am not alone in this but I am sorry that you two are enduring this as well.

Eric

PVC's

by ElectricFrank - 2008-08-24 12:08:54

Your description sounds like PVC's (not plastic pipe). These are where your ventricles for some reason decide to contract early. At this point they really aren't filled with blood to pump so don't do much. The early contraction keeps the next one from coming on time so there is a longer time for the ventricles to fill with blood before the next beat. Because they are really full at this point the beat creates a "thump" in you chest. It can be anything from mild to very hard. These can happen at random as individual events or they can go on for minutes to hours.
The bad news is that there isn't much that can be done about them. The drugs that are often offered have side effects worse than the PVC's. The good news is that they aren't a sign of anything serious or risky.
They will be able to detect them when you get a checkup. I have run anything from a few hundred a day to as high as 2400 or so.
One thing to be aware of is that emotional arousal can aggravate them. The problem is that a few isolated ones can be scary enough to trigger more, until you understand that they aren't serious.

frank

Pacemaker Check

by ElectricFrank - 2008-08-25 01:08:07

The pacemaker records several arrhythmic events including PVC's which they will download at the checkup. One thing to keep in mind is that the printout will show the number of PVC's since it was last reset. Usually it is reset at each office visit, but not during home telephone checks. So don't let the number of events shake you up. This is another good reason to get a copy of the pre and post programming print out. You are right about 2400/day. It is a bit uncomfortable even if I'm not shook up about it.

There are at least a couple of reasons for having PVC's after getting a pacemaker. One is that most of us are more tuned in to what our heart is doing so it easy to pick up on things that have been there all along. The other is that if the pacing voltage is set to a high level it can create irritation in the heart wall and bring them on.

As for His bundle pacing it only works for men. Hers bundle pacing for women hasn't been proven as yet. LOL

frank

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