Good Morning and a realization – It won’t fix itself

It’s been 101 days since the docs put “Sparky” into my chest (Medtronics Dual Lead).  Since then some great days and some down days, but overall I'm releived that I have Sparky.

So, last night I figured I take a check and see what Sparky might be doing.  I put my Fitbit on in the afternoon and wore it to bed.  This morning I checked what it recorded last night and I found that it had paced (55 is my set point) for about 2 hours during the early morning hours.  Looks like perhaps a 10% pacing pattern, but only at night.

I guess in the back of my mind I had hoped that my heart would heal itself from the 3rd degree heart block ….  But, nope, no way, no how. 

So I’m a little bummed out and I know now that “Sparky” and maybe its offspring’s will be part of my life until the next adventure.  I think I deserve a ½ of a Xanax pill !

So to all my friends and acquaintances on this wonderful site, thank you for kindness, compassion and advice to me and all who travel this road.

“Live Long And Prosper”    

7 Comments

Here's to life

by Loonylil - 2017-09-03 14:38:04

Good luck and lots of best wishes to you on the journey❤️

101

by The real Patch - 2017-09-03 15:26:49

Are you certain it's only been 101 days, seems so much longer to many of us

Yes

by MartyP - 2017-09-03 15:36:21

101 days for sure, but who's counting?

And of course yes.... For so many it has been months, years and even a whole lifetime.

So yes, I am very grateful that i figured this out and can put that thought to rest.

Thanks.....

Reasonable

by Artist - 2017-09-03 21:25:57

It is common for a heart rate to dip lower when a person is sleeping and that is one reason there may be more pacing at night.  Before my PM was implanted, my HR was typically 20 to 40 BP  most of the night.  So your PM is working more at night because the heart has a natural tendency to slow when you are sleeping.  A pacemaker does not heal or fix the electrical impulses that control your heart rate.  It merely supplements those signals so that your HR does not fall below a set level, in your case 55 BPM.  Pacing at 10% is really very little.  I am pacing at 100% according to my cardiologist and that just makes me greatful that I have a PM and am happy that I no longer face the danger of pacing at such a low HR.  Pacing at only 20 BPM had to have an effect on the amount of oxygen getting to my heart and brain.  Don't be disappointed that you are pacing at 10%.  That low percent would be considered wonderful by a lot of PM club members.  Your PM is taking good care of your heart.

Thank you for your thoughts

by MartyP - 2017-09-03 22:08:50

Artist.... thank you for your wise counsel.  I know I am one of the luckier ones and now with much more control over some anxiety and depression i am getting back to normal life.

It came on so quickly, a 31 second stop, 3rd degree block, and 4 hours later Sparky entered my life.... I had no time to process the change.

Thank you for your service to our country and I'm sad that too many of your family has had to deal with adversity.

Marty   1944

Heart rate

by jlw - 2017-09-16 19:42:49

Why does my heart rate go so high when I walk for 10 minutes?   130 and I have to rest, before walking again?

I wish I could tell you

by MartyP - 2017-09-16 21:20:16

I really don't have an answer for you, all I can say is that it's normal for your heart rate to rise when you are active.

This morning while walking mine went to about 100 and yes I also got tired and had to stop 1/2 way (maybe 1/3 rd of a mile. It was a little warm for me about 76 degrees.)

It May also relate to your age and physical condition.

I'm 73 and got my PM on May 27 this year.

You know you're wired when...

You are always wired and full of energy.

Member Quotes

I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for pacemakers. I've had mine for 35+ years. I was fainting all of the time and had flat-lined also. I feel very blessed to live in this time of technology.