Feeling lower chamber pacing

Hello all,

I am on my second PM, a dual chamber MRI-compatible.  Recently, I was interrogated after complaints of suddenly feeling my PM go off.  Thought it might be connected to inproper settings after an MRI scan.  Was told this was not the case.  The feeling was duplicated when made to pace in the lower chamber.  Apparently, I only do this about 1% of the time.  Did not get a good answer as to why I suddenly need pacing in lower chamber.  Am 40% dependent - upper - not as bad as some of my fellow PM’rs!  Does anyone know if this is normal course caused by the PM use or by whatever underlying disease caused this in the beginning (postulated to be result of “systemic inflammation causing heart block”)?  Thanks for any input.

5 Comments

Ventrical pacing

by AgentX86 - 2018-09-01 19:06:03

Not a lot of information (though I don't know what "40% dependent means) but it sounds like you have Bradycardia and a second degree (intermittent) heart block. The heart block could be getting worse causing more ventricular pacing. "Systemic inflammation" sounds like something that they should be treating and could easily be behind everything you're going through.

You're probably just feeling a different heartbeat, something you will likely not notice after a while. I'm PM dependent and only paced in my ventricles (atria aren't even sensed - just in the way), VVIR mode. I had some weirdness after the PM was implanted but it's all "normal" now. Sure beats the crap outta AFib/Aflutter.

What do your EP and pacemaker tech have to say about it?

New developments

by Gotrhythm - 2018-09-02 15:49:01

They couldn't give you a good answer to why you are pacing more in the ventricle because they don't really know any more than they know exactly why you developed a rhythm problem in the first place. The fact is that rhythm problems change over time. That's why they gave you a dual chamber pacemaker even though, at the time, you only needed to be paced in the atrium.

Since you already have a pacemaker, having rhythm problems get worse doesn't predict anything except that from time to time your pacemaker settings witll need tweaking. As long as you're paced as much as you need to be, the percentage you are paced doesn't really matter.

Self test

by PacedNRunning - 2018-09-10 16:37:11

 Could it be the auto self test? I had that when I first got my pacemaker and then they turned off the ventricle one and then eventually the atrial. I don’t notice it anymore. Maybe it’s that. Is it once a day? How often. 

what do you mean by go off?

by dwelch - 2018-09-11 02:14:35

what do you mean by "go off".  A pacer driven beat feels the same as your natural pacemakers beat.  

Now you have a two lead, I just got a three lead and the third lead is on the side that I do feel it sometimes because if I am standing or sitting just right, maybe I have to be tired not sure I cant make this happen on demand, but I get a "belly bump" as the nurse called it.  The pacer when it fires (in my case 100% on both lower leads, well 98% according to the printout) that pulse can cause the nearby tummy muscle to fire as well. If I could make it happen on demand that would be a good party trick.  Instead when it is happening its usually right at a certain point when breating out, so sometimes I can hold my breath and get two of them.  Its more fun to try to get them to happen than to worry about them.

So not sure what you mean by feeling it.  What does it feel like when it "goes off"?

I Have A “Belly Bump”

by Chapter - 2018-09-26 11:52:06

I call it a “Baby Kick”, except for it has had it’s nine months and has not stopped.  Two days after getting my pacemaker I started feeling some serious kicks on left side lower ribs.  They were quite visible and took my breath away. Every time I have mentioned this to any doctor they say, “oh, it is probably something you will get used to”.  Pacer Clinic has tried to reproduce twice, but as it is very positional and random , no luck. 

After 9 months, and no sign of baby, I had a third Clinic with Cardiologist present, which was very interesting - they tried to reproduce (I just have the 2 leads), had 3 different ECG’s with leads turned up or off, but nothing.  Sent for ultrasound, got comfortable on bed technician just got started and big kick and gasp.  Said she didn’t see anything. The Cardiologist left phone message (we were still driving the 5 hour trip home) to say lead was where it was suppose to be but he would like to follow up on some issues and would be in touch.  So yesterday I received a letter saying that I am booked for an appointment (in 2 months) at our local hospital to have video conference call with Cardiologist.  That will be 1 year after implant so I guess there is no panic and as you say “dwelch”, may as well just play with it.  Sometimes I can anticipate a kick coming, I think it is harder after PVC which are more noticeable when relaxed of course.

YAKKWAK, I am interested in what kind of “Systemic Inflammation” was suspected of causing your Heart Block.  I have been told that “sometimes it just happens, possibly genetic”.  I have Lupus, and a “systemic inflammation” causing my complete block would be very relevant and something Cardiologist should aware of, along with all my other doctors.  Sometimes they just fix what they see today.  Maybe the video conference call will answer some of questions.  

Sorry for running on,

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