Thank You Smitty and Tracey

I appreciate your responses. I know no two of us are the same...but we are still going through similar experiences.
I don't think that I would say I don't trust my doctor....It's just that before I listen to him tell me what it feels like...and what it doesn't..I would think someone who has one would know better than someone without one.
And I agree about the dual chamber....I don't know why he would want to give me meds instead of placing two leads to begin with.

I do NOT understand about the settings.....if you only have a single lead....would there not only be one setting?
I thought there would just be one setting that would make the pacer kick in when my HR drops below that number they set it for.
Like if they set it at 40.....would it not just start pacing when I drop below 40 bpm?
Thanks again....I hope I am able to help people as you have helped me.
Holly

2 Comments

Questons

by SMITTY - 2008-07-22 07:07:12


Holly,

Meds will not necessarily replace the need for a one or two lead pacemaker. More on this later. If it is only the atrial that needs a boost then the second lead which would go to the ventricle will just tbe along for the ride. Since the difference in cost and time required implanting a single lead versus a two lead is so little most doctors go with the two lead. The reasoning is if for no other reason the lead to the ventricle will be there in the event it is ever needed. Also, I cannot recall (my Alzheimer is acting up again) but there is some difficulty that can occur with a single lead PM that a two or three lead unit prevents. I do know that whatever it is rare, - hopefully someone can fill in the blanks on this.

There two settings regardless of whether you have a single or dual lead PM. A low setting and a high setting. The low setting is as you say, should your heart beat from your heart natural pacemaker drop below that low set point, then the PM come on line and maintains at least that heart rate. From that low set point to the high set point the PM will checks every heart beat to be sure the heart's is on schedule with an impulse and if it detects a need it helps regardless of what your heart rate is all the way up the high set point. When your heart rate reaches that point the PM takes itself out of the picture and just continues to monitor your heart beat. I hope I haven't confused the issue too much herte, but this got kind of convoluted before I could finish so I just quit.

I believe I saw you mentioned something that gave me the impression you may be having skip beats, arrhythmia, PACs or some irregularity in the atrium. What the meds do in such case is slow rate of impulses coming from your heart's natural PM to some point below the low setting on your manmade PM. This allows the manmade job to establish a regular heart rate. Beta blockers are a frequently used medication (but not the only one) for this treatment.

Good luck,

Smitty

settings

by Tracey_E - 2008-07-22 07:07:54

Minimum rate is just one setting. There is also a maximum rate setting, the time delay between when the atria beats when the pacer kicks in if your ventricle doesn't beat on its own. There are also a number of safety mechanisms that can be turned on or off. I don't understand half of it! I really only know about the things that I've had reset. I have a half dozen issues so I'm not normal, please don't read about all the stuff I've had reprogrammed and worry that this will happen to you.

You know you're wired when...

You forecast electrical storms better than the weather network.

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Since I got my pacemaker, I don't pass out anymore! That's a blessing in itself.