First ICD Question: Pacing 70% of Time

Hi all: I am a "newbie" who is 62 and had compications from a heart infection and got an ICD on 9/3/09. First checkup yesterday I was told I am "pacing 70% of the time" and next visit "we will optimize so minimize pacing to improve battery life." I was told "pacing" was/is due to tachycardia - fast rhythm - and "your heart is returning pulse to normal on its own." Typically, my pulse is 60 to 64 and "dr" said the "pacer is usually set to about 60 and we will reset it to 40" OR maybe the other way around: "pacer is set to about 40 and we will reset it to 60." Any opinions as to what the above means?

Lawrenzo2u

1 Comments

Need to know more

by ElectricFrank - 2009-09-26 08:09:54

There are a bunch of settings with numbers like those so it is hard to answer. Some of the things that are helpful to know are:
1. Upper Pacing limit
2. Lower pacing limit
3. Is Rate Response being used
4. What is the actual condition you are being treated for

The best way to get these is to ask for a copy of the pre and post programming report that is generated by their computer.

One thing to keep in mind is that the modern pacemaker rarely is used to pace the heart at a fixed rate. If it can it uses your own natural atrial rate to pace the ventricles. If not it uses the feature called Rate Response which senses your body activity and uses it to pace at an appropriate rate.

Doctors often don't attempt to explain this correctly and just give a story that "will fly".

frank

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