one lead not working

I have a Boston Scientific pacer, its 3 years old, early on one of the leads wasn't transmitting properly - after a recent pacer check my doctor ordered a Holter test 48 hours and heart is pausing 8 seconds....since I do have a CPAP machine I have make sure I'm using it for second Holter test, didn't wear first test. My question is has anyone heard of apnea causing heart to pause for 8 seconds repeatedly ? I exercise a lot.....running, martial arts and strength training should I worry about the bottom chamber lead not transmitting properly while exercising, I have felt an increase in flutter lately.

5 Comments

exercise

by Tracey_E - 2013-04-20 09:04:05

I would not exert until you get some answers. With or without the cpap, you should not be getting pauses if your pm is working.

Questions for your doc... Is your atrial lead working? What % do you pace atrial and ventricle? If your ventricular lead is the one not working and they're not in a hurry to fix it, that leads me to believe you pace atrial.

When the sinus node slacks off, the pm kicks in with atrial pacing. I would think (educated guess, I'm not a medical professional) that the pauses are sinus. If the atria beats but the ventricle does not (heart is in block) then the pm jumps in with ventricular pacing to keep the heart in sync. If you are in block and your ventricular lead isn't pacing, I guess you could have a pause that long but it still seems odd to me.

The videos here do a great job of explaining the different ways we can pace
http://health.sjm.com/arrhythmia-answers/videos-and-animations

Sleep Apnea

by kmom - 2013-04-20 10:04:39

I'm really new to this board and don't have a PM as yet although I might be getting one next week?? but I do have sleep apnea and do have sinus pauses at night as shown by my recent holter monitor test. My dr. said the sinus pauses could be due to the sleep apnea (mines being treated) if the pressures aren't right. When was the last time you were retitraited on your machine?? In my case as it turned out my settings were fine hence I might be needing a PM myself. apparently I've got PSVT and SND. They are doing an EPS study on Tuesday. Good luck

reply

by SgtLaw - 2013-04-20 10:04:44

Thanks CPAP is new so settings are fine. Good luck with your study.

reply

by SgtLaw - 2013-04-20 11:04:01

Your last comment is interesting - it was my thought exactly.....if pacing I should not have pauses......this is why I am concerned about exercise until I complete the next holter test with CPAP

pacing

by Tracey_E - 2013-04-20 11:04:40

Whether or not you need the lower leads depends on how you pace. If you pace atrial, then it doesn't matter if your ventricular lead is working or not. It's nice to have it for the information it provides but it's not critical to your pacing. I have av block so I pace 100% of the time ventricle, for me if my ventricular lead stopped working I'd be headed straight to surgery.

Flutter is usually unrelated to pacing or pauses, it just happens. It's more annoying than dangerous.

Apnea can cause the heart to pause, that's why it's so dangerous and the CPAP's are necessary, but if you're pacing you should not be having pauses! Something doesn't add up.

You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

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