Pacing more often now

I just had an interrogation on Thursday and found out that I am paced 32% of the time now. In July, right after I got my PM, I was only paced 5% of the time. Each interrogation shows the numbers creeping up. The tech tells me that this is normal, but it is a little concerning for me. Does this mean eventually I'll be at 100%? I don't know why I am worried about it, but at 42 years of age I don't look forward to that. I guess I just want a little reassurance from those who have been where I am evidently going!

Michelle

5 Comments

Great info!

by bambi - 2007-05-06 09:05:21

I have often wondered about this whole percentage thing myself! Thank you Smitty for such a clear explanation! Now I just have to work up the gumption to ask for a print out of my interrogation reports!
Bambi

Pacing More Often

by SMITTY - 2007-05-06 09:05:23

Hi Michelle,

What it means is that you were pacing 32% of the time when that interrogation was conducted. The percent of pacing by our PM can vary for several reasons, one being that they change some setting on your PM causing it to assist your hearts natural pacemaker more often. There are a lot of reasons percent pacing by a PM change. For example my rate of pacing went from less than 2% to 100% almost instantly. What happened is the low point on PM was set at 50 BPM and I paced at about 2% of the time because my heart rate seldom got that low. The doctor decided that because of my CHF I may feel better if the low point was 70 BPM and since my natural rate was usually about 60, I suddenly went from the 2% to 100%. So I pace at 100% but if the PM were to fail, I expect to hold my old 60 BPM without the help of a PM.

According to the numbers you quote your rate of increase is about 3% per month and at that rate you will hit 100% in less than 2 more years. But there is little possibility that whatever caused you to need the PM will worsen to that point in that little time. On the other hand if you have a situation like mine, you could go to 100% but it would really mean nothing, except the PM is giving you a higher heart rate all the time. It does not mean that your heart will stop beating with out the PM

Yours is another case where I think a PM technician does the person a great disservice putting out such information without giving them the all of the details. For that reason, I seldom push the people doing my checkups for much information. I just ask for a copy of the printout and go home and compare the data with the data shown on the previous printout. If I’m concerned about some number, or change, I contact the doctor for an explanation.

My suggestion is that you take any information given you by the PM technician with a grain of salt until it is confirmed by your doctor. Sometimes they have little idea of what they are talking and throwing out numbers makes them feel important I guess.

I wish you the best,

Smitty

great info

by jessie - 2007-05-07 03:05:22

this is great info smitty and i plan to go ask for a printout too.when i told the technician i had joined the pacemaker club she looked puzzled and wasn't even aware of it's existence. i will take the printout to my cardiologist. i will have a year in august and go to london in september and this is because i won't have to go to london in the bad weather. last year the day after my appt. they got a severe snowstorm with 3 feet of snow. lol lol also i can go away after christmas for a few months and hope fully no appt's the golden years are not as golden as they say lol lol jessie

Thanks!

by tcrabtree85 - 2007-05-07 03:05:45

This was a great question and along with Bambi and i'm sure more of us have the same question. Thanks Smitty for answering it so clearly. I plan on starting to ask for the print out also. Michelle to answer your question my percentage has changed each time i've gone in. I got from being 70% to 100% to 90%. When they adjust the rate that makes a difference of the percentage you will be dependent on. I don't worry about it so much and just know that it shows that I needed to have the pacemaker in me. Great questions continue to ask them.
Take care and don't worry! Things will be great for you!
Blessings,
Tammy

Thanks!

by hooimom - 2007-05-11 05:05:04

Thank you so much Smitty for sharing the information. I just don't know what questions to ask when I am sitting in that chair! It is so frustrating to get home and think of all kinds of things I should have asked. You would think that after 8 months, I would get the hang of it.

Thanks to everyone for the support. It makes this adventure a lot easier having a place to ask questions or just vent.

Michelle

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