First pacemaker interrogation

I had my Medtronic pacemaker implanted on January 11, 2017. Today was my first interrogation.

The rep informed me that my pacemaker is pacing 0.3% of the time, or has paced roughly 13,000 times. Although that seems like a lot, I understand it really isn't.

However, is this an average percentage of pacing? I'll be 37 in March. I had to get the PM after I flat-lined in the ER for a quarter of a minute and required CPR (on January 9). I went through every test imaginable for 2 days, while being monitored in ICU, and it was established I have SSS. I'm not on any meds and have no restrictions. I had a history of palpitations, flutters, and skips since 2013, which apparently were warning signs about my sinus node failing.

Anyway, I'm just curious how significant this percentage of pacing is, seeing how this is still all very new to me.

TIA!

6 Comments

Pacing

by Hamsquatch - 2017-02-20 23:50:38

Ive had mine since October 2014, I've been paced 0.9% of the time, BUT my setting was 40bpm and I believe it was one of my medications primarily causing it. 

No meds

by abi2001 - 2017-02-20 23:59:35

Thank you for replying, Hamsquatch. I'm actually not on any meds, and my setting is 60bpm. With your experience (or in your opinion) is it common to be pacing less than 1% of the time?

Good news !

by IAN MC - 2017-02-21 04:57:45

It means that your heart is generating beats 99.7 % of the time.  You have what is known as a "lazy" sinus-node  .    Interestingly sinus-nodes can remain at the same level of laziness or they can worsen over time .I think mine is becoming   * bone - idle * but this doesn't bother me because .... 

... the good news is that your pacemaker is never lazy ; it is always ready to step in when it is needed.

Welcome to the club

Ian

what's normal?

by Tracey_E - 2017-02-21 08:18:40

If you feel good, you are pacing the right amount. For some, that means kicking in a few seconds every once in a while, for others that means pacing every beat. There is no good or bad number. 

pacing

by cookied - 2017-02-21 09:37:26

Mine paces 75% of the time. seems high but it has come down from 90%

Interesting Comment...

by donr - 2017-02-21 09:38:45


....& no one picked up on it - that .3% pacing results in 13,000 paces in some period.

At my first download back in Feb 2003 I had some humongous number of something occur & comented on it to my Cardio.  he responded w/ a question:  "Don, how many times does your heartbeat in a month?"  I guessed what turned out to be a ridiculously low number, to which he respobnded "Try 2.6 MILLION Beats."  I quickly did the math in my head & confirmed that he was correct.  At 60 BPM, you get  60 sec per minute X 60 Min per hour = 3600 per hourX 24 hr per day=86,400 per day  X 30 days per month = 2.592 Million per month .  And that's at your minimum rate.  But your HR is usually in the 80's; that comes out to about 3.45 million BP month.  .3% of that is 10,342 paces per month.

Let me add one more fact:  For you to live, your heart must beat successfully darned near every beat it tries to take - let it stop & not beat for a mere 30 - 40 beats in succession out of that month, you are dead!  I would say that .3% is a pretty high number for someone who had to undergo CPR at one point.

Be thankful that a PM is capable of that kind of performance for up to ten years.  that makes it more reliable than your native heart.

Donr

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