Atopic Tachycardia and EP Study

Hello,

I've had a pacemaker for 3av block since 1993, replacement pm 2001.  I have had a problem with my voltage needs increasing and docs have tested pm and it works fine but cannot explain increase in voltage needs. The PM Tech set my pm for 2, 22 second recordings and when I sent in the last two recordings I was told they wanted to do a electrophysiology study.  When I asked why I was told that it showed either Atopic Tachycardia or Sinus Tachycardia and they needed to find out which.  So they want to do a EP study and try to cause this to happen.  I am seeing a doc a kaiser sunset Dr. Nagha for the EP study. I wish I could copy and fax/email my ECM recordings so you could view.  Q:  Is a EP Study necessary?  What are the risks?  Know of any good EP Docs in the Orange/Los Angeles County?  I've had alot of problems with my pm in the past, site infection and erroision/lead popping out of skin/Lead wire getting stuck/dropping into heart/er sugery to remove, so I am very anxious.  I don't know who I can trust and my cardio doc isn't very helpful and doesn't answer my questions.  I like my doc but he just doesn't have the time to answer questions or take calls, he has too many patient then he can handle but I still need info so I can make to right decision for me.  Thanks ***@****

[anacyde]

I think this would be an excellent question for the Heart Forum where doctors respond, this forum is just patient to patient.  I believe your questions are good ones and need answered.  If you're having this many problems and concerns and they are not being addressed, it may be time for you to seek another doctor.  If you wish to stay with your current one (sometimes the very good doctors are simply pressed for time because their expertise is in high demand) I suggest writing down your most pressing questions and handing them to your doctor so he can review them quickly and answer for you.  This moves things along much quicker, and ensures that the two of you are able to communicate when time is short and valuable.