Lost electrical, both Ventrical & Atrial

[lucky986]

I have a pacemaker after having 4 cardiac arrests in one day 5 years ago. The ventricular part is 100% pacemaker, the Atrial was only 3% pacemaker.  I found out 3 weeks ago the Atrial is now 49% pacemaker. The Atrial has been going down for 2 years. What effect will that have with my double chamber pacemaker. Apparently my Cardiologist foresaw this happening, I hope. Is it natural to lose all of the electricity in your heart and still do fine with your pacemaker? My new Cardiologists don't seem at all concerned.

[ksig]

Well it sounds like you are just about back to normal so it is time to live the rest of your life.  I go for an interrogation of my pacer next week and I suspect the report will be great.
ksig

[lucky986]

Thank you so much. You would think that one of the Dctrs along the way would explain all of this to me. I have done really well so far and I had a stroke the year after all the cardiac arrests. My kidneys are working normal again, thank heaven and I have 95% of my lungs back. I will ask what they set my pacer at and go from there. I felt that the Dctrs should have explained more about what to expect, but they are always surprised that I lived and don't go much farther than that. I did not know the electricity was failing in my Atrial too until 3 weeks ago & it was a shock. The Ventricular will never  come back, I was told that when it happened. I was in renal failure for 2 years & my lungs collapsed so feel blessed to be here at all. Once again thank you, you have helped me a great deal more than you know. lucky986

[ksig]

I have a dual lead pacer, too.  I  had an AVJ ablation which simply means I cannot conduct on my own steam so I am 100% paced.  Like PikaPika, I am set at 60 and feel great at that rate.  6 weeks ago I had a change out and am now on my 2nd pacer.  I hope to live for many years working off of this battery in my chest.  Hats off to Dr. Greatbatch,  the inventor of the implantable pacemaker.  Go on and live you life and have fun while you are doing it.
ksig

[PikaPika88]

Permanent pacing right ventricle long term can cause heart failure.  The heart is getting lazy and rely on the pacemaker.   Mine one like that too.  My cardio now programs to sense the Atrial and pace the ventricle when necessary.  It reduces the pacing in ventricle.  Before he set to 70's.  Most of the time is pacing.  Now I ask him to set it to 60.  My heart is paced 20% less than before.  Hope it helps.

[Bromley]

By "losing electricity" in you heart, I assume you mean your natural pacemaker is becoming less dominant.  This might be a good thing if it means that the heart is beating better as a result.  I dont know, but this might have been expected by your old cardiologist as well as by the new one, or they may not agree. I would ask one or both for a more thorough explanation.  

Are you feeling better?