Side EFX of pacers

[RammCFrancis]

I have an ACID and several anti arrhythmia meds including Amiodarone and Digoxen.  Can a pacemaker that brings the medicated heart rate back up to 60 BPM actually weaken the heart over time by pre-pacing the heart muscle and thereby introduce flabbiness over time?

[kevk]

I was told the exact same thing you was told.  They would only use advanced pacing as a last resort. Pacing would may make me feel better for a short time but in the long run it would do more damage.
I would agree with getting a second opinion and learning as much as you can about your problem ( Knowledge is Power ). Make a list of questions for your doctors and make them earn the money.
I have four leads that are from my original implant, They are thicker wires made for high energy shocks more than pacing. So when I am paced it would run down my battery to quickly. My leads will be eighteen years old in May and connected to the outside of my heart.

[banglamom]

I kept on hearing... "we better be careful or you're gonna need a pacemaker... (ad infinitum).  Eventually, I got the pacer.  Mine is set at 60 and the rhythms are suppressed by the meds.  My EF has improved with the treatment too.  I am paced almost 100% of the time.  I consider it about the best thing to have happened through all these different tries.  THEN, of course, I learned about pacer induced cardiomypathy.  I figure TOO LATE now.  I just hope it takes a long time for that to be too significant.  I haven't really known what to do with some of that information and how exactly to process it.  I like that it makes me feel better though.  I certainly recommend them.

[GrammaHoney]

I have an implanted Resynchronization device that also paces the heart.  I was on 25 mg of Coreg BID which changed my ejection fraction from 21 to 61 and the weakness vastly improved. I'd suggest keep asking questions and learning so you can ask those tough questions and getting a second opinion seems wise to me.

[RammCFrancis]

Thanks for responding.  They have this set at 60BPM.  They artificially slowed the heart with meds and then brought it back up to 60 BPM.  I have been an extremely, vibrant and physically active/fit person.  In the last two years I feel the heart getting progressively weaker.

One DOC in the medical group wanted to install a third lead which he said would "counter the pacing effects that may be weakening your heart" but the surgeon who was going to perform the procedure said, "I wouldn't do this except as a last resort because it doesn't work well with patients and doesn't work for more than 3-4 years".

I feel my energy starting to ebb and I'm frankly thinking this pacer is not in my best interest.  I am in Reno, Nevada.  Where and who is your pacer nurse or doctor?  I need a reliable second opinion to do something now before it is too late.

Again, thanks for responding.

[kevk]

Do you know what percent of time you are being paced ?  My ICD/Pacer is set at 40 BPM was paced at 2% some of my other pacer functions have been shut off because the EP said it would weaken my heart prematurely.

I think it would depend on what your condition our hearts are in and what problems we have.