Frequency of Pacing & Zaps

[Guest guest]

I get the impression here that ZAPs and 'pacing out' aren't rare when

you have an AICD. My husband's doc says that my hubby's device is

'pacing out' too often, and that he's had too many ZAPs (he's had five

or six of the BIG zaps since it was implanted two and a half years ago).

In the last three weeks, his device 'paced out' seven times. Does that

seen like an extreme amount? His heart rate has accelerated since last

November, so he's now on meds to slow it down. His device is set to

cardiovert if the heartbeat reaches 140. As I said, the doc is

determined that the device shouldn't be needed, so keeps adding/changing

meds to reach that goal. (As of Wednesday, he's on 200 mg Amiodarone,

with his Procanbid increased from 1000 mg to 2000 mg.) Of course, he's

also on Lasix, Lanoxin and Spironolactone. I'm wondering if we should

be considering changing doctors. Not an easy thing when you're with an

HMO....we'd have to change medical groups, which requires from one to

two months time to accomplish. And no guarantee that another

cardiologist/ep would be any better. PatP

[Guest guest]

Pat,

Get the med sheet published by the drug companies on both Amiodarone and

Procanbid from your pharmacist. If you can access one, read The Washington

Manual of Medical Therapeutics regarding the two drugs. My EP cardiologist

says that the ICD is the device that controls arrhythmia. The ICD can be

programmed to treat the arrhythmia in place of medications. On bad days, I

have had two dozen episodes where overdrive pacing was required but the

device did its job and keeps my medication requirements very low. I have so

far successfully avoided Amiodarone and Procanbid which I am trying to

avoid because of their severe side effects. Conventional cardiologists and

EP cardiologists don't always agree on treatment. Are you seeing an EP

cardiologist regularly?

At 08:41 AM 5/11/01 -0700, you wrote:

>I get the impression here that ZAPs and 'pacing out' aren't rare when

>you have an AICD. My husband's doc says that my hubby's device is

>'pacing out' too often, and that he's had too many ZAPs (he's had five

>or six of the BIG zaps since it was implanted two and a half years ago).

>In the last three weeks, his device 'paced out' seven times. Does that

>seen like an extreme amount? His heart rate has accelerated since last

>November, so he's now on meds to slow it down. His device is set to

>cardiovert if the heartbeat reaches 140. As I said, the doc is

>determined that the device shouldn't be needed, so keeps adding/changing

>meds to reach that goal. (As of Wednesday, he's on 200 mg Amiodarone,

>with his Procanbid increased from 1000 mg to 2000 mg.) Of course, he's

>also on Lasix, Lanoxin and Spironolactone. I'm wondering if we should

>be considering changing doctors. Not an easy thing when you're with an

>HMO....we'd have to change medical groups, which requires from one to

>two months time to accomplish. And no guarantee that another

>cardiologist/ep would be any better. PatP

>

>Please visit the Zapper homepage at

>http://www.ZapLife.org

>

>

[Guest guest]

Mr. Hiranuma;

I was just told my doctor that he does not want me paced at all if possible so he says if your heart beat around 55 60 don't take your digoxin because in my case pacing creates some kind of a fib which in turn starts a vtac following a vfib, so remember folks in my case when the device is pacing you it is sending you small amount of electricity which might not be good for everybody and I am on amiodrone as well so far (Knock Wood) no side effects.Good Luck and Good Heart. TURK

Re: Frequency of Pacing & Zaps

Pat,Get the med sheet published by the drug companies on both Amiodarone and Procanbid from your pharmacist. If you can access one, read The Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics regarding the two drugs. My EP cardiologist says that the ICD is the device that controls arrhythmia. The ICD can be programmed to treat the arrhythmia in place of medications. On bad days, I have had two dozen episodes where overdrive pacing was required but the device did its job and keeps my medication requirements very low. I have so far successfully avoided Amiodarone and Procanbid which I am trying to avoid because of their severe side effects. Conventional cardiologists and EP cardiologists don't always agree on treatment. Are you seeing an EP cardiologist regularly?At 08:41 AM 5/11/01 -0700, you wrote:>I get the impression here that ZAPs and 'pacing out' aren't rare when>you have an AICD. My husband's doc says that my hubby's device is>'pacing out' too often, and that he's had too many ZAPs (he's had five>or six of the BIG zaps since it was implanted two and a half years ago).>In the last three weeks, his device 'paced out' seven times. Does that>seen like an extreme amount? His heart rate has accelerated since last>November, so he's now on meds to slow it down. His device is set to>cardiovert if the heartbeat reaches 140. As I said, the doc is>determined that the device shouldn't be needed, so keeps adding/changing>meds to reach that goal. (As of Wednesday, he's on 200 mg Amiodarone,>with his Procanbid increased from 1000 mg to 2000 mg.) Of course, he's>also on Lasix, Lanoxin and Spironolactone. I'm wondering if we should>be considering changing doctors. Not an easy thing when you're with an>HMO....we'd have to change medical groups, which requires from one to>two months time to accomplish. And no guarantee that another>cardiologist/ep would be any better. PatP>>Please visit the Zapper homepage at>http://www.ZapLife.org>>

[Guest guest]

Turk,

How long have you been on amio, does your doc conduct regular blood tests,

if so how often. I am on amio too, a bit worried about the side effects. Any

advice ?

> Re: Frequency of Pacing & Zaps

>

> Mr. Hiranuma;

> I was just told my doctor that he does not want me paced at all if

> possible so he says if your heart beat around 55 60 don't take your

> digoxin because in my case pacing creates some kind of a fib which in turn

> starts a vtac following a vfib, so remember folks in my case when the

> device is pacing you it is sending you small amount of electricity which

> might not be good for everybody and I am on amiodrone as well so far

> (Knock Wood) no side effects.Good Luck and Good Heart. TURK

>

> Re: Frequency of Pacing & Zaps

>

> Pat,

>

> Get the med sheet published by the drug companies on both Amiodarone

> and

> Procanbid from your pharmacist. If you can access one, read The

> Washington

> Manual of Medical Therapeutics regarding the two drugs. My EP

> cardiologist

> says that the ICD is the device that controls arrhythmia. The ICD

> can be

> programmed to treat the arrhythmia in place of medications. On bad

> days, I

> have had two dozen episodes where overdrive pacing was required but

> the

> device did its job and keeps my medication requirements very low. I

> have so

> far successfully avoided Amiodarone and Procanbid which I am trying

> to

> avoid because of their severe side effects. Conventional

> cardiologists and

> EP cardiologists don't always agree on treatment. Are you seeing an

> EP

> cardiologist regularly?

>

> At 08:41 AM 5/11/01 -0700, you wrote:

> >I get the impression here that ZAPs and 'pacing out' aren't rare

> when

> >you have an AICD. My husband's doc says that my hubby's device is

> >'pacing out' too often, and that he's had too many ZAPs (he's had

> five

> >or six of the BIG zaps since it was implanted two and a half years

> ago).

> >In the last three weeks, his device 'paced out' seven times. Does

> that

> >seen like an extreme amount? His heart rate has accelerated since

> last

> >November, so he's now on meds to slow it down. His device is set to

> >cardiovert if the heartbeat reaches 140. As I said, the doc is

> >determined that the device shouldn't be needed, so keeps

> adding/changing

> >meds to reach that goal. (As of Wednesday, he's on 200 mg

> Amiodarone,

> >with his Procanbid increased from 1000 mg to 2000 mg.) Of course,

> he's

> >also on Lasix, Lanoxin and Spironolactone. I'm wondering if we

> should

> >be considering changing doctors. Not an easy thing when you're

> with an

> >HMO....we'd have to change medical groups, which requires from one

> to

> >two months time to accomplish. And no guarantee that another

> >cardiologist/ep would be any better. PatP

> >

> >Please visit the Zapper homepage at

> > <http://www.ZapLife.org>

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

hi pang;

I am on amiodrone since march 19 which was my last shock(thank god at first I was on 600 mg's a day until April 2nd then I started taking 400 mgs a day along the side of toprol digoxin prinivil and coumidin. I am still on 400 mgs a day and Thank god I have not had any side effects yet other than that of feeling constantly exhausted. thanks for the reply . Good Luck And Good Heart. TURK

Re: Frequency of Pacing & Zaps> > Pat,> > Get the med sheet published by the drug companies on both Amiodarone> and > Procanbid from your pharmacist. If you can access one, read The> Washington > Manual of Medical Therapeutics regarding the two drugs. My EP> cardiologist > says that the ICD is the device that controls arrhythmia. The ICD> can be > programmed to treat the arrhythmia in place of medications. On bad> days, I > have had two dozen episodes where overdrive pacing was required but> the > device did its job and keeps my medication requirements very low. I> have so > far successfully avoided Amiodarone and Procanbid which I am trying> to > avoid because of their severe side effects. Conventional> cardiologists and > EP cardiologists don't always agree on treatment. Are you seeing an> EP > cardiologist regularly?> > At 08:41 AM 5/11/01 -0700, you wrote:> >I get the impression here that ZAPs and 'pacing out' aren't rare> when> >you have an AICD. My husband's doc says that my hubby's device is> >'pacing out' too often, and that he's had too many ZAPs (he's had> five> >or six of the BIG zaps since it was implanted two and a half years> ago).> >In the last three weeks, his device 'paced out' seven times. Does> that> >seen like an extreme amount? His heart rate has accelerated since> last> >November, so he's now on meds to slow it down. His device is set to> >cardiovert if the heartbeat reaches 140. As I said, the doc is> >determined that the device shouldn't be needed, so keeps> adding/changing> >meds to reach that goal. (As of Wednesday, he's on 200 mg> Amiodarone,> >with his Procanbid increased from 1000 mg to 2000 mg.) Of course,> he's> >also on Lasix, Lanoxin and Spironolactone. I'm wondering if we> should> >be considering changing doctors. Not an easy thing when you're> with an> >HMO....we'd have to change medical groups, which requires from one> to> >two months time to accomplish. And no guarantee that another> >cardiologist/ep would be any better. PatP> >> >Please visit the Zapper homepage at> > <http://www.ZapLife.org>> >> >

[Guest guest]

-- Re: Frequency of Pacing & Zaps

hi pang;

I am on amiodrone since march 19 which was my last shock(thank god at first I was on 600 mg's a day until April 2nd then I started taking 400 mgs a day along the side of toprol digoxin prinivil and coumidin. I am still on 400 mgs a day and Thank god I have not had any side effects yet other than that of feeling constantly exhausted. thanks for the reply . Good Luck And Good Heart. TURK

Re: Frequency of Pacing & Zaps> > Pat,> > Get the med sheet published by the drug companies on both Amiodarone> and > Procanbid from your pharmacist. If you can access one, read The> Washington > Manual of Medical Therapeutics regarding the two drugs. My EP> cardiologist > says that the ICD is the device that controls arrhythmia. The ICD> can be > programmed to treat the arrhythmia in place of medications. On bad> days, I > have had two dozen episodes where overdrive pacing was required but> the > device did its job and keeps my medication requirements very low. I> have so > far successfully avoided Amiodarone and Procanbid which I am trying> to > avoid because of their severe side effects. Conventional> cardiologists and > EP cardiologists don't always agree on treatment. Are you seeing an> EP > cardiologist regularly?> > At 08:41 AM 5/11/01 -0700, you wrote:> >I get the impression here that ZAPs and 'pacing out' aren't rare> when> >you have an AICD. My husband's doc says that my hubby's device is> >'pacing out' too often, and that he's had too many ZAPs (he's had> five> >or six of the BIG zaps since it was implanted two and a half years> ago).> >In the last three weeks, his device 'paced out' seven times. Does> that> >seen like an extreme amount? His heart rate has accelerated since> last> >November, so he's now on meds to slow it down. His device is set to> >cardiovert if the heartbeat reaches 140. As I said, the doc is> >determined that the device shouldn't be needed, so keeps> adding/changing> >meds to reach that goal. (As of Wednesday, he's on 200 mg> Amiodarone,> >with his Procanbid increased from 1000 mg to 2000 mg.) Of course,> he's> >also on Lasix, Lanoxin and Spironolactone. I'm wondering if we> should> >be considering changing doctors. Not an easy thing when you're> with an> >HMO....we'd have to change medical groups, which requires from one> to> >two months time to accomplish. And no guarantee that another> >cardiologist/ep would be any better. PatP> >> >Please visit the Zapper homepage at> > <http://www.ZapLife.org>> >> >