Improvement? of Third Degree Heart Block
History
I was first diagnosed with CHF in March 2010. I was then put on furosemide 20-40 mg per day, lisinopril 5 mg day, and carvedilol (coreg) 6.25 mg twice per day. I also took aspirin 325 mg per day.
On 28 Oct 2011 I had a 2-lead ICD implanted to counter third degree heart block. My 5 mg per day lisinopril medication was stopped, and my coreg was upped to 12.5 mg twice per day. Lisinopril has been noted on the internet as being a possible cause of third degree heart block.
On March 13, 2012 I started my first episode with gout, probably induced, or helped, by furosemide.
On 15 May 2012 I decreased aspirin to 162 mg per day, and on 6 June 2012 I decreased the aspirin to 81 mg per day, which I now maintain.
On 16 May 2012 I decreased my furosemide to 10 mg per day, then on 25 May 2012 I stopped taking furosemide altogether. I was worried about loop-diuretic induced gout (one painful bout with gout was enough) and kidney damage (my readings on creatinine and BUN had increased).
ICD readings
On implant my ICD was pacing ventricle 100% of the time. The next reading on 18 Jan 2012 gave a ventricle pacing of 97%. The next reading on 18 April 2012 gave ventricle pacing of 66% of the time and atrium pacing of 29% of the time. The most recent reading on 18 July 2012 gave ventricle pacing of 40% of the time and atrium pacing of 23% of the time.
Between 97% and 66% ventricle pacing I noticed a decided increase in daily chest thumps felt at heart. It is presumed that ICD was trying to control heartbeat as natural beat was improving (this has not been proved). After 18 April 2012 my chest thumps decreased from a high of 10-20+ per day to now an occasional thump per day.
Comments
It was suspected that lisinopril was the drug that caused my third degree heart block, my heart stopping several times, and my "death" experiences. Since I am no longer on lisinopril, and my heart function is improving (I am dependent on ICD less of the time.), my suspicion about lisinopril being the cause of my third degree heart block seems more likely.
Only time will tell how much my third degree heart block is reversed. My St. Jude Medical ICD technicians now describe my present condition (40% ventricle pacing) as "intermittent third degree heart block." On 28 Oct 2011 I had "total (100%) third degree heart block."
Adrian R. Lawler, Ph.D., (C) 2012 --
17 Oct 2012 --- Visit to ICD technician. Download of ICD = 73% ventricle pacing (up from last visit), 27% atrium pacing (up from last visit). He said I had intermittent third degree heart block and my pacing would vary, and that it was rare to get a complete recovery from third degree heart block. I expect to be paced the rest of my life. Everything was looking good, and I see him again in six months.
Friday, September 21, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Heart thumps from ICD
Heart thumps from ICD
After my Jan 18, 2012 adjustment (second time to check out my ICD) of my new ICD I started getting heart thumps, usually two, at about 6:16 to 6:17 pm. The thumps did not happen daily, and there did not appear to be a pattern on which days the thumps happened at 6:16-6:17 pm.
On 8 Feb 2012 I had my ICD checked again, with nothing wrong being found. I think people thought I was crazy about feeling the thumps at about 6:16 pm.
I got on the internet and emailed an engineer from the company supplying my ICD. The engineer said: "There are automatic measurements performed daily, and in addition, there are certain algorithms that run tests every 24 hours. If these algorithms are turned on, they may be what is causing the daily symptoms around 6:17 pm."
Thus the thumps could be due to an algorithm forcing pacing. If the ICD is already pacing the heart then there may be no thump of the algorithm turning on; thus I do not feel the thumps if the ICD is already pacing the heart. I have about decided that the periodic thumps let me know the ICD is working, so I might not worry about getting them stopped by ICD adjustment.
I still have a periodic burning pain (0-2 on scale of 10) in the area of my ICD implant; the pain is believed to be due to nerve damage when the ICD was implanted.
Adrian R. Lawler, (C) 2012 --
After my Jan 18, 2012 adjustment (second time to check out my ICD) of my new ICD I started getting heart thumps, usually two, at about 6:16 to 6:17 pm. The thumps did not happen daily, and there did not appear to be a pattern on which days the thumps happened at 6:16-6:17 pm.
On 8 Feb 2012 I had my ICD checked again, with nothing wrong being found. I think people thought I was crazy about feeling the thumps at about 6:16 pm.
I got on the internet and emailed an engineer from the company supplying my ICD. The engineer said: "There are automatic measurements performed daily, and in addition, there are certain algorithms that run tests every 24 hours. If these algorithms are turned on, they may be what is causing the daily symptoms around 6:17 pm."
Thus the thumps could be due to an algorithm forcing pacing. If the ICD is already pacing the heart then there may be no thump of the algorithm turning on; thus I do not feel the thumps if the ICD is already pacing the heart. I have about decided that the periodic thumps let me know the ICD is working, so I might not worry about getting them stopped by ICD adjustment.
I still have a periodic burning pain (0-2 on scale of 10) in the area of my ICD implant; the pain is believed to be due to nerve damage when the ICD was implanted.
Adrian R. Lawler, (C) 2012 --
Saturday, January 21, 2012
More Recovery Notes
More Recovery Notes
18 Jan 2012: Recovery is going fairly well. ICD was tested out to be OK today by its maker. My heart doctors say I am doing very well. Both they and I attribute my general good heath to staying on a low salt diet with lots of fruits and vegetables PLUS staying active EVERY day by doing my farm work, garden work, and exercise (of mind and body).
It has been about 12 weeks since my ICD implant, but I am still having various burning pains (0 to 4 on scale of 10) around site of implant, probably due to nerve damage. Hopefully, it will not progress to pain like that seen with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type II (CRPS, Type II). I'm hoping the nerve damage due to the operation will improve over time.
Adrian R. Lawler, (C) 2012 --
18 Jan 2012: Recovery is going fairly well. ICD was tested out to be OK today by its maker. My heart doctors say I am doing very well. Both they and I attribute my general good heath to staying on a low salt diet with lots of fruits and vegetables PLUS staying active EVERY day by doing my farm work, garden work, and exercise (of mind and body).
It has been about 12 weeks since my ICD implant, but I am still having various burning pains (0 to 4 on scale of 10) around site of implant, probably due to nerve damage. Hopefully, it will not progress to pain like that seen with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type II (CRPS, Type II). I'm hoping the nerve damage due to the operation will improve over time.
Adrian R. Lawler, (C) 2012 --
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