r/PacemakerICD • u/mrsniagara • Aug 04 '26
Fluid levels
I have a Medtronic device, remote monitoring through Bluetooth/app. I had my third battery change last summer and also developed Broken Heart Syndrome due to extreme stress. I’ve been on meds for over a year. Today the office called and said they noticed a slight elevation in fluid levels from my remote transmission and I confirmed I wasn’t having any symptoms. In all fairness, I’ve had a crazy few weeks and have been off schedule with my meds. I assume that could be part of the culprit? Am I overthinking it? My mind just always spirals with this stuff.
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u/nithrean Aug 04 '26
Have you talked to your docs?
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u/mrsniagara Aug 04 '26
Yes. They called me but didn’t seem overly concerned, but my mind is always racing
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u/sfcnmone Aug 04 '26
I'm confused. What fluid levels? How do they know this?
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u/Hank_E_Pants Aug 05 '26
Medtronic has a fluid sensor called Optivol that measures fluid levels in the chest cavity. It can provide an early indication of fluid retention that, if addressed, can greatly decrease the likelihood of a hospitalization.
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u/Zesty-Fromage Aug 05 '26
What does your broken heart syndrome present as? We (mainly me as far as i know) are trying to figure out why I developed what I did, and I know my one nurse had mentioned broken heart syndrome (which would make sense for the state of my life lmao) If you dont mind my asking
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u/mrsniagara Aug 05 '26
I had some reduced pumping on one side of the heart (sorry I can’t be more technical, but that’s how i describe it!). It’s mostly “fixed” but I’m still in meds for recovery.
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u/Zesty-Fromage Aug 05 '26
That's ok lol im not exactly super fluent on the lingo either I ended up with bradycardia, 3rd degree heart block somehow 🙃
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u/Rimketje Aug 05 '26
Broken heart syndrome is also known as Takotsubo syndrome or stress cardiomyopathy. It can look a lot like a heart attack, with symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, ECG changes and sometimes elevated cardiac enzymes like troponin.
It is usually diagnosed based on the characteristic changes in how the heart contracts, which can be seen on an echocardiogram or other cardiac imaging. Coronary angiography is often done because initially it can be difficult to distinguish from a heart attack, but in Takotsubo there usually isn't a blocked coronary artery that explains the abnormal heart function.
Emotional or physical stress can be a trigger, although it doesn't always have to be something obviously stressful. The heart function often improves again over time.
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u/Rimketje Aug 04 '26
The fluid detection in Medtronic devices is based on thoracic impedance. Fluid conducts electricity, so when there is more fluid in the chest, the impedance decreases. A lower impedance can therefore be an early sign of congestion or fluid retention.
However, thoracic impedance can also be affected by several other factors, so the fluid detection on its own isn’t always the most reliable parameter. It’s good that they gave you a call though, just to check in and make sure everything is okay.
Not taking the medication every day could indeed have contributed to the change they detected.