Shortness of breath on stairs

I am 100% paced, but lead a totally active life with no restrictions. I regularly run on the treadmill for 30 minutes at a time with no problems.

My problem is stairs. One flight of stairs causes shortness of breath. My cardiologist isn't concerned.

Has anyone experienced this?

Thanks!!

7 Comments

Shortness of breath on stairs

by Baz - 2012-01-29 04:01:45

Hi, I'm the same, anything on the flat i'm ok go up staires and my wind just goes. I have a biventricular PM.

I wondered if it's the meds as my Bisoprolol has just been increased and the lack of wind seems to have worsened too.

Best wishes

Me too.

by SaraTB - 2012-01-29 05:01:44

I'm 100% paced, after an ablation unintentionally damaged my AV node, putting me into 3rd degree heartblock. I take no meds. and am healthy in all other respects.

Like you, I'm absolutely fine 'on the flat' until I go upstairs, when I starting gasping like a landed fish . . .

My EP says that it's hard for the PM to tell the difference between walking on level ground and the extra effort needed to go uphill - and that cycling is equally hard, and it's just one of the problems of having a PM. In all other respects, my EP is great, and it does seem reasonable, except that I have RR turned off. In that case, the PM doesn't NEED to tell the difference: my own upper chambers should know, and the PM just tells the lower ones to keep up. So, I still don't have an answer.

But I share your frustration! I've recently taken up swimming, and am hoping that, as my stamina improves, my staircase performance will too.

Thanks for your feedback

by PEteacher - 2012-01-29 07:01:29

Meds aren't a problem for me, I only take 5 mg of Lisinopril.

It does make sense that the PM can't tell the difference between level ground and uphill. Although I always thought that it would respond according to demand.

What is RR?

Re: Rate of Responsiveness

by PEteacher - 2012-01-31 01:01:11

Ian,

Thanks so much for your input. I never heard of RR.

I am 100% paced, so I would imagine that it is turned on, but I will definitely check with my EP.

That would be great if that solves my problem, because my running has definitely suffered!!!

Thanks again!!!

Syd

stairs

by marelaine - 2012-01-31 01:01:24

I have that problem of when I am going up a flight of stairs and get half way up and have to take a break due to breathing, then I resume getting up the 2nd flight. i have been trying to get my exercise this way and walking at a good pace but stairs is my problem too and I have had my pacemaker since August of 2011. I get electrical shocks alot and they hurt, do they ever stop or do they do this all the time???

I agree about checking the RR

by janetinak - 2012-01-31 04:01:30

mine is on as I am a 100% after an AV Node ablation. This past summer my PM went into Elective Replacement period & to conserve battery life until changed out, the RR was shut off by the PM. And my PM stayed at 70 no matter what I did & thus was SOB when ever I did anything too active, like stairs. Now that on 3rd fully charged PM all OK again. Hope this is a simple fix to your problem.

Janet

RR

by IAN MC - 2012-01-31 08:01:27

Hi PEteacher You ask " What is RR?" . It is the Rate Responsiveness setting on your PM. This can be either switched on or off. If your heart has enough natural function to increase your heart rate when you exercise then you don't need RR to be switched on.

It sounds to me as though it could be worthwhile having RR switched on and then see what happens.

I am a keen runner and before having RR switched on I was OK running on the flat but was hitting a wall as soon as I tried to run up hills. I am not 100% there yet but am trying other adjustments within the RR function.

If you click on "Checkups and settings" in the list on the top LHS of this board you will find lots more info on RR,

Best of luck Ian

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