breathing apparatus setting??

Hello all! I just went for my check-up after my 1 year anniversary with my pm. All has been great since I got my pm - and I am pacing at 68 percent. When I was in there, the tech told me that he wanted to adjust my pm b/c I have a breathing apparatus in my pm. He had me sit still, not talk, and breathe normal for 4 minutes while it took a baseline. Anyway, what it does is when my breathing gets more labored from working harder, etc, I have been feeling the pm kick in when I'm pacing above 60bpm. Anyone have this setting and feel it? They just set it up on Friday, but since then, I can feel the pacing when it kicks in above 60. I am going to give it a little while so I can see if my body will adjust to it, but I was just wondering if anyone else had this problem. Thanks!
Meg

4 Comments

oops

by mego13 - 2011-05-11 10:05:11

Got distracted while posting...

What this setting does is make the PM kick in and make my heart rate go up when my breathing gets more labored, but I have been feeling it...

Minute Ventilation?

by SaraTB - 2011-05-12 06:05:33

Mego13, I'm guessing that you are referring to a function some pacemakers have, called Minute Ventilation. All pacemakers have accelerometers that sense vibration in your body, and adjust your heartrate to meet what it thinks are your needs. The addition of a minute ventilation sensor allows the pacemaker to react more accurately, such as when you are doing more than just walking, say, by carrying a heavy bag as well: the sensor 'reads' your increase breathing, to allow additional heart rate adjustments to be made.

In other words, when you breathe heavily, on exertion, the pacemaker should indeed be 'kicking in' to help you.

You shouldn't ordinarily feel the pacemaker doing anything, beyond simply feeling more comfortable because your heart rate is adjusted to meet your increased exertion. Can you describe what you are actually feeling? Is it uncomfortable, or are you feeling the improvement?
If it is uncomfortable I would suggest making another appointment to discuss what you are actually feeling.

same here

by mereiriz - 2011-05-13 07:05:21

I have the same problem you describe. We've had some problems getting the most accurate parameters for my condition and recently I've noticed that any time I do some movement out of the ordinary, my heart goes crazy. I recently lost my mom, and every time I cry, my PM believes I'm running a marathon or something like that and my heart rate go up. I'm 100% paced, so it it like that most of the time! It's weird...

just annoying

by mego13 - 2011-05-13 11:05:44

Yes, that's the setting they turned on. It is just an annoying heart beat I can feel in my abdomen. I must be pretty sensitive bc when I first got the pm, they had to turn the pacing sensor way down bcit was making my abdomen jump. I called Dr and he said it was ok, and it may be something my body will need to get used to and if i don't like it, they can adjust it or turn it back off.

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