PM settings..

Hello there and thank you for always making me feel optimistic about having a pace maker. I am 45 and an avid runner. I have had my pacemaker for almost a year and have been back to the office several times to get "tweaked". I am set at 60-130 due to bradycardia and have all settings turned off. My heart rate seems to jump up when I walk up a flight of stairs in the a.m. to wake up kids and my heart feels like it is going to jump out of my chest, same when moving around slowly. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and my heart is racing. My running is o.k., but my heart rate goes up really quick. I have read other posts about members who have been monitored on a treadmill and wonder if this is something I should ask for. Also, since my heart rate before pm was so low, would I benefit from my low being set lower than 60? Any help would be very much appreciated, thank you, Stefani.

3 Comments

60-130?

by biceps72 - 2011-11-19 09:11:54

what is the 130? Your PM works if heart rate drops below 60 but it doesn't lower your HR at 130 I am sure.

I have bradycardia too and my low setting is 60 like yours. Like you, my heart rate jumps up in the morning as soon as I get out of bed. Your rate response is probably turned on as is mine. Your PM senses jarring from walking or running and increases as you work harder.
I see no advantage to having a low setting at 50 but you could ask your cardiologist her/his thoughts.

good luck to you.

Rate Response

by ElectricFrank - 2011-11-20 03:11:27

You say all settings are turned off. yet you are set at 60-130. That makes no sense.

From your description you likely have Rate Response turned on and not properly adjusted. There are two possibilities.

1. Do you really need Rate Response for your condition. Bradycardia can be caused by either an AV block or from a sinus rhythm condition. The AV block does not need RR, but it is often left on.

2. If you actually need RR then an adjustment setting while on a treadmill is the best way to optimize settings for you.

After my implant I had RR on but not needed. Even sitting in the hot tub with the jets on would send my HR soaring. After turning it off I had a normal response.

By the way as a runner you also need the Upper Tracking Limit set up to at least 150.

I also suggest getting a copy of the pre and post interrogation report at you next checkup. With that information some of us can help you understand what is happening.

frank

Settings

by ElectricFrank - 2011-11-20 09:11:53

It''s so much easier for them to turn on all the options and set all the limits as conservative as possible. We put up with the unnecessary restriction on our quality of life. they don't have to bother to understand our condition.

The only problem with going clear down to 40 is that it leaves the possibility your brain wouldn't get a full supply of oxygen during sleep. There is still a lot of activity going on during the night. It might be worth a try, but be aware of any forgetfulness or feeling groggy during the day. Another possibility would be to try 45. I think most pacers can handle 5 bpm increments.

Just a thought,

frank

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