Winded at first when exercising?

I had a Medtronic EnRhythm Pacemaker implanted 2 months ago, lower level set for 50 bpm. I also have a-fib and take Multaq. I have been climbing steps in my building for aerobic exercise. The first time I climb the five flights up I get very winded and have to stop 2 or 3 times. I descend the five flights and never have to stop again for the next 9 ascents of the five flights. (It feels like my heart/pacemaker isn't working and then it wakes up and then I am "fit"--the 4th time I ascend seems like I am hitting my stride. Any thoughts? This seems backwards to me. (Before the PM I was an aerobically fit 63 year old female, although the 5 week downtime didn't help.) I don't feel any a-fib as a result of the exercising.
Thanks.

3 Comments

time delay

by SaraTB - 2011-02-17 04:02:13

I'm sure others will chime in too, but I was told that breathlessness on going upstairs is because the pacemaker can't tell the difference between you walking on the flat or going uphill. There's about a 20 second delay until it measures your extra exertion - by which time I'm winded and it takes a while, gasping like a landed fish, until I feel OK again.

If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd be glad to hear them too!

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by Pookie - 2011-02-17 09:02:31

Your problem has been brought up here before but I can't remember what it was entitled or who it was written by...sorry:(

However, the answer has to be in the Rate Response. Well, it doesn't "have to be"...as I'm guessing.

There is a setting (and of course I cannot remember the name) that they can set - like a time delay - mine was at 15 seconds and I was always SOB when I got to the top of my stairs because it took me less than 15 seconds to climb 14 stairs...LOL. So they shortened the timing.

Hope this makes some kind of sense.

Just let your PM Tech know what is going on just how you described it here and they should be able to adjust the proper setting for you.

Let us know how you do???

Take care,
Pookie

One more thing...

by Pookie - 2011-02-17 09:02:59

I was always short of breath and after they adjusted the delay to shorter than 15 seconds.....I also had my Optimization turned OFF. With that being said, my PM Tech said MOST people with pacemakers do perfectly fine with the Optimization ON, but there is always an exception to the rule - which was me!!!! and it really really really helped me get rid of the shortness of breath.

Pookie

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