pulse rate range

I have had my St Jude Pacemaker since December 2005, and have not been much concerned about it. But I went in for an "in-clinic" check a few days agoand was surprised by something.
I guess I have had about a dozen of these tests since i got the pacemaker, this last time I was tested I was seated in a chair and could look over the technician's shoulder and see the monitor. Before I was always lying on my back. My normal resting heart rate is 60, I can get ti over 100 by walking for 10 minutes or so. I was surprised to see that my rate went down to 37 for a brief time while the technician was testing me. It also went up to 95 at another time in the tests.

Apparently, pacemakers can speed up or slow down your heart. I did not know this. Is this old news to most of you regulars?

Norman

8 Comments

HR during test

by ElectricFrank - 2009-03-19 01:03:05

First off what you noticed was "normal". During the test the pacer is put through as series of activities to test your hearts response. This information is used to set the final programmed values. While the pacemaker has no way to lower your natural HR, it can suspend pacing and let your HR fall to its non paced rare.This might be done to determine how dependent you are on the pacer. The pacer can raise your HR.

The 95 rate during the test is a pacer determined rate. They raise the rate above what you would normally have when seated in the office and then the pacing voltage is raised and lowered to determine your hearts threshold.

By the way some these same tests are conducted by the pacemaker on its own usually during sleep each day to confirm the settings. Some day you may happen to wake up at the time this is going on and wonder why your HR is 95 in the middle of the night. It is good to know this as it can be unsettling if you don't know about it.

One final suggestion. When you are having an office test and experience some of these events, feel free to ask the tech about them. Most techs will give you an answer, but if you get one of them who is evasive don't take no for an answer.

frank

Aren't you lucky

by bobad - 2009-03-19 08:03:37


You're lucky you had to look at the monitor to know your heart rate was changing.

When the tech would change my heart rate, I didn't need to look at the monitor to know it was changing. It felt awful, and I was glad when it was over.

I'm happy for you that you can't notice when the pacer is working. Hope it continues that way.

Testing

by renee14150 - 2009-03-20 05:03:32

I can also feeling my "testing" and it makes me feel awful...I get very sick to my stomach and light headed when the test the bottom lead..YUCK. I talked to my "tech" about it and she noted it in my files now they only test it for a very short time about 3 beats that is it...phew.
Renee

It's normal and part of the test

by JoelyM - 2009-03-20 06:03:41

The 37 beats per minute would be your own heart beat. This is when the physiologist is testing your underlying heart rhythm by dropping the pacemaker rate to, say, 30 beats per minute. This is for two things:

1) To assess the underlying heart rhythm
2) To see how big internal ECG (EGM) is so that the pacemaker can be set at the best settings to see your natural heart beat. Two high and it won't see your natural heart beat, two low and it will pick signals up that don't come from your heart. Neither scenario is ideal and can cause problems for you.

The 95 beats per minute would be the 'threshold' test. This looks at the smallest amount of power needed to pace your heart. To do this the physiologist has to increase the pacing rate so that it's pacing all the time hence the 95 bpm (it may be higher or lower for other people). This allows the physiologist to set the pacemaker power so that it is still safe for you but also makes the most of the batter life.

Some people will feel one or both of these tests and others won't. It's worth grinning and bearing it if you can though as it means that the pacemaker can be set up the best that it can be for you.

PM pm right SIDE of the chest

by Jitterychic - 2018-10-24 22:00:22

I just recently got my PM, sept. 7, 2018. Was wondering if anyone has had his/her PM implanted on right side of the chest? Mine was placed there because i am left handed. It worries me that it may get disconnected. I know it sounds silly. But i am new to this. I had this PM implanted because i had an AV blockage (complete block). I am always so scared. And exactly where it was implanted, is always feeling like needles and pins. Although i am feeling strong and am able to do all household chores. I had to do everything in the household 2 weeks after the PM was implanted, i have no one to help me there and i have a small child.  I am always worried, can't help it. I am afraid i Will drop dead any minute, like it happened the first time (arrived at at the ER with no vital signs). This is all so scary to me. As i had never before had any heart problems. My doctors still have no answers as to why i had this AV Block. Will be undergoing a nuclear test, still waiting on my cardiologist to decide when Is the apropiate time for it. And again i ask is it safe to have this PM placed on  my right side? Oh i did ask my doctor, he just  said that everything is ok. I live in a small island, medical care here Is ok but, mishaps have happened. Wish i could go to the states, but can't for now.

PM pm right SIDE of the chest

by Jitterychic - 2018-10-24 22:00:23

I just recently got my PM, sept. 7, 2018. Was wondering if anyone has had his/her PM implanted on right side of the chest? Mine was placed there because i am left handed. It worries me that it may get disconnected. I know it sounds silly. But i am new to this. I had this PM implanted because i had an AV blockage (complete block). I am always so scared. And exactly where it was implanted, is always feeling like needles and pins. Although i am feeling strong and am able to do all household chores. I had to do everything in the household 2 weeks after the PM was implanted, i have no one to help me there and i have a small child.  I am always worried, can't help it. I am afraid i Will drop dead any minute, like it happened the first time (arrived at at the ER with no vital signs). This is all so scary to me. As i had never before had any heart problems. My doctors still have no answers as to why i had this AV Block. Will be undergoing a nuclear test, still waiting on my cardiologist to decide when Is the apropiate time for it. And again i ask is it safe to have this PM placed on  my right side? Oh i did ask my doctor, he just  said that everything is ok. I live in a small island, medical care here Is ok but, mishaps have happened. Wish i could go to the states, but can't for now.

PM pm right SIDE of the chest

by Jitterychic - 2018-10-24 22:00:24

I just recently got my PM, sept. 7, 2018. Was wondering if anyone has had his/her PM implanted on right side of the chest? Mine was placed there because i am left handed. It worries me that it may get disconnected. I know it sounds silly. But i am new to this. I had this PM implanted because i had an AV blockage (complete block). I am always so scared. And exactly where it was implanted, is always feeling like needles and pins. Although i am feeling strong and am able to do all household chores. I had to do everything in the household 2 weeks after the PM was implanted, i have no one to help me there and i have a small child.  I am always worried, can't help it. I am afraid i Will drop dead any minute, like it happened the first time (arrived at at the ER with no vital signs). This is all so scary to me. As i had never before had any heart problems. My doctors still have no answers as to why i had this AV Block. Will be undergoing a nuclear test, still waiting on my cardiologist to decide when Is the apropiate time for it. And again i ask is it safe to have this PM placed on  my right side? Oh i did ask my doctor, he just  said that everything is ok. I live in a small island, medical care here Is ok but, mishaps have happened. Wish i could go to the states, but can't for now.

PM pm right SIDE of the chest

by Jitterychic - 2018-10-24 22:00:24

I just recently got my PM, sept. 7, 2018. Was wondering if anyone has had his/her PM implanted on right side of the chest? Mine was placed there because i am left handed. It worries me that it may get disconnected. I know it sounds silly. But i am new to this. I had this PM implanted because i had an AV blockage (complete block). I am always so scared. And exactly where it was implanted, is always feeling like needles and pins. Although i am feeling strong and am able to do all household chores. I had to do everything in the household 2 weeks after the PM was implanted, i have no one to help me there and i have a small child.  I am always worried, can't help it. I am afraid i Will drop dead any minute, like it happened the first time (arrived at at the ER with no vital signs). This is all so scary to me. As i had never before had any heart problems. My doctors still have no answers as to why i had this AV Block. Will be undergoing a nuclear test, still waiting on my cardiologist to decide when Is the apropiate time for it. And again i ask is it safe to have this PM placed on  my right side? Oh i did ask my doctor, he just  said that everything is ok. I live in a small island, medical care here Is ok but, mishaps have happened. Wish i could go to the states, but can't for now.

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