Hitting a WALL

Hi there all my PM friends! Recently I feel like while I'm exercising I am hitting a wall. Anyone ever feel like that? My rate response is set at 60 for the low and 160 for the high. I've noticed while I'm exercising that when my hr gets into the high 150's I feel like someone is sitting on my chest. Its hard to get a breath. I've been so proud of myself the past 4 months. I joined a gym and have lost about 8 pounds so far. I am 58 and the weight has been slowly creeping up. I weigh about 126 now. I've always been a runner but I can't seem to get beyond a certain point in my run. Its that WALL again. Do I need to have the hr adjusted higher?? Maybe 170?? Would it be better to try the testing on a treadmill in the drs office?? My tech girl is SUPER. She actually listens to my problems with the pacer. I've had several adjustments in the past with good results. I don't want to go on any beta blockers or meds. I JUST WANT TO ENJOY A GOOD RUN AGAIN !!!!

3 Comments

Upper pacing limit

by ElectricFrank - 2011-08-26 01:08:42

There is another upper limit other than the Rate Response. It sets the maximum HR the pacer can pace your heart at. The problem is that the only way it can do this is by skipping beats to keep the average rate below 160 in your case. When you hit the limit you may see a sudden drop in rate measured on a monitor or by feeling your pulse. At that point it is impairing the pumping efficiency of your heart and you feel it.

I started walking brisk walking the day after my implant and had some of the same problem. The only difference is my pacer was still set at the factory default upper limit of 120. It wasn't hard to hit that limit walking in a desert head wind.

I called for a programming appt and insisted they set the upper at 150 (I'm 81). All the difference.

Another question is why they have you on Rate Response. My problem was a simple electrical block and I had good sinus pacing. They had RR on and it was competing with my own natural pace. I also insisted they turn off the RR.

Your idea of doing a treadmill run is an excellent one. I see from your profile you have an Medtronic pacer. They have a program that they can do with you on the treadmill to customize the settings. In fact you might ask for a programming session with the Medtronic rep. I've found them very competent.

frank

I'd go back to the tech & see what

by janetinak - 2011-08-26 12:08:48

she says. In my humble opinion I think you might benefit with a higher level. Be worth asking & be nice if you can do what you want in life. That's why we got these PM's to being with.

treadmill

by Tracey_E - 2011-08-27 10:08:55

I've hit a wall several times with exercise and the treadmill was how we programmed around it so I'd definitely ask. I feel great and can do pretty much whatever I want now. Some days my legs still feel like lead for no apparent reason, but I a do a full hour of high impact exercise 5 days a week so I figure it's not worth complaining if I sometimes have to take a quick break.

You know you're wired when...

You can finally prove that you have a heart.

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In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.