Rate response

I had a Medtronic 3 lead PM fitted about 20 months ago (sensor deactivated). The first year was fine and I ran 21k, 32k and 42k quite comfortably. Apparently I have now developed a SN probelm and HR is not natuarally increasing as it did at first. In the last 6 months I have experienced tiredness and lame legs when running. I run quite a lot and this has restricted my activities. Prior to a 21k in March I had the "sensor" activated at the lowest sensitivity level and then increased one notch when this didn't show much improvement. The max HR is set at 150. I am still battling and I know I should feel better than this. I can get my HR to max at 140bpm in training but I really have to strain to get there, like a sprint up a 7% incline. Can anyone give me advice? Maybe increase sensitivity further or increase the max HR (technician said this would increase the rate of reaction / response).

1 Comments

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by Tracey_E - 2013-06-02 08:06:40

It can take a few tries to get rate response adjusted just right! You want it to go up appropriately when you exercise but you don't want to race every time you stand up and it's a fine balance. Sometimes it can help to get on the treadmill in the office while on the pm computer so they can watch what you are doing and adjust accordingly, then try it out right away, adjust again if needed. I've done that a few times, it saves trips back.

If you regularly get to 150 while working out, then you'd want your max at 160. Max should be a bit over a comfortable rate on exertion so you have a cushion. My upper limit is 170 so I try to stay under 160, but often I don't get above 140. As long as I can do what I want and feel good, it doesn't much matter what my heart rate is doing. I used to look at those charts with target rates, but I decided they're useless when your heart doesn't work like everyone else. I go strictly by how I feel. If I can talk but not sing and the room isn't spinning, then I figure whatever my hr is, is what I need.

Are you on a beta blocker? I am and my legs get heavy when I run. Doesn't matter how much I train, doesn't matter if my heart is in the mood for 120 or 160 that day, my legs still turn to lead way too easily. I assume it's the bb I'm on, it keeps the heart from beating as hard as it wants to. Frustrating, but without the bb I can't work out (atria races faster than the pm can pace the ventricles) so this is the balance we found that works best for me. Not perfect, but I can work with it.

Another thing I noticed. I have good days and bad days working out. I used to blame it on my heart, and some of it most definitely is my heart, but noticed that if I'm not well hydrated, if I haven't had a good nights sleep, if I didn't get enough protein the day before, then I'm going to struggle.

Why did you get the 3 lead instead of a 2 lead? Often that's associated with low EF, which will also affect your stamina.

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