Pm setting

Hi, I had an aortic valve replacement 5 years ago due to stenosis( really don't think I needed it), anyway three months ago, I passed out while driving and went to an ER where they implanted a St Jude Pacemaker. It was set at 60, like I think everyone's is initially, I felt I was more tired than before my pacemaker, and arbitrarily asked the pm technician to boost me up to 70. Lately I am mildly short of breath. Is this normal??. Please help me and don't give me the buck up routine. I am great ful to be alive. I don't understand the sudden sob. I'm only 63 years old, still make my career doing part time modeling, so I'm in fairly good physical shape. My daughter is pregnant and I'm so afraid I will not live long enough to see the baby. Doctors no help, please tell me if this is normal, and what questions to ask. Thank you, I know I sound like a nut.

2 Comments

PM

by Blue - 2013-01-01 08:01:44

I was about the same age when I got my first pm. It took me a while to recover and it left me feeling weak and tired. I used to walk a bit further each day. Like you I was very active, in fact overactive and the pm stopped me in my tracks for a while. So, no I won't tell you to buck up. Our body has to get used to surgery and what we went through before the pm was given to us. Often it takes a while to find the right settings and there are others on this site far more experienced in commenting on that aspect than me. I did find my lower setting was too high which caused awful tiredness and it was put back from 70 to 60. Anyway welcome to the club, a Happy New Year to you and I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery and hope you will soon recapture your old energy level I did. I am over 70 now and still working like mad. Happy New Year to you from australia.

I'm Set At 80

by Many Blessings - 2013-01-04 12:01:12

I'm set with a range from 80-150. I'm 100% paced & 100% dependent (CRT-P w/AV Node Ablation). Because my rate was extremely high prior to my PM (115-250+ 24/7), it was initially set at 90. I felt great!

Because of battery life issues, their target rate was eventually going to be 60. I was dropped to 80 after a month. I still felt great. I was then dropped to 70 after another month or so. They also changed a couple of other settings at that time (capture, rate response, etc.) I felt like total crap! I couldn't make it up the stairs, down the hall, etc. It made that much of a difference with one or more wrong change.

They changed all of the last setting changes back to where they were a day or so later and I felt great again. I'm now staying at 80 (with a range to 150. My battery life is going down faster, but to me it's worth it. They would like to set my rate at 70 at night, but I'm scared for them to try it after my last experience so they aren't doing it.

You let them know when you feel good. Ask about rate changes and rate response changes. What works well for one person will make another person feel like total "you know what".

You need to learn what works for you, and keep it there. Let them experiment until you find what's comfortable for you. It takes time to get the right settings, trust me. If your doctor or PM tech doesn't understand that, change doctors & PM techs. They should work with you so you feel the best you can.

I pray you feel better soon. I know it sucks when things aren't set right. But, when you're settings are right, you'll feel much, much better. Don't give up!

Best wishes and blessings always!

You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

Member Quotes

Since I got my pacemaker, I don't pass out anymore! That's a blessing in itself.