Change in base setting affecting sleep?

I would love to hear from those of you that have had your base setting turned up. My son is almost 18 months old and has a pacemaker. Because of his young age, he cannot tell me what is going on. He has an EnPulse dual chamber, rate responsive Medtronic pacemaker. However, the atrial lead is fractured, so he is only being paced ventricularly (sp?) and it is set to motion. A very young child functions a bit differently than an adult b/c he doesn't engage in any sustained aerobic activity and therefore stays pretty close to his base rate most of the time. His base rate was 80 and he was sleeping excessively and seemed tired most of the time. So his basal rate was adjusted to 110 bpm. After the adjustment, his color improved and he started playing more and sleeping less. However, he has been waking at night and not just briefly ... he wakes up and cannot settle back down -- he is giggly, chattering, and hyper. I have to wonder if it is the new setting. Have any of you had your base rate turned up with ill effects on your sleeping? Thanks in advance!

Sterling

3 Comments

HI Sterling

by sweetiepiegirls - 2008-01-11 02:01:37

It's me Sterling, Tracey!

I found this site while looking for info to put in G's health file...I wasnt surprised to see you here:) WHen I read this last comment it made a light go on!! I believe G's pm has this feature, and EP had recalibrated it as she has grown and resting heart rates have changed. I know when I mentioned that she was wired all of the time, he knew it was time to update/change from it's initial settings.

See you at "Group":)

Tracey

Thanks!

by slarnerd - 2008-01-11 07:01:18

I did know that that feature was available but never asked about it for Max. Duh. That might help. He seems to settle down pretty well and easily, but just doesn't sleep for the duration he needs to. Getting a young toddler to sleep is hard enough -- none of the parenting books on sleep suggest how to keep a paced baby down. LOL.

And hi Tracey! I am sorry that you didn't know about this site before - it can be a great source of information! But glad that you found it. Read everything here with a grain of salt - people here have pacemakers for a very wide variety of reasons and have all different types of pacemakers. Some have other conditions. I got really freaked out when I first started reading here - people who said that hairdryers and cell phones and other devices made them feel sick and dizzy. I figure they must have a different device than Max and different conditions. And some suffer terrible, uncomfortable long recoveries while others are running miles a couple weeks later. On the other hand, sometimes you can learn a lot here about the devices, check ups, new research, etc. Also there are several adults on this site with complete congenital heart block that are very active physically and healthy is every way. That is very encouraging to me. :)

Does G now sleep longer at night?

Thank you Karen

by slarnerd - 2008-01-12 01:01:03

That does help Karen, thank you. Knowing that you have the same device and have been comfortable with a sleep setting does help a lot. My son is pacing 100% and his settings will be higher just as a heart healthy baby's HR is higher but it should be able to handle a night "drop."

Sterling

You know you're wired when...

You need to be re-booted each morning.

Member Quotes

The experience of having a couple of lengths of wire fed into your heart muscle and an electronic 'box' tucked under the skin is not an insignificant event, but you will survive.