Rate response too high?

Hi everyone. First post here. Just got my Medtronic PM a few days ago for resting heart rate in the thirties with a diagnosis of complete heart block. I use my treadmill a lot and was used to running at 4.5 mph or so to hold my heart rate between 100 and 120.
Doc said walking only until my one week checkup because he does not want the bandage wet with sweat.

Here is the problem. When I walk at a moderate pace on level ground for a short time, my HR is in the upper 90s and low 100's. Can't imagine what it will go to when I start running again. What should I ask them to change at my one week checkup? Thanks.

9 Comments

High response rate

by bigdon22 - 2012-10-15 08:10:23

Hey Rhino,djxpw I'm 70 years old have the same problem. I'm about 3 months post procedure. I'm just happy I don't havr to work so hard to get my heart in target area.

Additional info

by RhinoRich - 2012-10-15 09:10:43

I am 65. I had no symptoms prior to PM other than my RHR dropped from the 50's to the 30s over about a week. Heart rate always came right up on treadmill. I was hitting the treadmill up to 3 days before the surgery when dr said to stop using it.
I feel fine when walking, no shortness of breath, no pain, no fatigue, no sweating. Feel great in general. My concern is that the pacemaker is setting my HR way too hi for what I am doing.

Withold Judgment

by donr - 2012-10-15 09:10:52

Rhino: Hey - you are but a week post-op. Give yourself a short while to stabilize. Surgery, even as relatively minor as this one is, will cause you to lose a bit of the edge on your physical conditioning. You have the rest of your life to walk fast to nowhere on the rubber floor!

You gave no idea of your age - that can figure into the equation, considerably.

Were you REALLY using the treadmill the day before surgery at the level you mentioned? W/.a 3rd degree HB, I wonder - usually it takes a few days/weeks run-up between you feeling bad, being diagnosed & scheduled for the procedure. During that time, again, you lose some conditioning.

Don

ADL

by golden_snitch - 2012-10-15 10:10:15

Hi!

Tell the doctor to lower the ADL-rate (activity daily life). As far as I know from my first pacer, Medtronic pacers have the ADL rate set at 95bpm, unless the cardio changes it. This is the heart rate it's supposed to reach when you do things like walking, household stuff etc., as the name says, activities that are part of your daily life.

Personally, I'd not say that 90-100bpm is too fast for moderate walking, but I'm 31, have had a pacer since I was 18 years old, and the younger you are, the higher the heart rate. I still run around with a heart rate of up to 110-130bpm, for instance when I walk to the subway station or something like that.

With a heart block "only", you will not need the pacemaker's rate response. Your sinus node will dictate the heart rate, and the ventricular pacer lead will follow it. Is your rate response switched on?

Best wishes
Inga

Thanks!

by RhinoRich - 2012-10-15 11:10:04

Dr never mentioned rate response on or off but it must be on. What you describe is exactly what is going on. As soon as I do normal stuff my HR goes to 95. We never talked about any rates but a min of 60 and a max of 140. I will ask him if I really need rate response on and if so does it need to be at 95? Pre Pacemaker I would have been in the 70's and 80's when walking but maybe that was too low. Also my systolic BP went from an average of 130 to an average in the 150s. Scary. Maybe it is all related.

I had that as well..

by PMlifer - 2012-10-15 11:10:50

I got my latest PM in June. When I started to walk my heart rate would jump after only a few yards. I told my EP and he increased the amount of activity need to push up my heart rate. It felt like I gained three months of conditioning in 10 mins. I would get it adjusted. I was able to do mine with two weeks of the procedure.

Need an App for This

by RhinoRich - 2012-10-15 11:10:53

I need an App for my iPhone so I can set this stuff myself! LOL

walking

by SUPERSALE - 2012-10-16 08:10:32

im 31 year old i had my pm since mar 2012 i been walking daily for 10-30 minutes and i been ride bike too i keep track on stop watch i don't know what my heart walk is when i walking ...

i almost to need to be heart rate monitor at wal-mart anybody know what that is ??

First tune-up tomorrow

by RhinoRich - 2012-10-16 10:10:06

Thanks for all the input everyone. With your help I feel well prepared to discuss this at my follow up appointment.

I feel great physically but the anxiety attacks are tough. I am sure they will decrease over time. Getting back on the treadmill will help too.

This is a great site. Glad I found it. thanks again.

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

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Yesterday I moved to a new place in my mind and realized how bad I felt 'before' and the difference my pacemaker has made.