Elevated HR

I've had my pacemaker about 2 1/2 months. Had some trouble in the beginning (which some of you good people helped me through) but some adjustments to the settings made a world of difference.
My question is, why when I drive or ride in a car does my heart rate go up to the point that I can feel my heart beat (almost feels like it's in my throat) and it feels pretty fast. I don't know how fast it's going because I can't check it accurately in the car. I get this same feeling sometimes when I just walk down the hallway at work.
My next cardiologist appointment is the end of the month and I plan to discuss this with him. Could it have anything to do with RR? My low end setting is 60bpm and the upper is set at 120 or 130...can't remember, but it was that adjustment that helped stop the horrible palpitations I was having so I don't really want to mess with that.
Thanks for the help!

6 Comments

RE: Elevated HR

by cuhead - 2012-12-15 11:12:44

Could just be anxiety. I have this problem frequently too as I try to get back to normal. Any seemingly minor stress-related event starts my heart up quickly.

Ask your cardiologist or the RN for certain, and ask about ways to help cope better with the new changes. I'm still seeking help, too.

Elevated HR

by mrskid - 2012-12-16 05:12:29

Anxiety...the only failing in my own rehabilitation! I sounds to me exactly what I (and many others) experienced during the first 12 months of recovery. I had my DC PM fitted in July 2010, and the frequent occasions that my heart beat felt like it was physically in my throat really freaked me out! Now, I forget its there and flutters or mis-beats are right at the back of my mind :-)
It's good to be mindful of these occasions but don't let anxiety ruin your life, it's a very common reaction.
Hope this helps.
Tim,
York, England

rate response

by Tracey_E - 2012-12-16 09:12:18

It could easily be the rate response! It senses movement, thinks you are exercising and raises your rate for you. It can take a few tries to get the settings just right for you.

??

by kwhite62 - 2012-12-16 11:12:35

So the PM actually "makes" the heart rate go up when it senses movement? I thought it would just keep it from dropping too low or going too fast. I'm still trying to understand this thing!

And thanks everyone for your comments!

Heart rate and driving

by Annielou - 2012-12-16 11:12:48

I'm on my 2nd PM (first lasted 9 years, full time). The doctor said that it's one of those glitches where the PM takes the bumping around in the car to be us running, and needing our hearts to speed up. This 2nd PM isn't quite as bad as the first in this respect. I've found that when I'm riding, if I hold onto the door or make contact with some part of the car frame, it's not nearly as bad. When I'm driving and holding onto the steering wheel with both hands, there's no problem at all. Also, walking quickly, our hearts speed up, just as they would without a PM. The pacemaker is doing just what it's supposed to.

Pacemaker Speed Up

by Ausbill40 - 2012-12-20 08:12:19

I am a newbie but my understanding is that if your heart won't speed up on exercise, called chronotropic intolerance, then the pacemaker "RR" feature on it allows the pacemaker to be programmed to speed up on movement Maybe this rate can be adjusted also? Possibly some others here can give you more information on this.

If your heart will speed up on exercise the this feature would probably be turned off. Then the pacemaker would be set to not allow your heart to drop too low or beat too fast. These limits are set by your Dr to suit your own demands & activities.

Hope this helps

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