Rate Response

I had my P/M implanted on 2/14/13. I'm 57 and before I had the P/M, I played softball and worked out three days a week. I'm not familiar with the P/M except I was told that it would work as "On Demand". I'm reading about "Rate Response" and wondering if this is two different functions that the P/M does? One day before I had the P/M put in, I did a stress test and passed with flying colors. No problem with my heart rate going up. The problem is that my heart rate was going down, and that is the reason for the stress test. I can be sitting in a chair and my heart rate will go up when I walk to the other side of the house, or better yet when I walk across a parking lot. It's uncomfortable when this happens because I get a pain in the middle of my sternum and out of breath. This all goes away when I sit down and relax. The Dr told me he could put me on Beta Blockers for pain, but I do not want to take medicine for someting that will hide some pain. Any suggestions?

Thank You

2 Comments

OK

by 28sedan - 2013-03-06 12:03:05

I had the exact same pain.I have had mine for 2 and a half years. My sternum would ache like a bruise or heart burn. It seems to me that it takes awhile for our boddies get use to the new way of doing things. I would see a Dr. if I where you to make sure. I allso had the shortness of breath but this is better than the way it was befor I had the PM installed. I am not totally sure what I did to make it better.Just time and patience. I come here and read a lot and that helps with the more I learn about my new buddy.
I never took and meds. so keep coming back one day at a time. I have rate response turned on that means when I need more faster beats it does it. I have had 6 visits to the PM clinic where they tweek it here and there to better fit my needs.

Not Rate Response

by ebfox - 2013-03-07 06:03:50

Just to clarify- you do have Rate Response turned off? If you had it turned on and adjusted improperly it could cause the symptoms you describe (but that is very unlikely).

It sounds like you are having either some kind of atrial tachycardia (maybe flutter) or the beginnings of tachy-brady syndrome.

If you have flutter there is a pretty simple ablation for that-

E. B,

You know you're wired when...

Your ICD has a better memory than you.

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