Is setting too high?

I had my initial pm put in about 8 years ago and the low number was set at 60 and I felt pretty good. Was pacing about 40% of the time. I had to change doctors and I needed a new pacer due to the battery. The new one is set at 50. I feel tired all the time and don't have much energy. The dr said it is fine set at 60. I am now only pacing about 8% of time. I also get light headed alot more but thankfully haven't had any passing out.

1 Comments

PM Settings

by SMITTY - 2013-04-24 08:04:38

Hello,

OK, let's start by reviewing the way I think a PM works for us. This way if you think I'm going down the wrong track you will know where to stop reading.

We get pacemakers to increase our heart rate when the heart's natural PM lets the rate get too low. This is done by the PM monitoring the heart rate 24/7 and when the rate from the heart's natural PM drops below the low PM setting the manmade PM steps in and brings it up to low set point.

In your case with a low set point of 60 that meant your heart was beating 60 times/minute, or once each second. That setting apparently suited you pretty well but when the low set point was lowered to 50 even with the help of the PM your heart was beating only 50 times/minute, or once each 1.2 seconds or 83% as often as it was with the 60 setting. Doesn't sound like much of a reduction, but even small numbers can make a big difference when it comes to the work our heart is doing. Or put another way, that would amount to a 17% reduction in the amount of blood being pumped by your heart. I can guarantee you if you were to have a 17% reduction in your ejection fraction, it would get the Drs. attention.

I would suggest that you visit the dr and request that your low PM set point be returned to 60.
A few years back my low set point was 70 and my activity level was about what you describe for yours. I was to the point that I was having to use a wheelchair when it came to walking a block or more. So, I asked for an increase to 80 and the difference that 10 beats made for me was unbelievable.

So think about it and see if you can justify asking for increase to your old setting of 60.

Good luck,

Smitty






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