rate response

hi all, can anyone explain what the rate response part of the pm means please. i have pm for second degree heart block but only pace about 7% of the time. i recently had yearly pm check and all was fine except a few early beats. ever since i haven’t felt quite right. i seem to be experiencing rapid heart rate especially on standing but am aware of it all the time even though it may not be as fast as it seems and a feeling of pressure around my throat. i checked and was told no settings had been changed but when i asked if turning off the rate response would help, i was told it wouldn’t make any difference as i’m in my own rhythm except for 7% of the time. i don’t have much faith in my local pm service and am seeing my gp about a second opinion next week . it may be that i am stressed with it all as my pm is moving every time i move my arm and feel as if i have had enough but the symptoms are strange. if it meant i wouldn’t have to give up driving i would gladly have the pm removed as i have had nothing but trouble with it for eight years and its affecting my quality of life and mind badly. anyhow im glad this site is here for all of us

2 Comments

Rate Response

by SMITTY - 2010-10-14 10:10:48

Hello Belly321,

I’ll not try to comment on all of your problems. However, I do think you have good reason not to have much faith in your local PM Service, based on what you were told you about the rate response. The rate response is not influenced by the percentage of time your pacemaker is pacing your heart.

The rate response is able to detect body movement, such as exercise. And will increase your heart rate accordingly. When the rate response increases your heart rate it is possible, but not probable, that your heart rhythm may change enough to cause your pacemaker to need to help establish a normal rhythm.

But the pacing of your heart by your pacemaker and the rate response increasing your heart rate based on your activity are totally separate functions of a pacemaker. In fact the rate response can be turned off without requiring and additional changes in the settings of your pacemaker.

My rate response is turned on and some times when I’m bored, or just curious, I’ll check my pulse rate and then tap my chest a couple of inches below my pacemaker for about 30 seconds. Then I’ll recount my pulse to see how much my heart rate has increased.

If I might add something else, you mention thinking of having your pacemaker removed. Don’t even think of doing that. Mine was given me many problems and I had it turned off. They called if off, but what was actually done is the low set point was set at n30, which meant if my heart rate dropped below 30 the pacemaker would keep it at that rate until I could get help. Then a couple of years later I needed my pacemaker and all I had to do was get a PM checkup and get new settings.

Good luck,

Smitty

Rate Response

by PammyMac - 2010-10-15 07:10:16

I was fitted with pm in June, I recently went for 3 month pacemaker check, they decided to turn on rate response as when top chamber was speeding up bottom chamber was slowing down. The first night rate response was switched on I was awake until 4.30am, my heart was racing and I just couldnt sleep, it was like this for a week and I started to get tight chest and pains. I finally got in touch with hospital, they said to come straight down, they had to leave rate response on but have change the mode setting and it has made a huge difference. Hope this helps.

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