Trying to not freak out - pulse readings

My rate response was turned off at my last interrogation and the rate was set at a flat 65. I am dependent on my pacemaker and have had it since October 2013. Four times in the last two weeks, my pulse has been taken and the readings were 59, 57, 52 and 59. How is this possible? Should I be concerned?

Thanks!

Ron

2 Comments

Nothing to worry about !

by IAN MC - 2015-08-03 04:08:39

Hi Ron

My base rate is set at 55 bpm and I OFTEN go below that !!

Apparently the main reason that this happens is :-

As you know, your PM only puts in extra beats if it doesn't detect electrical impulses generated from the heart's natural pacemaker.

So far so good, but occasionally the heart gives a faint electrical impulse which fools the PM into thinking it's a heartbeat when it isn't so the PM doesn't put in an extra beat to raise your heart rate. This then gives you an HR reading which is slightly below the lower setting.

Another possible explanation is that you have a lower night setting on your PM which may function if you are particularly inactive when you do the measurement.giving you a low HR reading.

Yet another explanation is that your pulse readings aren't accurate.


If you have had rate response turned off your heart rate must be increasing as it should when you exercise.

So no need to freak out, it sounds normal to me .

Cheers

Ian

Thanks IAN

by rfassett - 2015-08-06 07:08:17

My wife spoke with the Doctor shortly after I posted this and he basically said "calm down and enjoy your life". He said my pacemaker, according to my latest transmission (two weeks ago) is working magnificently and just the way that it is suppose to be functioning, So your explanations, IAN, make a lot of sense. I was just caught off guard by the fifties pulse readings. I am going to do an experiment after work. I am going to get on the eliptical and push for about three minutes (which is about all I can do :) ) and take my pulse when I get off.

The doctor said my upper chamber is beating on its own and the bottom chamber is being paced by the pacemaker.

Thanks again!

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