Wondering why

Hi .......
I know I may be asking somewhat of the same question but I'm confused as to why my HR while at rest. (in the middle of the night) will go up to 118 - then to 98 - then 80 then back up....... as it did this morning. I am set at 80.. and 70 for rest. I know it should go up when exerting any energy and it does which does not concern me. This however I find strange. Is it normal? I had my PM implanted in late April and it was set at 80. It took a while to get used to but when I did I didn't experience this change in HR so frequently. I went in for the usual adjustment with a complaint of not sleeping well. They set it at 70 (still has not helped my sleeping- I'm having to take a sleeping pill each night to get to sleep) with a sensor adjustment also. Since that adjustment, I've gone in two more times for more minor adjustments only to go back to the original settings. Now I'm experiencing the higher HR as above mentioned of which I do not recall ever feeling before. Especially while resting. It was a steady 80 and I hardly felt my heart in my chest. I'm in 100% Afib all the time now- could this have something to do with it. I also have a weak heart pump and was told at one time my valves have a mild leak.
I would appreciate it if anyone else experiences their HR go up for no apparent reason
Thanks in advance.
This site is amazing and I feel so supported when reading all the caring comments to concerned people with pacemakers.

6 Comments

pacing

by Tracey_E - 2013-09-05 01:09:06

It sounds like you have a going on. A lower rate of 80 means the pm won't let you go under 80. If your heart goes over that on its own, the pm can only watch. I would write down the day/times you had the episodes and ask them to interrogate the pm. They can see if it was pacing at those times.

Pacing and Heart Rate

by lisarichards - 2013-09-05 11:09:41

Thank you TracyE and Bobbie, I will contact my Dr. and also keep a record of the increase of HR to check the pacing when I go in.

I'm so happy this site is available to us. I relieves stress which is so not needed now........ Lisa

Sleeping HR...

by donr - 2013-09-06 01:09:38

...is NOT constant! It can go up & down, just like when you are awake. You do not have to be exercising to make it go up. Just go into REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep & start dreaming. Dream you are running the Olympic Marathon & ; the crowds are screaming you are leading the pack as you enter the stadium. "LISA....LISA....LISA" they yell. The noise is deafening; the second runner is closing in on you as you approach the tape - your "Kick" that you started the moment you entered the stadium is starting to wear out. Adrenalin, more adrenalin, that's what your body needs right now & your glands respond as best they can for the depleted state you are in after 26 miles, 280 yards. The tape is right in front of you, your fighting heart responds to the last, pathetically small jolt of life-saving adrenalin and you trip and fall across the finish line in a photo finish w/ your challenger. As you do a face plant in the hard-packed cinders of the track you jolt awake, panting, sweating, heart racing at the fastest rate it can conjour up for your world and personal best time - perhaps, if you won the photo finish.

But you will never know if you take the top level on the platform and receive the laurel wreath of the champion- it was only a dream.

So much for the drama! Maybe you'd prefer to dream you were being chased by a T. Rex in Jurassic Park and you take shelter in a handy chick sale. Suddenly the roof is torn off and you sit there helpless as 20 tons of hungry muscle driven jaws w/ teeth as gigantic as Sperm whale's & sharp as a Megaladon's begin to engulf you and the world goes dark as the massive jaws close around you trapping you in a saliva filled dungeon w/ no escape door/

Now - about GOING to sleep. Setting your PM for 70 does NOT necessarily mean you will be able to GO to sleep. It is just an aid for you to go to sleep easier. IT will also help you STAY asleep, once you get there. Supposing you were agitated at beddy bye time w/ your HR running along at about 90. You crawl down between the smooth sheets, get comfy and WOW! a horrible thought invades your mind! Well, so much for drifting off tonight! All the disasters that befell you today keep running through your mind, You toss & turn & listen to "Freddy," your loyal, 120 lb German Shepherd, sawing away like a chainsaw at the foot of the bed. You toss & turn trying to relax, but are unable to do so. Think you'll go to sleepy-Town tonight? Fat chance!

Pile these on top of the constant A-Fib & your other worries & you have a real keg of snakes - all of which will mess up your sleep.

Don

Sleeping - HR

by lisarichards - 2013-09-06 03:09:05

Thanks Donr........
Quite the drama and yes and you do have a fabulous sense of humor. We all need one!!!
I'm sure dreaming does increase my HR....- I would like to remember the excitement though - .... :) I enjoyed your post..

PacerRep,
Hi.
No open heart or valve replacement.
I'll ask the rep when I make an appointment about 80 maybe being high. But when they turned it to 70, it was uncomfortable as I could feel every beat in my chest. After two other adjustments they set me back to the original settings of 80. I really don't like all this messing around with my heart. None of us do! My rep said it was just a fine tuning thing. but I see from other posts that being in A-fib all the time that I really have no control over how high it goes except with meds (on carvedilol, 3.125mg a day - may go to two times a day. ?) and last resort Ablation. I'm having a good day and had a good night .. I hope you all are too.
Thanks a lot for responding.
Lisa

It's not your pacemaker

by PacerRep - 2013-09-06 12:09:20

The reason you are seeing these fluctuations in HR is because of your A-Fib. Your device is set at 80 to try and regularize the rate as much as possible, but with A-fib there is zero consistency in rate. Your home heart monitor is going nuts trying to keep up with your RVR.

The only things you can do here is get a medication change to try and surpress the conduction of the electrical signals across the AV node. Ablation would be last resort.

although

by PacerRep - 2013-09-06 12:09:47

80 is a pretty high setting, but won't account for the fluctuations. Why are you set so high? Have you had open heart recently or a valve replacement?

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