Pacemaker was set to high

• by Ronnie
• 2014-01-19 09:01:06
• Checkups & Settings
• 1529 views
• 3 comments

Hello my husband R (70) is an avid bicycle rider. He and his friends ride about 36-50 miles per day 5 times per week. ON December 2013 he was diagnosed with Swallow Syncope (very rare disease) after he passed out while eating during Christmas Eve dinner. He was taken to the ER and admitted into the hospital the same day. When he swallows, his Valgus nerve slows down his heart. After he underwent all kind of heart testing, and his heart was not the cause for his losing consciousness, the diagnoses of swallow Syncope was made; also due to the fact that he had several episodes while connected to the monitors when his heart slowed down to 27 and 30; all of these happened while he was eating or drinking fluids. The doctors recommended a Pacemaker as the only solution to avoid this from happening.His cardiologist told me that he wanted the pacemaker set to 40-45 bpm so as not to allow his heart to go any lower (passing out) . Two days later his surgeon talked to me right after my husband's surgery and told me that the surgery went really well and that he choose a St. Jude Pacemaker model PM1210 and set it to 50. I immediately told him that it was not what his cardiologist had said he would get; the surgeon told me not to worry because during my husband's first appointment with his cardiologist the rate could be changed. I told him about my husband's resting heart been on the 40s due to his active biking too, but again he told me not to worry. Later on during my husband's post op appointment with his cardiologist, we found out that this particular PM can not be set any lower. We are concerned about this situation, and will like to know what to do. It can't be good that his heart is stimulated more than needed. Any suggestions? Thanks