cardiologist with medtronic rep

3:15PM EST today, just a PM check up,

any question i should be asking?





4 Comments

adjustments done

by wjs1954 - 2014-05-29 05:05:23

Rep said I was living most of the time at min, paced 81% @ 60, turned RR on said that should help? Back for a check up in 3 months. I don't really get how RR will help if the pacemaker is still set at 60 I don't see what the difference is.

RR is

by KAG - 2014-05-29 06:05:22

Rate Response. Usually that's only turned On if you have problems with your sinus node (heart's natural pacemaker). A simple way of thinking of it is that RR becomes your sinus node. Sounds like your sinus node isn't always working. If RR is turned Off the PM will just pace at the lower limit. The lower limit is just that, the PM won't let your HR go below that.

Since you have a Medtronics it has an accelerometer in it that senses movement. With RR turned On if it senses movement (acceleration) it will increase your heart rate.

My RR is Off since my sinus node works OK, so I don't know a lot about it. However I do know that with only the accelerometer, if you cycle you may have trouble getting your HR up. Running usually gives enough movement. There are many settings that can be adjusted with RR On to optimize it. Sometimes it can take a while. Tweaking settings depends on how you feel.

You could search for RR (in the upper right corner of the site) and should find many posts.

Hope this helps
Kathy

If I understand correctly...

by bluebowtye - 2014-05-29 06:05:41

The setting of 60 means your heart rate cannot fall below that. It has nothing to do with the RR (rate response). What that means is when you exercise or exert yourself your own heart may not be able to keep up and beat fast enough so the rate response feature senses that and kicks in and forces your heart to beat faster so you can exercise without getting SOB or exhausted. I do not need that feature as I only have heart block so my PM only kicks in if my heart stops due to the block. If that is not right I hope somebody corrects me.

Glad to hear you are doing well otherwise. I know we both got our PM's around the same time.

Take care!
~Sheila


Depends

by KAG - 2014-05-29 11:05:01

Mostly on how you're feeling. If you're feeling fine, then I'd just get a copy of the report. They usually will go over it with you if you ask. Things like any events recorded, pacing and sensing percentages, your HR, battery life estimate, etc...

If you're having any problems then it depends on what those might be.

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