Is a pulse rate of a 100 normal.

Hi Everybody,
I just got my pacemaker a few days ago..according to my doctor
my pulse rate was at 40 bpm..i was monitoring it with a wrist bp
tester..it was like that for 4 weeks so the monitor told me..when
i mentioned it to my g.p. she gave me a e.k.g...
After that was done the next thing i know i was in an ambulance
headed to the e.r..after a few more tests and 3 days in i.c.u. they
said i needed a pacemaker installed pronto..so now my pulse
rate is at a almost constant 100 bpm..i asked the doctor ain't that
to high and he passed it off like it was nothing..i was reading a normal rate is between 60 to a 100..oh by the way the 100 was when i was laying in the bed..i hate to see if i went walking for any
time it would probobly make it 125 or so..
I have a 2 wire pm with wires going to ra and the rv..i don't get that
tired walking up my stairs i noticed..but i'm really freaking out on the 100 bpm..after it was done i thought i would be normal with like
a 80 or so h.b..so i'm curious if this has happened to anybody
here..i won't be seeing my card doc for another 2 weeks and i'm kinda scared..any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated guys..
Thanks,
Old Sparky

8 Comments

I do this

by Darvox - 2014-02-24 04:02:21

Every time they mess with my heart it does this. I've talked to my doc about it and he, after messing with my heart, acts like it's nothing. I did it for about a month after getting my pacer and then I did it for about a month and a half when they had to go back in an ablate more of the nod. It sucks, makes you feel rushed and panicked, but after time it did drop back down. Mine is back at it's 88 beat a minute and as far as I know that's what my heart rate has always been, around. It drops down in the 70's from time to time, but now, but that too could be normal and I just never caught it when I was younger because--well I thought I was healthy. :P

Just try to relax and talk to your doc about it next time you meet.

thanks

by oldsparky - 2014-02-24 04:02:26

Thanks Paul..

Yes it is normal

by IAN MC - 2014-02-24 04:02:57

Hi Sparky ; notice I didn't say High Sparky !

We are all different, but any resting heart rate between 60 and I00 bpm is considered to be " normal " . There are people living happily with resting HRs below 60 and above 100 but they have to draw the lines of normality somewhere.

Your Dr wasn't at all concerned because there is nothing to be concerned about, it's how you feel that matters !

I'm curious what was your resting HR before you ever developed heart problems ?

Best of luck

Ian

Ian has smacked the old nail....

by donr - 2014-02-24 08:02:31

....right on the head & driven it flush all in one mighty stroke.

Why, oh why, throughout that long narrative did Sparky not tell us what used to be normal for HIM? Surely if you were monitoring it w/ a wrist BP device you would know that. Were you not concerned when it was 40 for 4 weeks - concerned enough to go see your GP about it?

So I join Ian in asking "What was NORMAL for you before all this happened?". That is the key to the answer.

I dunno about anyone else in here, but I have NEVER met another person above the age of about 6 w/ a resting HR of 100! I found the data for AVERAGE Resting HR below at this link:
http://www.topendsports.com/testing/heart-rate-resting-chart.htm

Age 18-25 |26-35 |36-45| 46-55| 56-65| 65+

Average 70-73 |71-74 | 71-75| 72-76|72-75 |70-73

I tried to find the distribution of HR's that go w/ these averages, but was unsuccessful. When a Cardio gives you a "Normal" HR, they give it to you as a RANGE, from low to high - like 60 - 100. Face it - there aren't very many people who have HR's at the ENDS of those ranges. There is a BIG HUMP at the average.

IMNSHO, too many Cardios (as well as GP's) let that "Normal" range just blythely let those numbers roll off their silver tongues of authority like they are absolutes & anyone w/i the range is just hunky dandy for being OK. Implying that anyone at 59 or 101 is on the verge of death from some weird malady. Just isn't the case. About 70% of us are clustered w/i a narrow range centered on the average - my guess (Really a SWAG) is that narrow range is about 65 - 85. At the risk of causing panic in the streets (PITS), I'd get concerned, as Ol' Sparky has, if my resting HR was 100.

Let's look at another "sacred cow," etched in stone number - body temp. The magic number is 98.6 Deg F, correct? WRONG! It varies dramatically among people. Mine is 97.4 - which makes a BIG difference in when to get excited about a fever.

Bottom Line - we are all different. The only absolutes I can give you are that if our body temp equals room temp & our BP measures out at 0/0 we are truly in deep doo-doo!

Donr



HR 100

by jenny97 - 2014-02-24 09:02:57

the others raise good points regarding the rate that was normal for you pre-PM, but I also have a couple of more thoughts.

First, you have a PM now, and, as someone else mentioned, there are different settings on the PM. The lower limit sets the lowest your PM will allow your heart to go naturally. It's possible that your lower limit is set to 100 if your dr. felt that it was warranted. (This would be somewhat unusual, but still worth asking about, if you're concerned.) So, when you go into your next appointment, you can ask about the limits that have been set.

Second, I don't know about others here, but after I have my PM checked, especially if they change settings, then it takes my heart a few days to calm back down to a more "normal" rate. It sounds like you feel like this has been going on longer than a few days, but it's something to consider for after checkups.

Third, you mention that this has been going on for several weeks and that you are concerned. Being worried or stressed about something can also contribute to a higher heart rate.

A heart rate of 100 is not necessarily something to be concerned about and many completely benign factors can contribute to such a rate. But, as always, if you don't feel well, or if you're concerned that something is wrong, it's always best to check with your doctor.

Good luck!

Jenny

This isn't Burger King

by Theknotguy - 2014-02-24 10:02:12

You just got your PM a few days ago. Give your body some time to settle down. They're hitting your heart with an electric shock and it's reacting. Not to mention you've been through a stressful situation and your body has probably dumped a whole bunch of adrenaline into your system.

The first week I was awake, everything was all over the place. BP was up and down, I'd wake up in the middle of the night because of adrenaline rushes and highs, heart rate was all over the place. would be freezing cold, then sweating, mood swings (and I'm not a female going through menopause), reaction to medications, and all sorts of stuff.

Your body isn't Burger King where you can fast order a heart fix and get it in less than five minutes. You've got to give your body some time to adjust to the new situation.

For me, because of the trauma I received prior to the PM implant, they're telling me it will be a minimum of six months before I start to feel normal. It's been almost five months and things are just settling down.

Oh, and quit monitoring your heart rate. All you do is get stressed out, dump more adrenaline into your system, then shoot your heart rate and blood pressure through the roof. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt and the ER bill to prove it.

If you aren't; gasping for air, passing out, screaming with pain, or burning up with fever, you're probably OK. So wait your two weeks and see what your doctor says.

Theknotguy

At the risk of being a contrarian...

by donr - 2014-02-24 11:02:40

...I'm gonna stick w/ my decision to wait to find out what his resting HR was Pre-PM.

If it was something like the averages I listed in my prior comment & it's now 100 w/ a base Rate set at even 80, there's something awry - that's NOT normal, or even reasonable.

As far as adapting to changes in parameters - I came out of my PM implant w/ a Base Rate set at 80. I squawked loudly because I was an intrinsic 72 my entire adult life - & I had over 30 yrs of annual physicals to back that up. I also felt constantly Hyper alert because of an HR that was higher than I was used to. My Cardio changed it & told me to go walk the halls of his Bldg for 15 min. I did & came back & my HR was now down at 75 at rest in a chair & I could sense the difference in the way I felt.

Right now, IF his base rate is set that high & he is an intrinsic 70-73, the PM is fighting his Autonomic nervous system that wants him at the lower rate. If they change his PM setting, his HR will drop like a Uranium brick in a vacuum.

Donr

I'm with Donr

by NiceNiecey - 2014-02-25 12:02:12

Before PM, my resting heart rate was around 80; afterwards, at rest, it was 100-110 and I felt horrible. After adjustments and starting me on a beta-blocker, it is back down in the 80s.

If you aren't on a beta-blocker, I'd inquire about it. I HATE to take medication but a resting HR of 100+ is exhausting.

Let us know what happens.

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