Rate Response

Good day everyone. This is my first post, joining just moments ago. I hope you are all doing well.
I had a Biotronic Evia SR- T put in on Feb 3. My symptoms were a resting hr of 40 and unable to get above 110 while exercising. An EKG showed a bad 'P-wave', so I had the 1-lead pm put in the same day.
My problem involves an erratic response to exercise (jogging); I.e. sometimes my hr stops climbing at 110-120; same course another day, hr goes to 180. Hr sometimes decreases when I exert more, and sometimes it increases when I slow to a walk. My breathing varies with hr, I.e. really puffing when running and hr stays low, and very comfortable when hr increases like I think it should.
I had a consult and adjustment last week, but it did not help. I do not know the entire meaning, but I understood they adjusted the CLS but had the accelerometers deactivated? Could this be a hardware or a software problem? My pm is active 94% of the time supposedly. Is it possible to simply have the pm increase hr to near max while exercising and decrease when activity slows?
I am sorry for the long post - I am just frustrated. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

3 Comments

Welcome Paced Friend

by NiceNiecey - 2014-06-08 01:06:38

I'm sorry you're having some troubles but the most important thing I've learned to date is that my PM will be with me for the rest of my life. Understanding that has made me realize that all these tweeks and adjustments are just part of getting to the most comfortable place.

I am not educated enough in this department to really address your specific questions but I DO know that our PMs keep the heart from beating too slowly: not too fast. Having said that, it may be that your physician will try you on a beta-blocker. I have no idea why your heart would beat so erratically and I'd be upset too if my doc couldn't help me.

If your doc DID make some adjustments, it may take your body a few days or a couple weeks to "recognize" those adjustments and "cooperate."

Forgive me if I caused you any additional confusion; certainly not my intention. Keep us posted on your situation; we learn from each other!
Niecey

Keep coming back

by Gotrhythm - 2014-06-10 01:06:14

Sorry, I don't understand enough about how the CLS pacemakers work to answer your questions,but you have done the right thing by coming here.

I suspect you're at the stage where you've just begun to realize that you need to understand your heart condition and how the PM interacts with it more thoroughly. Been there. When through lots of frustrations with inadequate information.

First of all, you need to ask for copies of all interrogations so that you can see for yourself when settings are changed and how they are changed. You might need to insist/demand they give it to you.

Second, copies in hand, you can ask the tech to show you the pertinent readings.

In my experience, cardiologists (and their minions) will answer any direct question, but they volunteer nothing, nor do they freely offer explanations of what they are doing or why.

It behooves us, the patients, to educate ourselves enough to learn to ask good questions. And one key to doing that is to come here frequently, read all the messages, and the replies. You'll learn all kinds of things you might never think to ask.

Hope this helps.

Thank you.

by NMsnow - 2014-06-10 09:06:00

I am learning exactly what you have stated. I am already 'plotting' my approach for my next appt. Coincidentally, today the pm worked as I generally expect, but yesterday was just the opposite! Looks like a slow learning process, but I am not one to quit!
Gene
Thanks again to all!

You know you're wired when...

You can finally prove that you have a heart.

Member Quotes

Thank you technology! My life is much improved.