Hi I'm new here

Hi. I'm new here. I just turned 48 and had my pacemaker implanted at the end of June. I have other heart issues as well. How do you know if your settings need to be adjusted?

9 Comments

Rate Response

by Selwyn - 2014-07-29 02:07:51

Do check with the department that your rate response is switched on. I think the default is 'off'. As Tracy says, this will enable you to increase your heart rate above 60 with exercise.

If you want to check yourself that the rate response is on , you can tap fairly quickly with a finger the pacemaker case about twenty times and you should be able to feel your pulse rate increase.

Give yourself some time

by Theknotguy - 2014-07-29 07:07:33

You have to give yourself some time. After the PM implant, you have to give your body time to adjust to the PM. I've had mine new for 10 months and am getting back to "normal". The first few months were up and down as my body adjusted to the PM.

You get a lot of thumps and bumps in the first few months. Then as your body and your heart adjusts to the PM, things start to settle down. In the early months it seemed like I'd never get accustomed to the PM and what it did. After 9 months I forget sometimes I even have the PM.

Of course, if your heart starts racing, or you almost pass out, you'll want to get adjustments made through your doctor's office. Otherwise, just hang in there. Life does get better.

Got mine in April

by jngavin - 2014-07-29 08:07:40

Howdy, I'm 57 and got my first pacemaker in April. Mine has been set at 70bpm since install. Surgery was interesting, I was awake for the whole thing yapping away. lol Ive been back for a couple settings checks but all is good. I feel great. I had to have an MRI on my knee today. It took the hospital a few weeks to get certified to do the procedure. They changed my settings before the MRI and then reset them afterwards. All went well. It was a bit nerve racking for all involved....

Thank hou

by Mommymissy - 2014-07-29 09:07:00

Thank you both for answering. I feel ok sitting around but not so great when up and moving. I do plan on asking my dr when I see him in 2 weeks. Right now it is set at 60 but doesn't seem enough when I'm up and active. Mim not able to exercise due to my other issues but hope to again one day

Welcome

by Tony G - 2014-07-29 09:07:30

The answer to your question is sometimes. The first weekend after my implant I ended up in the ER. No big problem, my settings needed to be adjusted ad there was a tech that did it quickly. Went to the regular pm clinic the next week and they did another slight adjustment. But this may be different for each person. If you are not feeling well contact your doctor.

Good luck,
Tony

settings

by Tracey_E - 2014-07-29 09:07:45

If you feel good and can do what you want, your settings are fine! The most common reason younger patients need settings changed is to accommodate exercise.

movement

by Tracey_E - 2014-07-29 12:07:25

A minimum of 60 just means it won't let you go under 60. Your heart can go higher on its own, or the rate response feature can be set to respond to your movement and raise your rate if it doesn't go up on its own. I would definitely ask!

Thanks

by Mommymissy - 2014-08-05 09:08:31

Thank you for the replies. My rate response is off. My cardiologist is not the one who put in my pm. I wound up at a different hospital. I seey own dr Monday and will ask him about the settings.

Had appt

by Mommymissy - 2014-08-16 09:08:01

I saw my regular cardiologist this week and he wants me to go in next week for adjustments. Hoping this will help. He also doubled on of my meds and wants me to go to cardiac rehab

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