NewGuy

Medtronic ADAPTA Dual Chamber 2 weeks. Reason AFib and slow (48-50) rate (age 85). Setting 70. After 4-5 days rate increase to mid-70's - mid 80's. Seemed strange, some chest awareness.
Phone response by nurse vague. Apmt next week. Anyone have anything similar? I'm puzzled by rate increase...maybe heart reaction to 'intrusion'? No change in Sotalol dosage. Otherwise looking forward to much improvement in general. Glad to be aboard.

4 Comments

More info

by xbvg10 - 2014-08-07 08:08:00

Thanks KAG...HR 72+ when resting, hasn't been above 85 after mild activity. In 2006, EP said AFib probably result of RCA stent 'bout a month earlier. No AFib from 2008-2011 then came back. EP never mentioned whether SN or AV that I recall. Always assumed slow rate was delayed SN caused by Sotalol. Now seems like AV block was primary reason assuming PM is reacting to SN activity. HR has remained in 72-84 range..but I just don't feel as well as I expected. Gonna' dig deeper next week at checkup. Would appreciate some good questions to ask.!

Need more info

by KAG - 2014-08-07 11:08:10

You say you got your PM for slow rate, is it due to AV block or problems with your sinus node? You didn't say what you were doing when your HR went up, sitting, walking, climbing stairs, getting aggravated?

If you have AV block and your sinus node is working OK then your heart's sinus node sets the HR and the PM just pulses your ventricle based on that rate.

If you have problems with your sinus node, then you probably have Rate Response turned On. Your PM has a sensor to detect movement and increase your HR. There are a number of settings to adjust the sensitivity.

Appreciation and Praise

by xbvg10 - 2014-08-08 01:08:47

What a great and helpful comment Kathy. Gonna write them down for my visit. Maybe you'd like to come along....? LOL. Bob.

Some suggestions

by KAG - 2014-08-08 11:08:39

Well I'd start with getting a copy of your device's interrogation report. It has all your settings and modes on it. That way if you come up with questions you can ask for help on this site.

I'd want to find out what my condition is, AV block, Sinus problems, etc. What is the PM doing for me?

When you say that you don't feel as well as expected, why is that? Do you feel SOB when exerting more? Are you expecting your HR to increase more? These are things I'd discuss with your EP. I find that it's better to go in with specifics rather than "I don't feel as well as expected". For example "when I'm climbing stairs or walking up hills I get SOB".

If RR is turned On then there are multiple settings to adjust how fast and how much it increases and decreases your HR.

If RR is turned Off then usually the key parameters are the lower and upper rates.

Hopefully your EP will work with you. Sometimes they'll put you on a treadmill to test out your settings or have you walk halls or climb stairs.

Hope this helps
Kathy

You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

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