love my tech

Two weeks tomorrow since surgery implant. I have brady/tacky and SSS. I had to have a pacemaker for very low heart rate and meds to try to correct tacky. After surgery I could not walk or my heart raced like horse going for a triple crown. I mean I could not walk faster than very slow motion. After searching this site I found references to rate response settings. A light bulb went off...maybe that is the problem. It was. The setting caused my tacky to start and then I was miserable every time I moved. Or I would get a spell of tacky and it would set of my rate response setting. Horrible feeling waiting till it stopped each time I had to go to the bathroom. The tech turned it off and said to leave it off till I get my ablation then see if I even need it after. I feel like a different person. Better than I have felt in months. I have hope of feeling normal again. So thankful for my new friend in my shoulder and for all of you that helps me through the unknowns. My husband says Thank you too. By the way, the person who posted the information that helped me so much had passed on but he is still helping people. So, thanks, electric Frank, I wish I could have met you.

2 Comments

Yay!

by Many Blessings - 2014-11-16 08:11:09

I'm so glad you found the answer so fast! I too, am one that does not do well with my rate response on. When I first had my PM, the rate response was on. I felt just awful and had no idea what was going on. Luckily, someone out here suggested I try having my rate response turned off because she too, had the same symptoms I was having (different than yours, but still feeling like crap). I was SO thankful for that information. I couldn't believe how much of a difference it made. I know most active people do better with it on, but some of us do better with it off. I had an AV Node ablation, and still do better with it off. Just watch how you feel after you have yours done to see if you need to have it turned back on, or left off.

There are other settings that can make things miserable too. For me, when they tried turning up my voltage a couple of times, I did not feel well. I also felt horrible when they dropped my rate down to 70, so they set it back up to 80. Whenever you're not feeling well, make sure to ask here on this site, or your PM tech to see what it could be. Don't suffer thinking it's the way it has to be.

Again, I'm so glad you found the answer so fast! Isn't it amazing what a difference a little setting change can make?

SSS / Rate Response

by IAN MC - 2014-11-16 12:11:08

Hi I'm glad that you are feeling much better !

Drs/ Techs often seem to make a guess as to whether we need Rate Response switching on or off. I think with SSS they normally assume that you need it "on" ; BUT if it is "on" and you don't need it, it is a nightmare as you experienced,

if it is "off" and you do need it ( i.e. you are chronotropically incompetent where your HR doesn't increase with exercise the way it should ) it is also a nightmare because you get out of breath as soon as you try to exercise.

To complicate matters, with SSS, your need for Rate Response can change over time. I started with it switched "off" for a couple of years and then chronotropic incompetence set in and I had to have it switched "on".

Your ablation may affect the need to have Rate Response, or it may not !

Best of luck

Ian

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I’m healthy as a horse because of the pacemaker.