Bumpy Roads

Hello. I'm new to the website and so glad I found it. I wish doctor's would address the emotional side as well as the medical issues. I have a question. While driving over bumpy roads my pacemaker goes into high gear and my heart rate goes up. Does anyone else have this happen to them? Thanks.

4 Comments

Hi Lu Lu................

by Tattoo Man - 2015-04-13 06:04:59


.................back here in the UK I live in a village called Claypole and Harry Coulby,..a son of the village moved to Cleveland to establish his massive shipping company...the proceeds of which we still benefiet...

So....much points to your RR settings....

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Tattoo Man

Motion sensor

by golden_snitch - 2015-04-13 10:04:48

Hi Lulu!

That's a typical motion sensor (accelerometer) problem. This is the sensor the rate response function of your pacemaker uses. It's supposed to sense movement and adjust your heart rate to your level of activity. Unfortunately, motion sensor often misinterpret vibrations or riding on bumpy roads for movement which is why your heart rate increases.

First of all, make sure that you need the rate response activated. It's usually a feature needed only by those patients who have a sick/lazy sinus node that does not increase the heart rate properly. Heart block patients usually don't need the rate response. If you do need it, one can re-program it, so that it reacts less aggressively. BUT that might lead to the rate response not reacting quick enough when you really do exercises. So, you've probably got to compromise on that.

Good luck!

bumpy roads

by LuLu - 2015-04-13 11:04:49

Thank you both for your quick responses and helping me navigate the web site!

We Have Lots of Bumpy Roads

by Shaun - 2015-04-13 12:04:40

Yes, that happened to me whenever my wife was driving over a particlar stretch of bumpy road while I was recovering from the implant. Later found out the heart rate response feature was not enabled in my pacemaker so I had to conclude that it was my wife's driving that made me nervous.

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