mediation, cycling

this is a first post - not sure if my new pacemaker model is shown so that others will know if it can adapt - St Jude pm2240

Getting used to the PM. Resting heart rate has been around 50bpm for many years. Diagnosed with Mobitz Type II block. The last time it happened I passed out.

My new pm was set to an apparent default rate of 60bpm.

I've cycled year round for over 27 years and generally average 80%+ of my max heart rate for the majority of a ride. I'm 72.

I also do 35 minutes of zazen daily where the heart rate will drop - for sure below 60bpm - most likely below 50bpm.

Can my PM be programmed to handle both extremes?

After research I see that some PMs can be programmed with a sleep mode option. Some can be programmed to switch automatically to sleep mode by detecting no motion.

My first attempt at zazen upon returning home resulted in constant chest thumping heart beat misfires - not good. During a second attempt today all worked perfectly? I do not understand.

Does this thing learn?

3 Comments

Mobitz II

by BillH - 2016-02-14 05:02:36

If Mobitz II is all that you have it should be easy to set the pacement to handle both.

In a normal heart the Sinus node is the hearts natural pacemaker. It triggers a pulse to active the atria chambers. Then it feeds through the AV mode to trigger the venticles or the main chambers of the heart.

With Mobitz II some of the triggering pulses are lost in the AV node and the ventricles are not triggers.

All of the PM needs to do is to follow the sinus node and whenever it detects that the ventricle was not trigger to go ahead and trigger the ventricle.

Thus it can follow the sinus rate between the minimum setting and the maximum tracking rate.

I am not sure but I think that the minimum rate can be set as low as 40, but 60 is the default. If for some reason they don't want to lower it to 50 (or lower) their are 2 different settings that can be used to allow it to go lower.

The Hysteresis setting allows it to go lower if detect regular sinus node pulses at a lower rate.

And the Resting setting allows it to go to a lower rate if it detects "no movement" for 15 to 20 minutes. "No movement" is based on the average activity for a week. While this would be good for a sleep setting, it would not be ideal for meditation because of the delay.

The default maximum tracking HR is 130, but it can be set much higher.

thanks BillH !

by zazen_1 - 2016-02-14 10:02:05

I'll go over your suggestions when I visit the cardiologist for the first follow-up this Thursday. I'm taking it very easy to allow healing. Your observation about average activity for a week (it has only been 3 days) might explain less interference when meditating the second time?

I am now more hopeful.

recovery time

by zazen_1 - 2016-02-25 07:02:59

It has been two weeks since the PM install.

My left arm is still slightly swollen? I iced everything for the first two days and the swelling around the incision and armpit seemed OK.

I'm wondering how long others have experienced some swelling in the left arm afterwards? I was hoping it would have subsided by now.

You know you're wired when...

Friends call you the bionic man.

Member Quotes

It's much better to live with a pacemaker than to risk your life without one.