playing drums

Hi all!  I have thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this club ever since my dual lead St. Jude's PM was implanted last Feb. at age 69 due to CHB.  My current issue is this.  Due to my own heart now not picking up as it should, the rate response was recently turned on.  Now this little device decides when I am moving and ups my HR.

Well, I play drums in a rock band.  I know to keep my distance from the large speakers.  But recently I had a problem during rehearsal.  It was the first time all 3 guitarist and their amps/speakers were to my left, and also the first time we all played together since the rate response was turned on.  Part way through (might have been playing Hearbreaker!) I felt kinda funny and I broke out into a sweat.  Not dizzy though. It went away, came back, went away.  

I have read here and on other sites that vibrations can make the PM think that one is moving and increase the HR to accommodate, when in fact one is sitting down.  I practice at home in my rec room, just finished a 30 minute session this morning and my HR was only up to 71 and I felt fine.  But of course, there was only me and a very loud CD player!  

I have asked my health care professional, but so far the answers are only to suggest a heart monitor to see when things are happening.  I am wondering if anyone out there has experience with drums and loud music and a pacemaker.  I do realize that my anxiety about the PM is stil there and can contribute to issues.  But I really want to know if these vibrations and the ensuing increased HR is in any way harmful to me or my heart or my PM.

Sorry for the long message.  Any help would be appreciated!  Thanks in advance!

~Ellen (70 year old drummer)

1 Comments

rock bands

by Tracey_E - 2017-12-26 10:24:05

I have absolutely zero experience but I have two guesses what's going on. It's possible all of the equipment together was enough magnetic force to put the pacer in test mode. If that happened, your rate would have been a sudden steady 60 and it should show up on the interrogation report if you tell them the day/time. Or it could be the vibration setting off the rate response. If that's the case, your rate would have jumped up. Both feel bad but are harmless and won't do any damage. If it's going in to test mode, you might want to rig up a way to sit farther from the amps.

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