Tired after walking 45 mins- 5 days Post op

Rate response on?

by LondonAndy - 2018-09-03 05:44:21

I am 100% paced too, but I understand that often they do not immediately turn on the rate response functionality  where the pacemaker responds to your activity level. Did they say anything about this yet? If not, it will be turned on at your first check up. 

Also, are you drinking plenty of fluids? Dehydration can lead to low blood pressure (hence dizziness).

healing

by Tracey_E - 2018-09-03 08:43:39

We all do that! We feel better, so we get all excited and overdo it. No harm done, just listen to your body when it's screaming at you to nap.

If you felt good during the walk, then the pacer is probably doing what it's supposed to do on exertion.

Ditto Andy's advice re: hydration. Don't know how your weather is but ours is still stinking hot.  I add electrolytes (nuun or tailwind) to my water after being outside long enough to work up a good sweat.  I prefer that to sports drinks because I don't want the sugar. 

Rate response

by Blessed31 - 2018-09-03 11:05:16

Hi London Andy! I had no idea about “rate response” I did read up a bit yesterday about over exerting yourself beyond what the pacemaker is set to based on my average beats per min. When I got discharged last Wed they explained what mine would b set to but it was information overload so I will be sure to understand the setting more on my check up appt this Thursday. But that could very well be my problem! And Tracey!... As I stated before I’m new to this site just last wk and your responses are so helpful and relatable. I thank you for that. I too have been experiencing hot weather here in Upstate NY. I do drink lots of water and my body seems to not want unhealthy foods/drinks as much since my surgery 8/28.. or maybe I’m just a lil more conscious about what I’m putting in my body now. Question...how are you adding the electrolytes to your water? Or are you buying it with them in it already? I think I will try some.

electrolytes

by Tracey_E - 2018-09-03 15:09:08

The bought stuff usually has sucralose so I get tablets. I get them at the running store or anywhere they sell supplements. Coconut water is another good choice. I don't like the taste plain so I add a scoop of BCAA (after workout drink) or a big squirt of lemon juice and a half pack of stevia. 

https://www.amazon.com/Nuun-Hydration-Variety-Improved-Flavors/dp/B01AMVB87A/ref=sr_1_5_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1535997937&sr=8-5&keywords=nuun

This is what I add to coconut water https://www.amazon.com/Muscle-Martini-Natural-Mixed-Servings/dp/B01G2FY80E/ref=sr_1_2_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1535998001&sr=1-2&keywords=muscle+martini

Ditto on the diet! My electrical system is screwy enough, I refuse to compound it by getting something that could have been prevented by taking better care of myself. 

rate response

by Tracey_E - 2018-09-03 15:21:29

If you have av block, rate response may be turned off and you probably don't need it. With av block, the atria (in theory) beats normally, we only need the pacer to make the ventricles beat whenthe atria does. Rate response is for when the atria doesn't increase adequately on exertion, the pacer sense motion, steps in and gives our rate a boost. If you don't need that, they often turn it off to conserve battery and keep it from competing with our natural sinus rhythm. 

It's not at all uncommon to take a few tries to get the settings right. We are all different so they start with a good guess and go from there. Also, they adjust things after a few weeks, when things have healed  and the heart's had a chance to get used to being paced.

The most common thing to change on younger, active patients with heart block is the upper limit. The pacer can only pace the ventricles up to the upper limit. They often start us at 120-130 which is great, until our sinus rhythm gets over that when we work out then the heart is out of sync again. You'll want the upper limit to be 10-15 above whatever heart rate you get at when you exercise. For me that's 165-170, so mine is set at 190. It's pretty easy to feel it when we hit the upper limit! Kinda like  hitting a wall. 

Any time you're exercising and don't feel right, make note of the dates/time so they can look it up and see what you were pacing at the time. 

Rate response

by Blessed31 - 2018-09-03 18:50:06

Great! Thanks for the info Tracey. I did take note of how I was feeling after my workout yesterday and I will b passing it along to my doc on Thursday. Hopefully they can make the necessary adjustments if needed. I know it maybe a few wks before I feel 100% again but I’m along for the ride : )