Results PM

Hi there Crusty & Ian,

 

Yabba dabba doe I’m reborn!!!

 

I managed to consult another cardiologist and laid down my casus to him verbally knowing that before I was allowed in his office he had already absorbed all details etc. I hoped.

 

Explained to him that when cycling my PM blocked further activities when coming into the 145 BPM zone.Also the pace was exceptionally slow!The upper limit was 170 BPM.

 

Very frustating for a high level experienced cyclist especially when other less trained cyclists were overtaking me and that I couldn’t even manage slight ascents……..I asked him that I wanted a static bike test to confirm that it had everything to do with the ‘off settings ‘of the PM.

He fully agreed that a bike test would take away any doubts etc. because my heart & valves/bloodpressure are excellent.

 

A week thereafter I was in the hospital on the bike together with the PM rep. & sports cardiologist and told them when reaching the 145 BPM zone the legs would refuse further action and voila it happened before there own eyes staring at the pc screen.

 

Took off to another room – the PM rep. adjusted the upper limit from 170 >200 BPM. Sounds too far off but was done as a safety catch because my second test I had to go through all barriers 187 BPM to see whether all adjustments were in place- the upper limit stays on a 200 setpoint due to my unpredicted “ demarrages “!He also tweaked the “pace “ faster.To summarize the PM was still in its ‘ factory settings’ so to speak except for the BPM limits that were put in after 3wks. after ops.

The following day was a revelation- I took off like a rocket to Mars and maintained a good steady pace.

 

Thanks for your advive Crusty.

gr.-Moussa

3 Comments

No stopping you now

by Gemita - 2020-08-01 16:14:48

That sounds wonderful.  Really pleased for you Moussa.  Question though, does that mean that your pacemaker will ignore a heart rate of up to 200 bpm when at rest for example and not log it ?  How would it know the difference between a high heart rate caused by exertion (which would be normal for you) and a high heart rate caused by say tachycardia?  

So pleased for you!

by crustyg - 2020-08-01 16:55:49

Sounds like a great outcome!  I'm delighted for you.

I'm not sure that non-athletes understand quite how frustrating it is if, post-PM, we can't perform at something close to our previous performance.  I completely understand the psychology of having our identity wrapped up in our self-image as an athlete etc., but this is a non-athlete's analysis of something that they don't participate in (bit like a male Ob-Gyn trying to claim they *understand* period pains or pregnancy).

They teach in the British Army: 'persistence overcomes all obstacles' - seems to have worked for you.

Best wishes.

Great News Moossa

by IAN MC - 2020-08-02 06:53:22

So you " took off like a rocket to Mars ".... I hope you were still showing signs of life when you got there  ?

For so many cyclists / runners the real turning point in optimising the settings seems to be that adjustment session on a stationary bike /  treadmill.      The other key moment is often persuading the EP to raise the upper limit ... especially if you are over the age of 70 .   You did both, so well done !

Ian

You know you're wired when...

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Since I got my pacemaker, I don't pass out anymore! That's a blessing in itself.