Low pulse

counts

by Tracey_E - 2024-02-15 17:25:52

How are you getting 39? It's possible there are weaker beats between the strong beats that are throwing off the count, or some pacers have nighttime settngs which are lower. Your doctor could tell you if that's the case. 

Call your cardiologist

by Lavender - 2024-02-15 18:28:37

Best to run this one by your cardiologist. 

Low rate

by piglet22 - 2024-02-16 05:12:56

Certainly you need to take a drop in base rate seriously.

If you get symptoms like dizziness or lightheadedness and can confirm the count by another method like radial pulse or blood pressure monitor, then get advice from vthe pacing team.

Severe or prolonged episodes can lead to involuntarily falls or blackouts.

Under normal circumstances, the pacemaker should maintain the set base rate give or take a couple of points, but other conditions can interfere with normal working.

Agree completely

by Gemita - 2024-02-16 07:10:08

ViosasRBest, I agree with all the contributors.

I note you feel fine.  Did you actually feel fine when you noticed the lower than normal heart rate?  If you felt fine, then I would tend not to be too concerned.  The opposite would though be more concerning and you should then ask for some checks of your device?

I am often getting periods of lower readings from various monitors, including from my pacemaker, during which I am very symptomatic.  The cause is often an arrhythmia and sometimes a health condition (like electrolytes for example) or medication which can adversely affect pacing capture thresholds.  There are many possibilities but please get checked if you were symptomatic during the low pulse.

Same issue

by Charbookles53 - 2024-02-16 19:35:31

My pacer is set at 60 and I have a pulse oximeter and it has shown down to 39 and 40 sometimes as well. I was told these home ones aren't as accurate and may not pick up some heartbeats. Well why do they sell them if they aren't accurate? It's the exact same one they use at the doctor's office!! I know because my PCP was so kind as to give me the info on where to purchase it from. I now just feel my pulse and count the beats for 60 secs and it does stay at 59 to 60. It's just frustrating. My cardiologist told me that's why I have the box beside my bed, he said they know exactly what my heart rate is at all times yet they only transmit it every so often. 

More details

by Viosasrbest - 2024-02-17 04:57:31

OK, thank you everyone. I have now done some more checks and my heart rate (as per an EMAY portable ECG monitor) is 55 to 82, although my pulse was still 39.  To Gemita, I feel fine even with the low pulse rate, but my pulse has always been low at rest because when I was yonger I was a competitive runner.