PM shift and heart rate

greetings all:
as i have stated before, i am 50 y/o and have sick sinus syndrome. i had my first interrogation weeks ago and the results were very good. i have a medtronics adapta and the rate response is on due to the SSS. two questions:
-how much does yourPM shift under the skin? mine started out in one place after surgery and now it seems to be slowly moving towards my armpit area (down and left from the original placement). not far but noticable movement. is it taking up residence in an area of least resistance or is this a concern.
-second, due to the rate response which has made a nice difference, my pulse will jump when i am moving sometimes up to upper 90's-100 BPM. anyone know what an average BPM is for motion like easy walking or light movements?
thanks,steve

10 Comments

ps

by sugarmagnolia - 2008-03-02 11:03:10

i should mention that the rate of 100 is a bit winding for me, makes me feel a bit of out breath and seems a bit high for simple motion.

sugarmagnolia

by MHCHAMPION - 2008-03-02 11:03:33

My PM has shifted the other way; a bit downward and toward my sternum; probably about an inch. I mentioned it to my Dr. when it first started about 6 months after the implant and he said don't worry about it. I've had my PM since Aug. 2005.
I have no answer concerning the rate response, etc.which you asked.
Happy pacing,
Margaret

PM Questions

by SMITTY - 2008-03-02 11:03:48

Hello,

I'll take an uneducated stab at your questions.

On the pacemaker moving or trying to move, I have seen people complain here several times about that problem. Of course any answer for you must come from your surgeon, but it sounds as if to me it may not have been sutured in place well enough.

On the heart rate, I would doubt that there is a standard answer for you. To me it would depend on the person, their physical condition, their ejection fraction, and how hard theirr heart thinks it needs to work to supply blood throughout your body when you increase your physical activity, or anyone of several other items.

Take my son and me for examples. He is much younger and in excellent physical condition while I'm old and fat. We can go walking at a pace of 85 to 90 steps/minute and his heart rate will hardly hit 80 BPM, while mine will be doing almost 100 BPM. (He does not have a PM and the rate response on mine is turned off.) Since your doctor knows your body best, I say hand him this question as well. There are lots of adjustments available for a pacemaker, including the rate response feature. so it could be that your PM needs fine tuning.

Best regards,

Smitty

Rate Response

by scadnama - 2008-03-03 04:03:39

Steve,

I cannot comment on the pacemaker movement, as mine seems to be pretty stationary, but I do have a thought about your heart rate increase.
My rate drop response was tuned to where when my heart rate would drop (often times upon standing or while walking) and then the pacemaker would kick in and pace me at 100 bpm for 2 minutes. This was too harsh for me because I am used to a lower heart rate, so they decreased the rate drop response to pace me at 80 bpm for 1 minute.
This has helped with the fast heart rate, and may be something that you want to mention to your doctor. Hang in there, and take care.

Amanda

PM moving

by gsue55 - 2008-03-03 08:03:02

HI Steve,

I received my Pm in Sept of 07. everything was fine in the beginning then..after a few months it started moving around and was VERY uncomfortable. I went back to my EP several times. He tried using Lanacain (sp) at first, That lasted 2 weeks. We then we back in to surgery and had it put under a muscle...I can not tell you the difference for me. It is like night and day. I am very happy I had this done.

This is rather off the subject but,,will ask any ways.
I am going in on next Tuesday for another surgery, unrelated to my PM...could everyone please keep me in their prayers?
Thank Gloria

gsue55@yahoo.com

mine hasn't moved

by axg9504 - 2008-03-03 09:03:23

adapta (ADDRL1 model) at 7 weeks. Hasn't moved at all. Couple of days ago asked the doc about location on my first visit back, he said he allowed a 'little' space for movement.

Welcome back Smitty, like you my rate will go to 85 to 90 just walking around and 100 if I climb stairs slowly. But then that was exactly what it did before PM (when my ticker worked properly).

Magnolia: focus on how you feel and forget what your pulse is doing

Rate response

by Suze - 2008-03-03 11:03:50

I had my rate response turned down because I didn't like the fact that my heart would really speed up when I drove over a bumpy road. I didn't know to ask for this specifically...but complained about what was happening...and the tech said she would turn the rate response mode down and see if it was better. And I haven't noticed it since.

I think some of us need a little PM tweaking here and there.

Also, my PM has flipped over and back again but they tell me not to worry. It hasn't moved up or down, though.

Stay well,
Suze

Default is 3

by elpannell - 2008-03-04 01:03:44

Your exertion rate by default is set at 3. I am 3mo post PM, the technician question me if I had the problem as you described. I mentioned that I noticed it but it was not an issue for me. She turned my setting down to "1". This setting is not an issue for me either. --EL

thanks!

by sugarmagnolia - 2008-03-04 03:03:41

hi all:
i appreciate all of your input. i think that i will see about decreasing the height and duration of the rate response as it feels a bit much-almost correct but off just a bit. i called the cardio today and as usual i had to leave a message and they " will get back to me within 24-48 hours." i live in a phoenix,az suburb and i do not know about you but trying to get an MD to see you is almost impossible. i seem to always have to interact with a medical assistant. there are many fine ones in this practice and i trust them but it would be nice to speak with the MD more often. i am amazed by the posts in this site of people who are always in contact with their MD. i dont know if this is a regional situation but speaking to my MD is very difficult. how about you?
steve

thanks!

by sugarmagnolia - 2008-03-04 03:03:42

hi all:
i appreciate all of your input. i think that i will see about decreasing the height and duration of the rate response as it feels a bit much-almost correct but off just a bit. i called the cardio today and as usual i had to leave a message and they " will get back to me within 24-48 hours." i live in a phoenix,az suburb and i do not know about you but trying to get an MD to see you is almost impossible. i seem to always have to interact with a medical assistant. there are many fine ones in this practice and i trust them but it would be nice to speak with the MD more often. i am amazed by the posts in this site of people who are always in contact with their MD. i dont know if this is a regional situation but speaking to my MD is very difficult. how about you?
steve

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