PM and Exercise HR

Hi everyone- I am curious what experiences other people have had with their HR while exercising after getting their PM. I have AV Block and had a PM inserted about 1 month ago.

I just started exercising this week. I have noticed that my HR starts around 75 and jumps almost immediately to 155-156 (within a minute). It settles down to around 150 and when I slow down it gradually comes down as you would expect. I have only been running 2-3 miles at a 12 min/mile pace to start.

I guess I would expect a gradual increase in HR (like the decrease) and have been surprised at how quickly it gets up there even when I am just starting out. Has anyone else experienced this?

I wonder if they have the rate response turned on for me or if I am setting my own pace. That is one of the things I will check on my 6 week follow up in a few weeks.

I appreciate any thoughts or comments.

Pete

4 Comments

Good Job

by tripastor - 2008-06-11 12:06:41

Pete,

It is good to see that you are motivated to get out and run so soon after your implant. I waited about 2 months before running.

I cannot speak to your device, but I can say that after I began running again, my hr would increase very fast and then after the run go down. I spoke to my EP about this and he told me it was simple becasue I was a little out of shape.

Today, 4 1/2 months from surgery, I am running, biking, and swimming in preperation for a sprint trialthalon coming up at the end of June, and I am finding out that my HR is getting back to normal.

I would also like to invite you to visit a website: www.cardiacathletes.org It is a website for those with cardiac issues who still want to push the limits and be active. I think you would enjoy the forums there.

Take care, and if I can offer any more help, let me know.
Triprastor

Rate response

by ElectricFrank - 2008-06-12 01:06:06

Pete,
One easy experiment will check if it is rate response causing the problem. Just "twiddle" the pacemaker with your fingers to make it think you are very active. If it is rate response causing your high HR it will increase rapidly.
Before I had the rate response turned off on mine I could easily go from 70BPM to 145 while sitting in my recliner.
I called the cardiologist and insisted on a programming appointment sooner. He tried the old "you are just out of shape" and I told him that I must be in terrible shape to have the exertion of twiddling the pacer to raise my HR that much. He scheduled a checkup with the Medtronics rep who laughed when I told him. He said most people never notice.
By the way I have AV block too. With AV block there is no reason for rate response and if you were in good shape before it happened there is no reason for conservative upper and lower limit settings. Mine are set for 55 lower and 150 upper. I am 78 years old. I also got out and started walking the day I came home from implant.
Be sure to ask for a pre and post programming printouts at your checkup. It will confirm what your setting were and what the changes were.

frank

thx for comments

by BlockedBuckeye - 2008-06-14 12:06:25

Tripraster & Frank -

of shape.

When I went for my next run I clocked it, it took exactly 14 seconds after starting to go from 78-156. I also tried Franks advice and moved the PM around while sitting down and watched my HR go up. At this point I was convinced it was the rate response.

Today I went for a run and it was 6 minutes before it jumped.

Who knows. I go in for a checkup in a few weeks and will definitely talk to the tech and get copies of the pre/post setting. Great tip, thank you.

Pete

ask to have rate response truned off

by gevans - 2008-06-17 11:06:32

From one Buckeye to another:
My own situation, and those on the cardiacathletes.org website, seem convinced that the rate response function is counter-productive to a trained athlete. Since you are already back to running, I assume you will be back in shape before you know it - but check with your cardiologist (or find an EP that is aware of the amazing things that atletes with pacemakers can achieve) and ask about his/her rational for having that function on. Also inquire about the beta blockers, I know I now take half the dosage with the blessing of my EP (and hope to be totally off within 3 mos).

Training for a fall marathon,

Gary

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