Rate Response turned off

Well, I had my first device check after my early May PM implant.

I shared the concern that after I exercise (4 mile run-45 minutes), I feel 'out of whack' for a day or two. I get SOB and my HR jumps up very quickly with the slightest activity. I also asked why the rate response was turned on when I had AV block and to my knowledge no issues with my Sinus node. After my tech called the Medtronic engineer and my EP, they decided to turn Rate Response off.

After work, I gave the new settings a test run and am happy to report none of the previous symptoms. I definitely feel better with it off. Thanks to the advice I received from members of this site!

Next step is to get them to adjust the threshold settings on my PM. I am currently pacing 15% in A and 99% in V. They want to lower my settings (60-160) and extend the time allowed in the AV interval. They all agreed I should not be pacing so much but did not want to make multiple adjustments in one instance. I have to go back in a few weeks for the next adjustment. Is this common?

When they 'turned off' my PM to check how I would do on my own, my HR was 67 with first degree AV block (not too bad).

Does anyone know of any issues with relying on the PM too much (i.e. battery life)?

Thanks,
Pete

2 Comments

Easy does it!

by bambi - 2008-06-24 11:06:21

Hi Pete,
It's amazing that you are running 4 miles following your May implant!!!!! Geez, you must be in awesome shape! You are probably very attuned to your body and it's reactions. This is sometimes a problem for less than open minded Dr.s. Anyway, I know whenever I have had something major done to change my settings, I've been asked to stick around the Dr.'s office for awhile. Your EP clinic is right in being cautious in doing too many adjustments at once! Your heart needs time to adjust to every change. I have found that I have to be very patient and very persistent and precise about any symptoms. I can honestly say, it took 3 years to find settings with my pacemaker that I found comfortable! I am pacing 98-100% in my atrium and very little in the ventricles. I do go through the battery life a little quicker, but I don't think that preserving battery life to the detriment of feeling lousy should ever factor in! I had my pacemaker turned off for some surgery 2 summers ago, and I was in junctional rhythm for 4 days. That was scary! Anyway, good luck with your new pacer and let us know how it goes!
Bambi

AV delay

by shockbox340 - 2008-06-30 11:06:51

Pete,

If your first degree block is not too long, they should be able to adjust your device and drop that V pacing % drastically. Percentage paced does have a significant impact on battery life. In a PM, dropping from 99% to, say, 10% will probably buy you somewhere in the neighborhood of 2 years more battery life. Best of luck!

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I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.