Exercise and the Medtronic Adapta

I had a Medtronic Adapta PM implanted about 9 months ago. One of my issues was that whenever I did anything aerobic, my heart rate would go up to about 130 for a minute or so and then crash to about 90 and stay there. I would be too tired to continue exercising.

When I got the Adapta, I was told that it could adapt to the level of activity I was engaged in. I have found though that it requires a lot of jostling to trigger it to maintain a HR in the aerobic range. Jogging will trigger it, but hiking up a steep incline won't. My knees really can't withstand the stress of running so I like to hike mountain trails instead.

I tried getting the motion detector set to be more sensitive but this caused my heart to race just walking across the room. So, the Adapta really can't meet my needs which is disappointing. Has anyone else had better results with aerobic activity?

8 Comments

Me Tooo

by ppt - 2009-06-28 05:06:46

I have a Medtronic too - and I have the same issue. There is a setting for "slope" the rate at which your heart responds to requests for more support as a result of exercise. My setting has gone from "low" to "medium" to "high". I am significantly improved with the "high" setting but still not up to par. My EP put me on a CardioNet Event Recorder (not the same as a Holter Monitor) for a month - gave him a lot of data and now I have also been diagnosed with Atrial Chronotropic Incompetence - was supposed to be seen again Friday but had a crisis at work and with July 4th coming I will see him a week from Friday - can let you know more after that appt if you like. Keep your chin up and do not stop digging for more data and information so you understand what is going on :-) My EP is also considering a 3rd lead for me but we have been playing with settings to try and avoid surgery.

Motion Sensors

by schmerl - 2009-06-28 06:06:23

I started a new thread earlier today and Sue was nice enough to respond immediately. She has the adapta and loves it but is older with a bad back so she is not as active as us. My heart does respond to exercise on its own but a little slowly and not enough. My current St Jude has a vibration sensor, which, like you gives me a nice rhythm jogging at a HR of about 156. I am 50 yrs old, fit and run a 9:20 mile till my knee aches.

With biking, skiing and tennis I don't get such a good rhythm. It can be a real problem at 12,000 feet in Colorado when the muscles are starved of oxygen or trying to maintain 24 mph on a bike for more than a minute. Forget about a long point in singles...

I get my first replacement unit, after 6 1/2 years, in December. I am looking for the best device for athletic response. My cardiologist is on board but I was hoping for some insight from other battery run athletes.

I had them play with the slope, sensitivity etc and realized it can never be great for all activities. If it is too sensitive my heart pounds unnecessarily while walking around the house or wakes me up from turning in bed. I want something that monitors blood oxygen levels. I will continue my research and post any news from my doc.

Good Luck,
Schmerl

Ramrod

by ron - 2009-06-28 08:06:08

I've had a similar problem with statin drugs. I took Lipitor after getting the St. Jude pacemaker in Aug. of '07. But this past year, I've had leg muscle pain, chronic fatigue at times so I stopped the statin abut two weeks ago. My leg muscles are better now and I don't get as tired. My cardologist checked my pm in earlier this month and said it working 60% of the time. My pulse stays about 65 to 75. But I'm 78 years old so getting tired , I guess is normal for somebody my age. Anybody else that old with a pacemaker ?

70 Years old

by motorhome - 2009-06-28 10:06:43

On my 2nd pace maker. Last one lasted 10 years. I play tennis 3 times a week. This last pm when I walked out of hospital the sensitivity was set at a 9. When I turned over in bed my pulse would jump to 95. So I had then turn it off. Been good for me for about a year but had to jump start by fast walking a mile before I played. I have since had sensitivity turned back on but a low setting of 1 which is working very well. Working with the sensitivity can help you with more energy. It does take a week or more for the body to except the changes. I hope this works for you. Check into it. If you can have the pm rep. at the Dr. office. These guys can work wounders. GOD be with you, Ken

Exercise and Result

by hethrows2 - 2009-06-29 09:06:13

I am 68 with my second Medtronic Device. This InSyncIII works well with strenuous exercise. I am not a runner but have increased my cardio training with my wt. lifting and throwing routines. Heart rate recovers nicely after spending a few minutes in the ZONE. Just returned from a regional championship where i competed in 6 events from 8:15-2:30 pm. at 80 plus degrees. Felt a little woozy during the discus throw but Gatorade solved that almost immediately. ( I have type 2 Diabetes which may have been the culprit )
My cardiology team is super and I thank God they know what I need. Gary

Thanks for all your replies

by BatteryOperated - 2009-06-30 10:06:50

Looks like there are others who share my frustration. I will look into this InSyncIII. Maybe it is activated by more than just a motion sensor.It would be cool if there were a device that could monitor blood oxygen levels.

I also think I need to get a new EP. My current one doesn't seem to care about anything other than performing PM implants. I need someone willing to spend time understanding my issues.

no stress setting?

by joem18b - 2010-03-01 05:03:16

i had a pacemaker for 9 years with no problems jogging and stair climbing. the only thing that bothered me a little was walking across the parking lot to my car and having my pulse rate jump - but i left the settings as-is because everything else was fine.

so when i got the adapta as a replacement, i assumed it would have more flexibility. when i crossed the parking lot and my pulse went up this time, i had the "everyday activity" rate lowered from 95 to 85. Problem solved, and jogging still ok.

But then I noticed that if I walk up stairs (I used to do 100 flights as exercise), my pulse stays low. If I do anything stressful, like lifting or straining at something, the rate stays low. I get a pounding feeling but at the slow rate. Stair-climbing becomes tough; even one flight stops me for a minute.

I thought that the old pacemaker, and this new one, had a second type of sensitivity, based on effort, not motion. Sounds like that's not true?

Not sure whether to turn the sensitivity up or move the 85 back to 95, or what. Can just breathing fast make the rate speed up? Waving my arms on the stairs does help much.

Excercise Problem Me Also

by certileman - 2011-01-24 06:01:20

70 years old, Adapta installed 3/08. Can't get heartrate up when hiking or on a treadmill at 15 degrees walking 2.8 MPH. Got adjustment from my cardiologist today.We'll see if it works over the next few weeks.

The marketing for this unit is false advertising. From the medtronics website: "automatically adjusts your heart rate to match your level of activity". NOT!

You know you're wired when...

You always have something close to your heart.

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My ICD/pacer is not a burden. I still play tennis and golf.