High rate pacing - I'm confused

Before my 4th ablation, my heart rate would rise on it's own during exercise and my natural sinus node would take over for the entire duration of increased activity.
My pacemaker was used rarely and only in times when my heart rate was low. I had mostly high rate rhythms but occasional low rates as well- mostly due to beta blockers.
Now after my 5th ablation, I'm paced the majority of the time in my right atrium and I don't take any heart rhythm medications.
I've had SO many ablations that I no longer know what my "natural" rhythm is anymore. My pacer has just been there to make up for it since the last 2 ablations. I just know that I pace A LOT more than I used to.
My question:
Why do I pace at rates up to 130. I am not used to being paced during exercise and this is all new to me. It's a little discouraging to me to see those dreaded spikes when they used to not be there so much. Those spikes even show themselves every beat at 80 bpm when I'm doing absolutely nothing. My low rate is 70.
Guess I'm officially paced forever from here on out. The next time I get my pacer checked, can't they turn it off to see what my natural rhythm is? At least I'd know what's going on.

comments/suggestions appreciated...
-A

3 Comments

rhythm

by Tracey_E - 2009-05-22 11:05:35

I've heard you sing and play guitar. I don't care what Patch says, you have great rhythm!

Yeah, they can turn it off and see what your heart does on its own. You might not wanna know, lol. If they killed the SA node, you're gonna be pacing most of the time, esp during exercise. If you're feeling good, don't dread the spikes! Embrace them, spikes are good.

Heart Rates

by SMITTY - 2009-05-22 11:05:45

Hello Angelie,

My guess it that the rate response feature on your PM is active and is now increasing your heart rate during exercise. I have no idea, that because of your ablations, whether this is necessary or not. Discuss this with your Dr. as rate response settings on a PM can be changed.

I had to have my rate response turned off because the PM would send impulses to the ventricle that were out of sync with the atrium. This resulted in the mitral valve trying to stay open for a few milliseconds against the pressure of the ventricle trying to contract. The result was slight pain that was very annoying every time I did anything to increase my heart rate.

As for asking what your natural heart rate is, I ask this question at every checkup and I'm given an answer immediately. Be it right or wrong, I have assumed that one of the first steps in my checkup is to see what my heart rate would be without benefit of my PM. They always tell me it is 43 to 48, only they give a specific number and not a range.

The low setting on my PM is also 70 and with exercise I can make it up to the mid-80s without help from the rate response. Of course I have to pace my activity very carefully, otherwise I'll be gasping for breath like a fish out of water.

I will make a suggestion. Before your next checkup make a list of questions you want answered. Although I'm on a first name basis with the nurses and technicians (had the same ones for 9 years) I still have to make a list of my questons. There are just too many interesting things in that little room for me to trust my memory.

Smitty

too funny!

by pacergirl - 2009-05-22 11:05:58

Patch... you are such a delight!
Pacergirl

You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

Member Quotes

I'm a runner, mountain climber, kayaker, snow skier, bicycler and scuba diver. The only activity among those that I'm not yet cleared to do is scuba diving, and when I am cleared, I'll be limited to diving to 50 feet.