rate response

I go for my 1 year check-up in June and I have a question. What is a rate response and is it something that needs to be set on my PM?  I had the activity "whatever" turned on at the 6 month check-up and it improved my ability to walk and do things, but I feel it could be better.

Any help readily accepted as I am in the dark about my companion (PM) and want to know what to request on this visit.

Thanks for your answers and help.
Binky (Dianne)

7 Comments

Rate Response

by SMITTY - 2011-04-24 07:04:39


Hello Binky,

Looks like all our other "commenters" have take the day off for Easter so I'll try to answer some of your question.

Rate response and activity "whatever" (also known as activity response) are the same. It is a feature our pacemaker has that lets it recognize an increase in our activity and increases our heart rate accordingly.

There are settings that control this feature. It monitors the body activity for X amount of time, usually a few seconds, before starting to increase the heart rate. There is an upper rate limit to which the rate response will take the heart rate. The high rate for mine is 140, but within the last few days I saw one of the members say theirs will take their rate up to 180 BPM. As with all settings on our pacemaker the Dr decides what is best based on his knowledge of our heart.

For more information on your PM get the Dr to explain the settings on your PM and why each one was chosen. But, I think most important of all is to accept that our PM will do what it is programmed to do and so long as we feel all right don't worry about it. That PM is a lot more predictable and stable than any other part of our body.

Good luck,

Smitty

Binky.....

by Pookie - 2011-04-24 09:04:15

When you go....they changed the "procedure" - there is no longer a cardiologist or an EP present during the interrogation; only the PM Tech. The cardiologist or an EP is only called in if the PM Tech sees something or you request them to be present.

My suggestion to you is this: (since we go to the same PM clinic) - ask the PM Tech to have either Audrey or Connie, one of the Medtronics Reps, to join you!!!!!!. Both are excellent at explaining things.

If you get Marcia (tall lady with really short hair) she seems kinda quiet, but really she is quite nice....just talk to her!!!!!! Don't be afraid to ask questions and most importantly if you don't understand what she explains - tell her - she will re-word her sentences until you do "get it". They are a great bunch of gals (PM Techs)...my favorite is Ulena (totally misspelled her name) she is a bit hard to understand but I find her the most helpful. But Judy (the really short girl) is good too.

If you want and if you have time, I could probably come down and meet you for a coffee or just sit with you in the waiting room as you KNOW they always run late. I'd love to meet you after all this time:)

Just let me know either here or on FB or via email.

Take care. Smitty & Bunch gave you some excellent information, much better than I could ever explain it, that's for sure:)

Pookie/Karen

Talk to your doc

by COBradyBunch - 2011-04-24 09:04:17

Rate response is one thing, also how much your pacer gives you in bpm towards that high end is another. You need enough of that high end, if you heart can take it, to give you the necessary energy for some things. You body can be trained to work harder in that low end but it takes time. If you aren't getting good answers from your doc look for another one. Good docs will work with you and answer all your questions.

Binky - 1 more thing!!!!!!

by Pookie - 2011-04-24 10:04:36

Ask them for a print out of your report!!!!!!! They will give it to you. Ask every time you go. It won't make much sense to you at first, but every time you go, ask for it, then you can compare the numbers and information it contains, and if you ever see a difference, you can then ask about that particular thing, plus there are quite a few members here that can read those print outs!!!!

Pookie

Bridgewater????????

by Pookie - 2011-04-25 03:04:44

Bridgewater has a pacemaker clinic??????????? Or is it just your cardiologist with the machine to do the interrogation? (Still ask for the print-out)

I'm totally blown away as I thought Halifax was the only place one could have their pacer interrogated.

Well, we could always still get together for a coffee & a chat the next time you come to the "big city" or the next time I'm down in your area:) I know you hate to drive in the city, but if you can get to CostCo - I'm not far from there and I could come to you!!!!!!

Pookie

clinic

by Binky - 2011-04-25 05:04:54

I see my doc at the hospital and he does his thing will the machine and always does a print out. Just never thought to ask for one. Not a clinic like Halifax because there are no PM techs there just cardio nurses Only doc does the PM work-up
Will see when I can get to Halifax and yes I know how to get to Cosco. Hope to see you soon and thanks for the advice
Binky

wonderful

by Binky - 2011-04-25 06:04:27

Thanks for the excellent advice . Just wanted to know what to ask my doc this trip. So I seem to need to ask about #'s also. Have no idea what my high response rate is or how much I depend on my little friend. And Pookie I wish I went to the same clinic as you but I go to Bridgewater. Have a very nice doc. but guess I will need to ask questions to get answers. Now at least I know where to start.
Hope I can be as helpful as you all were to me someday.
Thank you again and will let you know what I find out.
Binky

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