Driving

My dad had a pacer installed a month ago.. While we had a number of complications following the surgery, he is now on the mend however he often experiences shortness of breath and chest pains while in the car on rough roads..

Does this sound familiar ?? Does it get better?

1 Comments

May Be The Rate Response

by SMITTY - 2011-04-02 10:04:27

Hello Suzanne,

Yes it sounds very familiar. MY GUESS is that the rate response is on and is not properly set for his needs.

In case he is not familiar with the rate response it is a circuit in the pacemaker that will increase the heart rate when you start physical activity. It is activated by an accelerometer which detects motion. The rough roads are shaking his body so the rate response could be interpreting that as jogging or some other activity and increases his heart rate. The SOB and CP is due to some needed changes in the settings. He will need to see his Dr for help.

As for it getting better, it can be completely eliminated. Actually, some people do not even need this feature of the pacemaker turned on, but the Dr is the one to decide if your dad does or does not need his rate response turned on.

I wish your dad the best,

Smitty

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