Setting is 70bpm. Often it is 89. Is that ok?

I have my pacemaker due to atrial fibrillations. This is my second St. Jude. It supposed to be set so that when I am active, the beats will change. I have noticed that I will be doing nothing and it will be 89. I can walk a few blocks at another time and it is 70 which is the base setting. I called St. Jude and they said 89 bpm is ok. This wasn't normal me prior to pacemaker - I am sure. Does anyone else have the same issue? Thanks.

3 Comments

rate response

by Tracey_E - 2008-10-03 07:10:56

My resting rate can be in the 80's and 90's also sometimes. No idea why, but I feel good so it's not worth worrying about.

It's possible that your atria was beating faster before you got the pm but the ventricle wasn't keeping up and you were missing beats. Now that you have the pm, you don't miss beats anymore so your rate is higher.

It sounds like your rate response is turned on, your old one may not have had that feature. Just because they say it's normal and harmless doesn't mean it feels good and they should leave it alone. There are two ways your heart rate can go up with exercise. Your atrial rate can go up on its own- using your natural pacemaker- or the pm can sense motion and force your rate to go up- that's rate response. If your rate is staying at 70 when you walk around the block, the sensitivity of rate response may need tweaked. How do you feel when you're walking and it's only 70?

rate response

by Eperr - 2008-10-04 06:10:21

Thanks for getting back to me.
I have a St. Jude Victory XL DR 5816 pacemaker implanted 12/06.
The resting rate was turned off when pm installed. On July visit, they made some changes so it wouldn't beat at 89 bpm when I was sleeping. On August 22 visit - things seemed to be ok with whatever adjustment they made. Unfortunately I didn't get a copy of the printout summary.
I became aware of the problem again when I switched, at the doctor's suggestion my sotalol dosage from 160 mg in daytime and 120 in evening to 120 mg twice a day. He made this suggestion since I am now on a gluten free diet and not having diarrhea and losing minerals. Yesterday (Friday) I went back to 160/120 and all was ok - 70 bpm. Today, again I am noticing the 89 bpm. It can go away if I cough. I also noticed it as I was walking and I felt anxious. Not relaxed.
Right now it is back to 70 bpm as I type and I feel fine. When I walk around the block, it can stay at 70 bpm and I feel fine. I am 70 and reasonably active - I swim laps, etc. And if it goes up then, it is not a problem.

rate response

by Eperr - 2008-10-04 06:10:40

I just came across my notes. In my July 08 visit when I told them the resting rate could go up to 88 bpm, they fixed it so it wouldn't happen???? August visit - all seemed ok. That is when they suggested dropping the daily dosage. That is when I noticed the rate could go to 89 and I was doing nothing. I sent my cardiologist a faxed letter explaining my thoughts - but they don't get back to me. I need to schedule an appointment I guess.

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