Rate Response PM Setting

Rate response settings

by parmeterr - 2018-01-10 21:38:45

You did not indicate what your upper limit and lower limits are along with your ADL (Average Daily Living), your exertion response, and your activity threshhold.  Also what are your current set points?   Could be that your set points have been reduced to a minimum during your 6 weeks of inactivity that minimal movement would cause the rate response to go to your upper limit.  I have had to opposite problem.  Too much activity was causing the set points to increase so that hitting my upper limit was basically impossible.  Just my thought.

Richard

Settings

by Firefoy - 2018-01-10 22:57:06

Richard,

My lower setting is 45 during the day and 40 at night.  My ADL is 87 and my Upper sensor rate setpoint is 122.  I have tracked these numbers since I got the device and they seem to vary every time.  At the prior interrogation they were 83/117 and I was running very well.  For example, the week before my ablation on the last mile of my 5 mile run my HR was 140 and I ran a 6:40 mile.  Also, all my interrogations show that I am paced around 35% of the time and the low end and next to nothing above 110bpm which is why they put the PM in to begin with.  

Settings

by Lindaosc - 2018-01-10 23:54:42

My EP put my minimum at 60/150 max. I’m only 3wks post op and I’m not back to regular activity. I can’t wait to run. My question is do you feel a tugging sensation when you’re running and how high does your hr go when running? Sorry I’m no help😬 Linda

Hi Linda

by Firefoy - 2018-01-10 23:58:53

Linda,

My HR goes to the max setting of 180bpm but I don't feel like I am sprinting at 100% effort to match.  I don't feel any tugging sensation when I run or lift weights.

Tim

Rate response settings

by parmeterr - 2018-01-11 01:32:34

Your comment about the set point varying is correct.  They do vary.  The pacemaker is programmed for them to vary on a consistant basis.  What I think is happening is that the pacemaker is trying to match your activity level.  The set points were vey high before your ablation.  Setpoints of 83/117.  That is high.  I have "fixed" set points, 20/70.  Much lower.  They can not vary.  I would imagine your set points are much lower now because you did not have a high activity level for about 6 weeks.  That is why it is easier to get to the maximum heart rate.  The pacemaker pushed them down to match your new activity level.  What happens is that the pacemaker measures the number of times the accelerometer exceeds a certain level in a 6 second period.  Each time is know as a "count".  Your set point is the number of "counts" within that 6 second time span.  When the "counts" hit 83, the programming increases the heart rate until it hit 117 which is then your maximum heart rate that is allowed then keeps it at that maximum heart rate until you go under the 117 "counts".  Depending on your exertion level the pacemaker changes the set points.  There are 5 exertion level if I remember correctly.   The exertion level determines that time in minutes allowed per day for your heart rate to be at a certain level.  Say 45 minutes per day your heart rate is at a maximum.  If during a day you exceeded your maximum heart rate for more than 45 minutes, the next day the set point would be raised each day until you no longer exceeded your maximum for the 45 minutes allowed.  If you did not reach the maximum heart rate for 45 minutes for the day, then the set point would be lowered until minimal activity you reached the 45 minutes for the day.  The same for your minimum heart rate.  There is also a weekly time that is used, say 3 hours for it not to exceed a certain "count".  The set points are constantly moving.  Yours appears to have found the set points that match your activity level and you were happy with that level.  I was very active and the pacemaker kept increasing the set points to the level I could no longer get my heart rate to its maximum.  We just finally "fixed" the set points.  It works for me.  I have a 3 or 4 page document that does a better job of explaining the function of the rate responsive system for Medtronic.  Don't know if this information helps.  My thinking for what its worth. 

Richard

Rate Response Settings

by frankmcw - 2018-02-09 01:28:29

This comment is for Richard: your insights regarding the rate response set points could be very helpful to me as well. Would you please forward the information to me at paulafrankmcw@hotmail.com. My situation is very similar to yours, and I think it is time for me to have the the rate response settings altered. Thanks, Frank