Is PM working? Not sure.

I am 78 years and a life time cyclist. At the begining of April I had a Tavi op and 2 days before that I had a Boston Scientific PM fitted. Tavi to replace my Aortic Valve and PM to prevent HR dropping when at rest. I anticipated a delay to return to training. However, although my lower HR was going to be 50, I did not expect the PM to restrict my HR to mid 50s max. Hence my activities are pretty limited. I am seeing the PM tech. in about 10 days any comments?

4 Comments

YOur heart should be able to increase above 50 bpm

by PacedNRunning - 2020-05-18 01:46:21

You should be able to increase your own rate well above 50 bpm. Sounds like the PM only kicks when if your below 50 bpm, otherwise it's your own heart.  So your saying if you get up and walk around your heart rate wont' go to 90-100?  Definitely tell them what you are seeing and feeling. They can take a peek at your PM history and determine what is going on.  

Is PM working? Not sure.

by Baldpaddy - 2020-05-18 13:31:01

I was in with the PM tech and Cardiologist 2 weeks ago and was told that my PM was set to kick in if it went down to 49. Above that I was told that movement or breathing would get my HR up to 130. I wish. I take my pulse at the wrist and it is rarely above 54 even when I tried to push it a bit. BP monitor is always 49, 50 or 51. I am just taking short walks or ambling about doing gardening. I tried riding my bike but didnt feel at all safe.

Thanks for your comments.

Doesn’t sound right.

by PacedNRunning - 2020-05-19 03:47:54

You need an adjustment it should increase with walking to at least 90-100bpm. 

Checking it out tomorrow

by Baldpaddy - 2020-05-19 13:24:39

Thank you. I just had a telephone chat with the Tech Guy. He said he has checked the monitor and all seems to be working. So tomorrow he is going to re-set the sensitivity. My PM is set 50 minimum up to 140, so I hope that the change works. Just as a matter of interest, yesterday I put on my Garmin Vivosmart HR to see what it displayed. I was amazed to see a resting HR of 49 and a high of 130 and regular HR changes with movement. Just what I would have expected to see prior to the op. However NOT the HR that my pulse indicates. Being new to this I find it both frustrating and amazingly intriguing. Any ideas?

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