The riding carts at WalMart

I have back and leg trouble already so when we went to the new Wallwqorld opening yesterday I opted for a go-cart.

About 5-10 minutes of riding I became dizzy, and I checked my pulse and it was 119.....the last time it got that high was when I was 35 and doing step aerobics! I'm usually a steady 80-86.
I could only stay there about 10 minutes before I thougt I was going to barf, and I had to be physically helped to the ladies room. Do you think the battery which was under my seat could have done it? Or some other interaction going on. It was really bad. I rode home lying on the back seat of the car. then my daughter hit the brakes and I rolled onto the floor board. I finally hurled.
Bad day at Black Rock for me. Anyone have a similar think happen to thei zapper?

3 Comments

Riding carts at WalMart

by SMITTY - 2007-10-01 11:10:26

Hello,

Anything is possible with a pacemaker, so yes it could have been the batteries, but I doubt it. Golf carts have at least as many batteries and they are probably bigger and are located under the seat and I never heard of them causing any of us PM wearers a problem.

Do you by any chance have the rate response activated on your PM? This feature can interpret a rough ride as an indication of increased physical activity and cause the PM to increase your HR. Or it could have been the shaking you were getting caused your PM to get out of sync with your heart's needs and that was the result.

If it were me I would discuss this problem with the doctor or the person that does the checkups on your PM.

Smitty

Rate Response Feature On Your PM?

by SMITTY - 2007-10-02 04:10:00


Hello,

Sorry about leaving you hanging like that. I guess you can say that when I know something I think everyone else has known it for a long time. Anyway below are some details on the rate response feature. You will note that one mention is made of the effects of vibration on the rate response, which is what I was thinking about in your case. I hope this clears up some of the fog I created.

"Some pacemakers automatically adjust the heart rate.”

"Pacemakers can be equipped with a rate of activity response feature. This feature allows the pacemaker to pace faster during periods of physical exertion or stress. The body's metabolic activity increases with exercise and stress. Heightened metabolic activity in turn increases the need for more blood supply to muscles and other organs. Newer pacemakers with rate of activity response features can measure the body's metabolic activity (with sensors) and increase heartbeats by accelerating the pacing rate during exercise and stress. After exercise or stress, the pacing rate returns to the previously programmed setting.

Different rate of activity response pacemakers use various sensors to measure metabolic activity. One type of pacemaker contains a sensor that detects vibration related to activity. The pacing rate accelerates when the pacemaker senses increased vibration. Another type of pacemaker has a sensor that detects the rate of breathing. The pacing rate increases when a person breathes faster. Other types of pacemakers contain sensors that measure changes in body acidity, pressures inside the heart chambers, and body temperature, etc. Each of these sensors has its strengths and weaknesses. Because no one sensor method is perfect, some pacemakers now incorporate multiple sensors to more accurately gauge the body's metabolic activity."

I understand your statement that you want the thing out. I went through that with mine as it gave me fits for several years. However, I didn't trust the doctor who put it in to do a good job taking it out so I chose to have mine turned off. I was not PM dependant. I say turned off, I'm not sure they can actually turn one off completely, but they did put the low setting on mine at 30 which meant it never came on line as my heart rate never dropped to level. So, in effect, all I had was a little piece of scrap metal sitting under my collar bone doing nothing. Then about 3 years later (after that doc I despised was gone) it was reset to low setting of 70. Then some months later I was prescribed beta blockers, which really eat my lunch that lowered my heart rate to well below the 70 setting, so my PM is now working about 90% of the time.

So, rather than having more surgery, if you are not PM dependant, you might consider having yours set to where you also have just a piece of scrap metal along for the ride. Then in the event you do need it one day all they will have to do is adjust the settings.

Good luck,

Smitty

rate response activated on your PM?

by scpck - 2007-10-02 08:10:04

I'm sorry I don't know what rate response activated means.

As far as discussing with my PM he's out of town. The cards never returned my call-I'm having a really hard time liking that card. It finally eased off after I threw up. I checked my BP which also has a pulse meter and my BP was significantly lower than usual 103/56 and my pulse was 112.

I still contend I'd really like this thing out.

You know you're wired when...

You know the difference between hardware and software.

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Yesterday was my first day mountain biking after my implant. I wiped out several times and everything is fine. There are sports after pacemakers!