Problem or not???

Hi everyone,
My pacemaker was originally set between 70/110 bpm.
When I tried to regain some of my fitness level, I had difficulty going as fast/far as I wished to go.
At my checkup, last week, the doc changed the settings to 70/125 bpm.
**He said that it had NOT gone above 70bpm.

Now, when I try to push myself, my pulse seems to be at 70 max.!!

I feel okay but still cannot go as fast/far as I wish.

My Hubby is wondering if it could be a "defective" pacemaker!!

Is it possible that it's on some sort of "factory" setting or defective??

It's a Medtronic InSync 3. Has 2 leads, pacing the ventricles.

Thanks very much for any input.

Bionic Beat

3 Comments

Rate Response On?

by MSPACER - 2008-06-03 07:06:28

Hi Bionic Beat

My first question is were you able to raise your heart rate on your own with exercise before the pacer? If you are unable to raise your heart rate on your own, then the doctor should turn on the rate response feature on the pacemaker. If you were able to raise your heart rate, then it could be some type of mis-programming trying to bring your heart rate back to 70. That seems odd, (although anything is possible, and one bad setting on the pacer could do strange things) so my bet would be that you may need to have the rate response turned on.

I would ask the doctor to give you a stress test on the treadmill to see how your heart responds to the exercise. The doctor can also have you do some walking while re-programming the pacemaker. One of the medtronic techs who re-programmed my pacer made me walk up and down the hall way several times and then checked the readings on the pacemaker to help with the programming.

EASY CHECK

by peter - 2008-06-04 03:06:39

Just get up from a chair and move around . Check your pulse. It should be above 70. If not, the rate response is not turned on. Go back to the hospital and ask them why not. It could be a faulty pacemaker. It could be that they have deliberately left it switched off for some reason. This is unlikely. But you need to find out for your own peace of mind. Good luck . Cheers Peter

Thankyou

by Bionic Beat - 2008-06-05 10:06:37

Thankyou for your comments. ;D

The rate response is turned ON, or so it says.

My problem was a very fast, irregular AFib, so yes, I sure could raise my HR just by sitting up.

I was mainly in bed for months before the PM & ablation, so it may be a fitness problem.....although that doesn't explain why my pulse stays steady.

I'll push myself even harder when a family member is around but if things don't pick up, I'll phone the clinic.

Thankyou again.

BB

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It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.