Heartbeats

The day after I got my PM, this young man came into my hospital room to calibrate or whatever my PM. He walked in and told me he was going to make my heart beat faster. I told him that was conceited of him and he was too young for me anyway.

But seriously, how fast should my heart be beating? And how are you folks measuring that. By just taking your pulse? Or is there a device you are using?

What rate should I aim for and which should get me worrying?

Also, when I went back for my two-week check up, I was told the top wire (atrial?) was compensating 71% of the time and the bottom wire (ventricular?) was compensating less than 1% of the time.

This means my sinus node is still functioning a lot, right?

Thanks. I'm just healing my back stuff, coming off pain pills and beginning to try and understand what is going on with all this.

4 Comments

Just my thought

by ela-girl - 2008-09-21 01:09:11

Hi, MillieNeon!

Well, I just want to say this. Some people go overboard with checking their pulse and always having to know their heartrate. That could drive you batty and become an unhealthy habit. So, I think as long as you feel well and your pacer is doing its job, it shouldn't be a worry. It's when you feel bad or notice your heart palpitating that you might want to check it or mention it to your doc...

Happy pacing!
ela-girl

Oops

by MillieNeon - 2008-09-21 01:09:42

Was told the top wire was compensating 17% of the time, not 71%.

My heart rate's at 90 bpm right now. Not sure what that means.

Sinus node

by heckboy - 2008-09-21 10:09:22

I think it means the opposite...that your PM is doing the work of your sinus node, but your electrical pathways to the ventrical are working fine.

sa, av, etc

by Tracey_E - 2008-09-21 10:09:55

SA is sinus, the atria, or the top lead. AV is the ventricle, or the bottom lead. So it sounds like your sinus node is functioning 29% of the time on its own, 71% with help. This doesn't mean it only works 29% of the time, it just means the doesn't work fast enough so the pm steps in 71% of the time. Your AV node is working on its own.

There is no right answer about how fast is good. They usually program a minimum setting that your heart can't go under, normally they set it 50-60 bpm.

I just count my pulse for 15 seconds and multiply by 4. I tried buying a heart rate monitor to wear when I work out but went through three brands and never found one that worked! Some pm's interfere with the monitors and you can't get a reading. There are people here who have them and they work fine, but I had no luck.

You know you're wired when...

You always have something close to your heart.

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