mode switch = ON topic

Ok, well I am about to go to that fine cardiologist next week and being as though I thought I was going to have a heart attack yesterday I thought I would post my question and see what recommendations are out there....

I am set as DDD, rate 70 - 125. Above 135 I go into that mode switch. I believe it switchs to DDI or DDIR but I cant find any info about it on my pacemaker report. I understand what it does, by ignoring my atria and essentially putting me into heart block 2:1 or 3:1.... but my problem is I dont feel that the rate is fast enough to meet my demands. For example, yesterday I made SEVERAL trips up my stairs carrying things. Several times I had to sit down and rest because I thought I was having a heart attack. I could feel my heart beating out of synch.. which I expect... but it was only pacing me at like 80 bpm.. Given my activity, and the fact that I am completely out of shape.. I think it should be faster and I would have thought it would have sensed that. Isnt the pacemaker suppose to sense that? I thought it was suppose to sense what my body needs to determine the rate. Is this still true in the mode switch? Or does it pace at a set rate until my rate falls below 125? I know that there are a lot of "goofy" settings like activity level and such to set for primary mode but what about this lovely mode switch? Mode switch has saved my life.. it is a God send.. without it I am completely unfunctionable. Any thoughts from people that are knowledgable about mode switching?

4 Comments

sorry youve got probs

by Hot Heart - 2010-05-26 09:05:22

hi sam unfortunately i am a bit of a novice so dont know what to suggest, just wanted to say i hope you get sorted.

HH

Rate setting

by ElectricFrank - 2010-05-27 02:05:55

Unless you have some heart condition where it is important to limit your upper HR 125 is way too low.

I had the same problem when I first got my pacer. I was in good shape, but just walking into a brisk wind would start the uncomfortable beats. I read up on it and had a bit of a bru ha with the cardiologist and finally got mine set to 55-150bpm. That plus turning off the rate response and I was walking 3 miles/day easily even in the wind.

By the way 70 is a bit high for the lower limit s well. It keeps your heart from slowing down during sleep. You could try 60 or 65 to start with.

frank

rates

by sam78 - 2010-05-28 06:05:38

Yes I do have a condition that limits my upper rate. As for the lower, I have no idea why we stopped at 70. We went down from 90 down by 5's and just stopped at 70. I guess I dont have any good answers about my mode switch questions so I will just have to ask him. Will let you all know.

rates

by sam78 - 2010-05-28 06:05:39

Yes I do have a condition that limits my upper rate. As for the lower, I have no idea why we stopped at 70. We went down from 90 down by 5's and just stopped at 70. I guess I dont have any good answers about my mode switch questions so I will just have to ask him. Will let you all know.

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