Can anyone help!

I have an EnRhythm PM. It is set at a low of 60 BPM and a high of 150 BPM. It also has an a-fib arrestor. I have no problems doing every day things, washing the cars, mowing grass, repairing household appliances, and general home maintenance. My problem is I can't run more than 200 to 300 yards without getting winded. I'm 61 years old and I ride a bicycle and walk for exercise. I used to ride comfortably between 16 to 19 MPH, now, since I have a PM I can only ride 10 to 13 MPH. I wish I could fine a way that could permit me to run again, just a mile or two would be great. I used to run marathons! Is anyone out there that may have experienced what I am going through and can share some thoughts or advice regarding this issue. I'm open to any and all advice or suggestions.

Brinkman

4 Comments

Limited endurance

by ElectricFrank - 2010-09-14 01:09:41

Keep in mind that something happened in your heart that required the pacemaker. If it has limited your hearts ability to pump blood as fast as before there isn't much the pacer can do for it. The pacer simply handles the timing and rate of your heart beat.

I notice in your profile that you got the pacer in 2005. Have you had the limitation from the beginning or only recently? How long has it been since you had a checkup? It is possible that the battery is reaching its end of life. This can cause the pacer to go into a battery conserving mode where it paces at a constant rate even during heavy exercise.

And one last question: when you run or ride the bike how high does your HR go?

THOMAST,
I like your treatment plan. Are you seeing patients. I need a prescription. LOL

frank

upper limit

by Tracey_E - 2010-09-14 08:09:44

This is just what happened to me, may or may not be what's happening to you but it might be a place to start... I had an upper limit of 140 for about 10 years, never had a problem working out. I spent 30-40 min on the elliptical several times a week but suddenly one day I was exhausted after 5 minutes. I had a stress test done with the pm computer hooked up. Turned out my hr was suddenly getting higher, I was getting up to 160 when before I stayed in the 130's. They turned my upper limit up to 170 and I was fine again. Five years later, same thing! I got on the treadmill while on the computer again and this time my atrial rate getting to 180-190. They couldn't turn the pm up that high so this time I went on beta blockers to bring my rate down, now I'm back where I started, staying around 140 when I work out and I feel great again. Or Frank could be right on with EOL, or it could be something else! If you haven't had it checked in a while, that's the place to start. If everything checks out, ask for a stress test to try to duplicate what's happening. Good luck!

Running

by thomast - 2010-09-14 12:09:29

My question is. at 61 years why do you want to run. Go buy a bag of chocolates, a bottle of wine. Find a comfortable chair, a good book, have a glass of wine, some chocolates, read the book and you will forget all about running.

Could be, check with technician.

by familyliving - 2010-09-17 09:09:28

I had my first ICD implanted 9 years ago and was rather active at the time. I was constantly having pace and shocks due to what they called "escessive" exercise. One day I just happened to be in the office with the tech when the ICD designer and programmer from St Judes came in (an awesome experience by the way). Anyway, the designer was an engineer and a certified cardiologist and informed me at the time that the average "larger" persons exercise heart rate was 180bpm. My device also was set to 150. This issue was due to the failure of the implant technician to check my hieght (6'5") with my weight (250lbs) to determine what type of exercise heart rate I would operate at. may be worth looking into!?!?!?!

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