Rate drop response

A couple of months ago I had the rate drop response turned on. I am due for my next check up to see how things are going. Since then I don't seem to have had any more event days so hopefully it is working. I was wondering if at the next check up will the pacemaker have recorded any activation of this feature.
Also I don't understand how this can work. If say my heart rate was 75 and it tried to drop to zero (as it would before the PM) and the PM kicked in at 60 bpm (my bottom rate setting) how would it know that it had dropped by >25 beats.
On another note to fellow Australians, did you hear on the news last night that Lisa Curry-Kenny has now joined our unique club, having an ICD implanted yesterday? Would be interesting if she found this site.
Robin

3 Comments

Rate drop...

by Swedeheart - 2008-03-31 08:03:16

Hello,

I too am fairly clueless as to what information the tiny computer in our PM can do... but I would ask when you go to your next appointment for a copy of your interrogation (a print out of the readings). Ask them to explain all the squiggly lines and what they mean. Ask the doctor or tech to explain about how it can calculate the rate drop.

I think the memory knows when it "kicks in" and that gives them the information... I am sure they get a lot of other info from it as well! Maybe someone with more experience (I am a newbie) can give us an explanation!

Good luck

Swedeheart

Yes it records.

by bowlrbob - 2008-03-31 09:03:11

Rob, I have had my rate drop response turned on for over a year now. This tricky little device is programed to know when your HR drops by whatever the amount your EM to tech programed in. I suppose each unit is different but mine records up to 250 of those rate drops before in runs out of room to record them. Mine also does an EKG of those episodes just a few as that fills up also. Mine always has over the 250 episodes. The first 6 weeks I had mine set I had 200 of those. So I must be running at about 800+ episodes each 6 months. My EP says no big deal it's good the pacer is catching them. That is 800 times I could have been dizzy or blackout. So far since this feature was turned on I have had 0 dizzy spells or blackouts. This little gem is priceless. Bowlrbob

Rate drop response

by ElectricFrank - 2008-04-01 01:04:31

Some of us are sensitive to just a drop in HR and get light headed. This can happen even if the HR is above the lower limit. As an example if you have been active and have a HR of say 90, and then you stop the activity you might get a rapid drop to maybe 70. If your lower limit is set to 60 it wouldn't kick in. The rate drop measures how fast the HR is dropping and takes over faster.
As Bowlrbob says it is priceless if these drops cause dizzy spells. What they don't know is why the drop affects some of us and not others. During office checks I have had them turn off pacing and my HR drop from 75 to 30. I don't feel very good, but no light headedness even standing. I guess we are all pretty much individuals.

Hope this helps,

frank

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