correction to previous-PM setting question

Got my PM 4 weeks ago.. All is well so far. They had thought to set it ofr 50 because i had a low heart rate and that was reason for PM.. I asked for 60 becasue I thought it would give me more energy and got 60when they inserted it,. I do all and exercise on a treadmill wallking..

I am wondering if I would have been better off getting it set to 50 as orignally suggested. At 50 it would last longer and maybe my sleeping would be better at 50.

All opinions appreciated
Will discuss it with my doctor but wanted some feedback here.

6 Comments

settings

by Tracey_E - 2011-09-20 10:09:58

60 is a common low setting. If it doesn't feel good, it's easy enough to change. The difference in the battery life between 50 and 60 will be negligible. Even if it wasn't, setting it so that we feel good is more important than eeking out a few more weeks of battery life.

Why do you have the pm? If it's for an av block, the bottom setting is irrelevant so it doesn't matter where they put it.

reason for low PM--low heart rate

by ww4321 - 2011-09-21 10:09:25

low heart rate was reason
so 60 is good?

finn

by Finn - 2011-09-21 11:09:45

Mine is set at 70 and i feel great! I have Bradycardia, 30's and 40's prior to pm. 50 sounds too low to me.

low

by Tracey_E - 2011-09-21 12:09:21

There are a lot of reasons why your heart rate is low. If you have av block your own natural pacemaker, the SA node, is setting the pace and the pm is there to complete the broken circuit and make sure the ventricles keep up with the atria. In this case, the bottom setting is irrelevant. If you have SSS or a similar atrial problem, the SA node gets lazy sometimes and the pm kicks in when you get too low, this is when the lower rate is relevant.

I'm set at 70

by Hot Heart - 2011-09-22 10:09:45

3rd degree heart block. At first it does seem that your heart is racing when you are in bed, and thats without watching scary movies! lol. I think its just that your brain is so in tune with your heart beat at first. After a little time you tend to get used to it. I'm with finn here, think 50 sounds a little low. If I was set at 50 I would rarely go above 50, my natural rate is about 34. As Tracey said I was told it made very little difference to battery life.

HH

Low settings

by Selwyn - 2011-09-24 06:09:56

The trouble with low settings is that if you try to do something physical suddenly, the delay in the rate control change ( even on the fast setting) will mean you may experience a bit of dizziness until the rate control gets going and your blood pressure picks up ( the muscles suck in extra blood) . 60 bpm is generally thought to be about right for most people, though sometimes there is a little dizziness if you go off like a shot.

There are many of us that remember the effect of having a low heart rate and a sluggist response to exercise, such as with sick sinus syndrome. When I passed out having run up stairs, it rather damaged my nose!

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