Pacemaker settings

I hear different opinions on this post. In short can anyone give me a definitive answer on whether or not changing my pm setting to 70 from 60. I asked the setting guy to make the change, just because I thought maybe I would be less tired. I'm only 63. I do not want to needlessly run down my battery. Does it or doesn't it?
Don't feel much different except that I sometimes feel like I'm a little short of breath, or the sensation that I'm not getting a full breath. I also am aware that I have anxiety and I know longer know what's real or in my head. Thanks in advance for caring enough to comment.

4 Comments

answers

by Tracey_E - 2012-12-26 05:12:03

No one can give a definitive answer because we're all different and many variables go into calculating battery life. However, the difference between 60 and 70 is negligible on battery life.

Even if the difference in battery life was huge, conserving battery life, imo, is not a reason to feel bad and live with settings that are less than ideal. Say you save 3 weeks of battery life (I TOTALLY made up that number to make my point!) by turning it to a lower minimum rate, is it worth 7-8 years of feeling tired to have the replacement surgery 3 weeks later?? If 70 feels better than 60, ask them to turn it back to 70 and see if the shortness of breath goes away.

70 vs 60

by pacastri - 2012-12-27 11:12:03

I am a 54 y/o male and am very active. I also was feeling tired alot and alittle SOB. changing the setting from 60 to 70 made a significant different for me. But that doesn't mean it will work for u. Everyone is different, but if u don't try it, you'll never know. Paul
Good Luck

80 to 70 & back to 80

by Many Blessings - 2012-12-28 12:12:27

I'm a 52 y/o female who is also very active. When I got my CRT-P in April, they set my rate at 90 (with a range from 90-150). After a month, they dropped it from 90 to 80. In another couple of months they tried dropping it down to 70 to save the battery life. I felt like crap at 70, so they changed it back to 80 where it now stays (still has range up to 150).

I'm with the others above. Have it set where you feel good. To me, it's not worth feeling crummy to safe a few weeks or months worth of battery life. You'll know what's best for you.

Wait for more comments to see what others have to say, just in case. But, for me. I'm staying at 80 where I feel better.

Best of luck to you!

short of breath

by jodo - 2013-01-02 05:01:01

I had my metronic pm placed on 10-31-12. And I guess I can't get use to it. I'm going to the doc. tomorrow. to see if it needs adjusted. they have it set now for low reading of 60. They are talking about putting me on meds to slow the heart rate. But I think that will make me more short of breath. I get short of breath, and I can feel my heart pounding at night sometimes it wakes me up. I'm only 54 and I'm afraid it will make me feel worse... I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Maybe it just needs a tweek. I hope.

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