getting settings adjusted

This is to thank everyone who has encouraged contacting your physicians and insisting on what you need. Especially noting that the EP may be more attentive to your pacemaker than to you and your pacemaker.
I'm 73, had sudden onset of intermittent 2 degree and complete ventricular block last fall. No other cardiac issues (or other health issues). My pacemaker was implanted at the end of January without any problems. It took about 4 1/2 months for all the little twitches and tingles, etc. to disappear. I tried to increase my exercise level and kept running into SOB with my heart rate staying at maybe 70-80. Not increasing to match my exertion. So, hearing your encouragement in my ears, I moved my pacemaker checkup earlier than scheduled. Found out my EP had chosen to leave the rate response off on my very fancy pacemaker. With the help of the pacemaker nurse, we asked him to turn it on. He agreed to a slope of no more than 2. Started with slope level at 1. A trip to Seattle put it to a good test. Better but not increased enough. Another visit today; slope increased to 2. We'll see.
Thanks everyone.

3 Comments

great!

by Tracey_E - 2014-08-21 09:08:57

Glad to hear you're doing better and it was an easy fix! Hope this last tweak does the trick.

Stay after it

by KAG - 2014-08-22 11:08:25

Sometimes you need multiple tweaks especially with RR. Also I'm suspecting your EP is treating you like a very sedentary person and you're not. If he doesn't know this I'd let him know what kind of activities you are used to doing and intend on getting back to. You're to young to just sit on the couch.

Way to go.
Kathy

adjusted settings

by AnaLena - 2014-08-26 02:08:18

Thanks for the encouraging words. Increasing the slope to 2 seems to have done the trick. Now, I think, it's just a matter of fitness. My cardiologist agrees, but is willing to increase the slope after three months if I'm still having unreasonable SOB with exertion. So far 2 flights of stairs, breathing is a bit labored (I was pretty sedentary for nearly a year!), but heart rate goes up nicely.

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