When running HBR max 115, have to stop and walk

Hi
I am 44 female with a PM for 22 months, active lifestyle, yoga, running, work full time, 3 kids, give free yoga classes on saturdays, walk my dog... :)
I used to run 6 miles a day at 9.5 min/mile but 18 months before my PM my running capacity was reduced dramatically, the speed drop down and I had to walk for periods of time. I got my PM in August 2013 and still haven´t recovered my capacity.
Now I run 3.5 miles a day at 13 min/mile have to stop for a walk, my PM works 97% of the time and when I run, my HBR doesn´t goes above 115 HBR.
I´ve read about people with PM doing marathons, maybe it´s because the PM settings? any idea?
In my last appointment with the doctor, he turned the PM off and my heart didn´t respond at all, so he had to turn it on again because I was feeling bad.
I wish I could run again

Thanks

Pati

9 Comments

pacing

by Tracey_E - 2015-07-14 08:07:24

Why did you get the pacer, and are you on any medications? I struggle with running also. I know it's not the pm, it's the medication I'm on because it keeps my rate too low. Without it I race too much to exercise at all so this is the compromise.

Sometimes changing the settings can help, but without knowing more about why you have it I couldn't speculate on which ones. If you pace ventricle for av block, the answer is very different than if you pace atrial for SSS, etc.

THANKS!

by ptelge - 2015-07-14 09:07:08

Thanks for your quick response!
I was diagnose with SSS and I am not taking any medication, but since I got the PM my rate has lowered during exercise.
According to the doctor, he said that my heart is not responding naturally to exercise, as it did a year ago, in my last control he turned off the PM and not one beat was registered, he had to turn it on again, so he activated the Rate Response, but even with the rate response, while I am running it is always between 113 and 115, so my pace is very slow and I have to stop for a rest, also have a lot of trouble with hills and stairs.
My minimun is set in 60 and I am sleppy and tired all day

Hope a change of settings can help, thanks again!

Thanks all

by ptelge - 2015-07-15 03:07:07

To be honest in my last control the Dr told me to increase my minimum from 60 to 70 and to activate the rate response, due to my decrease in performance, I only agreed to activate the rate response because I was more interested in my running and was afraid that a minimum of 70BPM will interfere with my meditation, but as I feel so sleepy and tired and can´t even climb the stairs I´ll definitely tell the doctor he was right and ask for a 70 min and I hope I will feel as good as Trish in may day to day.

Regarding my running, the Doctor activated the rate response but my HBR goes only to 115, Luckily I have my stats and I used to ran in 2009 at 140BPM (9.33 min/mile), then it drop in 2010 to 132BPM (11.34min/mile) and in 2011 drop even lower to 121BPM (12.87 min/mile)
Last night I was reading in the Medtronics web page that the max HBR given with the PM in the highest Rate Response setting is 130BPM, I don´t know if I got it right because it was in technical language and I am not a native english speaker but If I reach 130BPM
I´ll be happy enough, I´ll tell the doctor to take me to the treadmill and test the RR setting

Thanks a lot for your advice

rate response

by Tracey_E - 2015-07-15 08:07:08

Rate response should sense you are running and raise your rate for you. It has a number of sensitivity settings so it may take more than one try to get it where you need to be. They should be able to set it so it gets you higher than 115, that's pretty low for running, no wonder you are struggling! You might want to ask if they can put you on a treadmill the next time the adjust so they can see how it's working and readjust right away. My dr has done this several times, saves a lot of return visits.

running rate

by trish - 2015-07-15 08:07:45

I recently had minimum rate increased from 60 to 70 and exercise resistance set to low. While I am not a runner, this made all the difference in the world for me, I can climb multiple flights stairs, ride my bike, walk long distances without becoming short of breath. I can get through activities of day without becoming unduly tired. Wish I had had these setting changes earlier. Trish

Hi Pati

by IAN MC - 2015-07-15 10:07:58

Where you are now is almost definitely not as good as it gets and Tracey gives good advice re having adjustments done while on a treadmill.

I, too, am a runner with Sick Sinus Syndrome and after countless adjustments to the Rate Response settings am now able to run better. They can alter settings so that your HR responds to either minimal, normal or vigorous levels of exercise. I have to be honest though ; I cannot run anything like as well as I did pre PM but I am now happy to be able to run 5 or 6 miles without having to stop

The unfortunate truth is that Rate Response is not the same as the real thing i.e.it is not as good as having a normally functioning sinus node. It is my belief that the people with PMs who run marathons at the same level as before are not chronotropically incompetent ie they aren't reliant on Rate Response but if there is anyone out there who disagrees I would be interested to hear from them.

best of luck

Ian

Thanks All

by Cherryred - 2015-08-01 05:08:42

I found all of this information very helpful, since I am now in the recovery phase of having a pacer and after reading these post it decreased my anxiety about exercising with a pacemaker, because since my installment I have always worried if I did too much physical activity it would cause my pacer to shock me..Thanks Again...

lee

by LeeT - 2015-08-04 10:08:17

Exercise is very important My workouts are not as intense as pre pm but I very much enjoy doing more repetitions with lighter weights and cardio on the treadmill.

runner with new PM

by tgrif - 2015-08-31 05:08:29

I was just implanted with a pacemaker in Feb of this year. I was running the weekend before the surgery. Finished a 9 mile race and was looking foward to my first 1/2 marathon. Went into the hospital for kidney stones and while there Mt heart rate dropped to 23. I am back to training and have ran 6 miles the last 2 weekends but feel tired and can only run a couple of miles at a time and am out of breath. Very discouraged and seeking advice. My doctor knew I was a runner when I was implanted with my st Jude device. Set at a min of 60. I am new to this all and didn't know what to ask. After reading all of your posts am now looking forward to my next visit. I am a very active 46 yr old. Walk 8-10 miles a week. Run 6-10 miles a week and bike ride 20 miles a week and work full time and have a small business essential on the side. 3 children and grandbabies that keep me busy. Mostly concerned about my endurance during races and my PR and loss of min's per mile. Please help!!!!

Trish

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