Pacemaker & Sports watch heart rate function

I had a 2 lead pacemaker fitted on 23rd January 2017 age 70.

I have competed in Running events, Duathlons, Triathlons a few times a year since my late forties. About 6 years ago I started  getting "light headed feelings briefly" when excercising. I ad a series of heart tests which ended in being told, "Anyone who can stay on the treadmill for over 14mins at my age has no problems". However I reduced my exercise but found the frequency of my feelings increased when training. I got a Suunto Watch & heart rate monitor at the end of 2015 It highlighted I had a slow rate typically 40s sitting.My high rate exercising hard over 150. In 2016 I started having brief lightheaded feelings just sitting particularly when animated conversations were taking place. I found my heart rate displayed on my watch disappeared at the same moment I had the lightheadedness.

I also blacked out after finishing fast walk of about 4 miles & while a using  Turbo Trainer hard. Unfortunately I was unable to see my HR! .My Gp referred me back to the cardiology unit. I was fitted with a 6 day heart monitor. As only a few lightheaded moments occurred by the last day. I went for a fast walk my local hill & back. Almost at the end my ears buzzed loudly & I blacked out. The tape showed my heart stopped for 9 secs.I was due to have a treadmill test but was sent to have a Pacemaker fitted. It has 2 leads 1 to ensure my rate does not drop below 60. The other lead synchronishes the chambers when they don't work correctly.

The pacemaker appears to work well but I get a brief feeling that I might have a lightheaded moment when exercising (eg.walking hard up hill) but nothing like I had previous. However my watch HR display does stop also my max rate has reached 190bpm. This seems wrong as I don't feel my Heart is racing. Could this be due to the watch being interferred with by the synchronising function of the pacemaker. The watch is showing my heartrate is spot on 60bpm when I am resting. I have had two check ups & they say everthing is working fine.

Has anyone else used a HR monitor watch with a Pacemaker? I am sorry for the long story but I have found the watch very reasuring when exercising before the Pacemaker fitment so would like to continue using it so I can prove these brief feelings are getting fewer as my fitness improves!     

1 Comments

try it and see

by Tracey_E - 2017-08-29 18:37:54

I haven't found one that works for me, and they are notoriously inaccurate with us, but it doesn't do any harm to wear it. If you feel bad, stop and count manually to confirm what the monitor says. Otherwise, continue with your workout and assume if you feel good then your rate is good. If you have an incident, note the day/time and tell them. The pacer will record events. It's not at all uncommon to need the settings tweaked to suit our individual needs.

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Member Quotes

Sometimes a device must be tuned a few times before it is right. My cardiologist said it is like fine tuning a car.