Rate adjustment?

So, got my second lead a few months ago.  SO much better than the one lead I was first given for SSS.  I was getting symptomatic again.  Dizzy, tired.  I went back to running awhile after the second lead was installed and found I could go longer and faster almost immediately.  Now when I say faster, I mean faster for me.  I’m an old marathoner (70) but have always tried to do one marathon a year as a little goal. I run about 14 minute miles over long distances, but now could do 13 minute miles, one after the other.  I was so happy!  Improvement for this aging runner was thought to be impossible. Anyhow, on my last run, a 10 miler, about mile 7 I was feeling great so sped up, then in mile 8 I suddenly felt awful.  My heart rate had been 109 ish and now was like 160!  I could run,  but hard as I tried my time slowed by almost a minute per mile, and the rest of the run was really hard work.  I have “factory settings” on my St. Jude pm of 60 up to 120.  I was keeping track of my heart rate on my iwatch as the series 3 Nike model keeps track of this and also keeps a historical record. (It is usually just as accurate as when they take my heart rate/pulse at the clinic btw, as well as keeping track of miles and time).  Anyway, I’m not feeling so confident now. Maybe I’m doomed to short slow runs, and should be thankful for that. It’s just that my other health problems have been overcome for now and I feel great otherwise. I want to run!  Any help, information, or education appreciated.  My electrphysiologist is at MDAnderson Cancer Hospital in Houston and though great, he usually deals with very sick people,who are not really worried about ‘running’ so he thinks I’m “fixed” well enough......

2 Comments

I know what you mean

by wjs1954 - 2017-12-02 10:12:40

I am a little younger only 63, my cardiologist just doesn't understand.  Whenever I try to explain how I feel while running ` that I just can't push it` I get the you know you are getting older or some other off the cuff remark. Not really good news but I did pass out a week ago. Finally got a referral too a new EP, I go on 12/7, maybe he will be more up on pacemakers and runners, also maybe he will know why I passed out... 

Advocate for yourself.

by Gotrhythm - 2017-12-10 17:30:01

Even the best doctors can have blind spots. And even the best can hold onto the old paternalistic "doctor knows best" attitudes. But it's your pacemaker and your life. You are the one who will live with the consequences of your pacemaker settings. That means how you feel and whether that's good enough trumps his opinion of whether you feel good enough.

As you say, today's pacemakers have settings that can tailor them to your needs. Who should be satisfied with out of the box settings, if they are not feeling great and able to do everything reasonable? 

Arm yourself with a thorough knowledge of your condition, including what settings you think could be affecting your performance, then go back. Tell him what is happening when you run that's a problem for you, then politely request a change. If he refuses, politely ask what harm the change would do.

If he sticks to his position and can't satisfy you that he has a bonafide medical rationale, IMHO you need a new PE. Quality of life matters. He doesn't get to say what quality of life is for you.

 

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My pacemaker was installed in 1998 and I have not felt better. The mental part is the toughest.