pm settings

I have been having trouble with the setting on my duel chamber medtronic. I have had a cough that started 13 months ago when the pm was implanted. The PM clinic says it has nothing to do with the divice. Last week they turned off all the bells and whistles and set my pm to 40 bpm. Now I fell lightheaded when getting up to just walking, the cough is still there and now I have to go back to have another adjustment. Does anyone have any suggustions on settings.
Thanks,
Gary

5 Comments

Medtronic

by Swedeheart - 2008-05-19 07:05:11

Hello,

I do not know what country you are in, but at your PM clinic be sure and talk to the Medtronic rep about your settings. Get a print out of earlier settings and current settings and ask them why they changed each thing and what you should expect from the newer settings. Why did they turn off all the "bells and whistles?" Saving your battery?

Have you begun or changed any medications? Many of our meds will make you feel lightheaded when getting up to a standing position. If your PM is now down to 40... check your pulse carefully and see if you are going down that low during your waking hours...

I don't know about your cough... if you have had it for 13 months I suggest you also see your regular physician and be sure you haven't developed COPD or something... have them rule all that kind of thing out. Then take that info back to your PM people and tell them you have a clean bill of health, so what could be the cause?!

From what I have learned on this great site is you need to be very proactive and not take the role of letting the medical folks "decide" for you. Naturally, they are best trained to make decisions, but it is a partnership with your doctors and you. After all, it is your life!

Also find out how often you are being paced (%) and what your top settings are, if any... ask any and all questions you can think of. You might use the search tool here and key in things like "settings" or "lightheaded", etc. and read through the posts. You may find some answers, or at least some questions you might ask your medical people.

Good luck. Sorry I don't have any direct solutions for you. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I will post a response.

Swedeheart

coughing

by joy1 - 2008-05-19 08:05:43

I agree with Swedeheart.
It has been my experience that several medications have a dry cough as a side effect. Any of the 'pril family of drugs can produce a dry cough. Go thru and look up side effects of the meds you take.
You have to be proactive about the care you receive. Often the doctors are not going to tell you anything unless you give them a heads up about what YOU have found out.

joy

cough

by thomast - 2008-05-19 11:05:18

Ace inhibitors (for blood pressure) are known to cause a dry cough.

40 SEEMS TO LOW

by peter - 2008-05-20 02:05:24

Are you sure that is not a typing error. A setting of 40 BPM is far too low.70 BPM is the mid point normal setting for the lowest setting. No wonder you are feeling dizzy. Also a higher setting will help your cough.
Get back to you pacing clinic and see what they can do.

coughing

by heutsey - 2008-05-29 12:05:57

I had a cough and sometimes a fluttering in my throat. My doctor set my pm to match the rhythm of my heart instead of a typecast. This helped me tremedously.

Heidi

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