What should bpm with PM

How long should a man's legs be?

by AgentX86 - 2020-06-22 21:50:57

First, don't believe what a FitBit is telling you.  Count it yourself, for at least 30 seconds.

There isn't one answer to your question.  It completely depends on how your EP set it up but your numbers are quite reasonable.  Stop obsessing over your PM.

varies

by Tracey_E - 2020-06-22 21:57:57

Go by how you feel, not what the numbers on the fitbit say. If you can talk, if you feel strong, trust that your rate is where it should be. 

Sounds normal, but...

by CyborgMike - 2020-06-22 22:21:58

Graybear, you are only a few weeks in, so your body is still adjusting and healing. The only question that really matters is "how do you feel?" -- I was a cardiac wreck for 2-3 months before I got my PM, so I almost forgot what normal felt like. My new normal was stopping twice going up stairs, etc. When I got my PM my settings were very conservative to allow my body to adjust and over 3-5 months I got them adjusted to what felt best for me. A typical resting (watch tv) rate would be about 60bpm and a typical walking rate (depending on fitness) is 90-120.  My BP is set to a resting rate of 55 and a sleeping rate of 50. My PM does ALL the work for me, so I have rate response that kicks in when I am active and brings my rate up betwen 100-150. Everyone's situation is different, depending on their underlying diagnosis, PM settings, and meds. Beta blockers and other meds can be like walking/running with a wet blanket. If your SA node (top pacer) is working fine and your PM is just relaying to your ventricles then (in theory) your rate should be natural and not decided by the PM -- but, again, every situation is different.

I am one that likes to see data and see exactly what is going on when things don't seem right -- it calms me down and reassures me, but for many seeing data and obsessing on heartrate, blood pressure, etc. are anxiety inducing and are unnecessary stress. You'll need to decide what works best for you. If you do want to track your heart rate, I'd suggest getting a small dedicated HR monitor or an Apple Watch w/EKG (expensive, but very accurate). Focus on how you feel and not on the data. If things don't feel right be preapred to ask for a follow-up, but also know that it will take a while for things to adjust and heal. You are right where you should be in recovery right now.

Heart rate

by Gemita - 2020-06-24 06:41:55

Dear Graybear72,

Our heart rates are constantly changing like so much in life.  Nothing remains static.  A pacemaker is a big change in your environment and it will take time for your body to settle down, but looking at your heart rates, I wouldn't be concerned with those numbers, the sweating though, possibly.

As others have said, it is how you feel that counts.  I can remember I was always checking my blood pressure monitor when I first got my pacemaker.  I couldn’t understand why my heart rate could keep falling and rising from the minimum set rate of 70 bpm.  I understood more the increase in heart rate because a pacemaker cannot hold down high rates during my arrhythmias, it can only prevent heart rates from falling, so why then was my heart rate falling below the set minimum I asked myself?  My EP suggested this was because of frequent ectopic beats interspersed with other arrhythmias like Afib and that some home monitors were just not able to accurately assess heart rate or rhythm during these episodes.  He reassured me that my heart rate cannot go below my set rate.  I am still somewhat dubious because when my heart rate drops to 40s bpm range (on manual counting) during arrhythmias, I do have symptoms of weakness.

When I first got my pacemaker, set at a steady 70 bpm minimum, I did feel “over-warm” for several months which was difficult for sleeping.  I also got tachycardia at night for about three months which added to my distress.  If you are concerned about your sweating I would have a word with the pacing clinic, but hopefully it will soon settle as your body gets used to pacing.

My heart rate often appears to stay at the 70 bpm level even during the day.  It takes a lot of exertion for it to rise substantially, unless and until I go into my several arrhythmias, when it will race to around 130 bpm range.  I am taking a beta blocker to control my heart rate during arrhythmias which otherwise would be extremely high, sometimes reaching over 200 bpm

By the numbers

by Gotrhythm - 2020-06-24 18:46:23

Your pacemaker is programmed to go no lower than  a certain heartrate--say 50bpm and no higher than a certain heartrat.--say 130. There isn't a number that's "correct" on either end. It's all about what works for you.

The next time your device is interrogated, ask the tech to tell you what your numbers are. Then you will know that any pulse rate between that base rate and high are right and depend on what you're doing at the time.