weird pacemaker issue

I have an oximeter which measures my heart. I noticed that my heart rate went up when I did a casual exercise like raising my arms slowly forward and sideways. I experinmented. It only happened when I did it with my left arm, the Pacemaker side, but not on my right. It would shoot up by 25-30 beats. I've had it in for 3 months. It would also do it  the gym with certain upper body exercises, and once on the treadmill when I had my left arm up on the back of the machine.

Should I be worried?

6 Comments

rate response

by Tracey_E - 2021-06-05 17:57:41

That sounds like rate response! The pacer senses movement, assumes we are exerting, and raises our rate for us. It can take a few tries to fine tune it so it doesn't go up inappropriately. It's harmless, just feels weird if you aren't expecting it. If it's bothering you, or if your rate isn't going up enough when you exercise, give them a call. Otherwise, nothing to worry about. 

rate reponse

by JEREMYP - 2021-06-06 17:40:48

Thanks! It doesn't bother me...yet! But why only with the left arm? Wouldn't rate response be to overall exercise?

left arm

by Tracey_E - 2021-06-07 10:39:55

In theory, it would catch any exercise. In reality, it's on the left side and the pacer itself is what senses the motion. It sounds like you might feel better with it turned down a bit. It comes with different sensitivity settings. 

left arm

by JEREMYP - 2021-06-07 23:19:35

I talked with my Cardio Doc's device specialist. Sh said she's never heard of anything like this in 25 years. An appointment has been set up with me and a visiting device tech specialist from the company. 

Heart rate

by JEREMYP - 2021-06-09 16:58:11

The plot thickens. When I wave my left arm sideways for 15+ times my heart rate soars to 130+ and I feel faint. 5 minutes later I still feel like I've run a mile. I know, I know: "Stop doing that." Luckily it's not an action I would normally have to do, but it implies that my Pacemaker is responding too much to a particular mild exertion. Stay tunes.

left arm

by JEREMYP - 2021-06-23 16:54:46

The device specialist recalibrated it for me. I was changed to "athlete" because of my frequent gym exercise. When I exercise it doesn't go up quickly any more. The downside is that when my rate drops below 60 it doesn't shift it up, as it used to do, just keeps it from going below. Now I'm quite aware when the heart is slowing down. Part of the problem I'm sure is the newness of it all. I'm paying too much attention to the rate.                         

You know you're wired when...

Your ICD has a better memory than you.

Member Quotes

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.