Excercise

exercise

by Tracey_E - 2023-03-04 18:14:02

It would be nearly impossible to pull a lead loose at this point. After the first year, it takes a special laser to get them out. 

Ask about your settings. It shouldn't drop that much before the pacer kicks in. They should be able to adjust so you don't feel it. 

Excercise

by ToeTaprr - 2023-03-04 18:30:31

Thanks Tracy that makes me feel better. They checked all of my adjustments last month. I go once a year to Kaiser. I will bring it up for sure the next time I go. 

settings

by Tracey_E - 2023-03-04 21:34:13

They can look good on the report but still not be what it takes to get you feeling your best. It's always ok to mention episodes like that. 

Any unusual feeling in the chest

by Rch - 2023-03-04 21:44:05

Whevener I  experience such feelings and if they last long enough for me to jump on my Kardia 1 or 6 lead, the tracing gives me a fairly good idea on what might be going on. You can see your actual HR, intrinsic vs paced ventricular beats( wide complex), and how the event terminates. You can print out this and take it to your device tech at the next scheduled meeting or communicate sooner if they are very symptomatic. I'm not advocating Kardia mobile, but without it, everything would be a guess work, and usual verdict from the Device tech is the 'PM is working normal!!!'

Exercise

by AgentX86 - 2023-03-04 22:06:57

I'll use my standard answer when the heart rate is irrationally low.  If it happens again, check for PVCs.  It's possible that they're asymptomatic (as hard as it is to believe for many of is).  Check your pulse, manually, in your carotid artery. You may feel a strong pulse followed by a weak pulse,  sometimes very close together. If you check your pulse in the wrist, you may miss the weak pulse and your pulse will read low.  Never make any decisions from anything a watch, or whatever, tells you.  Time it yourself. The watch may be interesting but they're too easy to fool.  All bets are off with a pacemaker.

Exercise

by heatherine008 - 2023-03-04 23:18:23

Hi, 

Whilst I can't answer your specific question.  I would suggest you talk to your cardiologist and make sure that your rate drop response is on.  

But try not to worry too much though - pacemakers are very resilient! I've had 3 in the last 23+ years, same leads... Only now am I beginning to worry about the leads, but more that they will malfunction or stop working than I'll actually do any damage to them, but we're keeping an eye on them and hopefully, they will last another few years at least! I'm 47.  

Take it easy on yourself and see your cardiologist.  Remember dates/times when you felt something wasn't right and if it was cardiac pacing related, the pacemaker should pick it up. 

Good luck! 

Exercise

by heatherine008 - 2023-03-05 00:23:35

Also, just to add, I do a fair amount of exercise also, I'm a decent 1/2 marathon runner.  To be honest, I've never considered the pacemaker & exercise an issue - if anything it propels me to exercise more as other than this electricial glitch with my heart (which the pacemaker looks after), I want to keep the rest of it healthy :-) 

Tracey_E

by piglet22 - 2023-03-06 06:20:07

I would agree with that comment.

In UK, there has been a move from face to face clinics to "Virtual Device Clinics" where they give you a bedside monitor, once a year you get a letter asking you to upload data at a specific date and time and they ring you back with the good or bad news.

What you don't get is a full ECG, scar examination etc.

I'm on the second Medtronics MyCareLink monitor, first one didn't last one year.

It doesn't pick up the long episodes of beats well below the set rate, currently set to 60 BPM, getting as low as 32 BPM.

Currently, I'm trying to get this resolved but when they look at data, they say it's OK and infer that I'm making it up, despite wrist, oximeter and BP monitor showing missed beats.

I have zero confidence in this cut down service and am now having to get a referral through the GP (primary care system) instead.

Even that is full to capacity and if you call after 10:00, all the appointments or telephone calls are taken until the next day.

The GP ECG shows a multitude of problems like infarcs, hypertrophy which no doubt are the reasons for the heart block, but still you can't get to speak to anyone.

Hopeless situation.

Anxiety

by Lavender - 2023-03-06 17:04:12

I've had my pacemaker for two years as well. The anxiety lingered a good while but I now trust my device and rarely think about the leads in there. 
 

It took prayer and meditation for me to settle in. Your pacemaker is reliable. It's kept you safe for two years. Your leads are fully grown in.