Pacemaker tachycardia

Recently had rapid rate increases when moving. Heart rate remains higher than usual for long periods. Has persisted for last 4 days. When resting with low rate if I tap my pacemaker my heart rate jumps rapidly  and continuosly as long as I keep tapping. Not on rate response & not pacemaker dependent. Should you be able to do this? Are they that sensitive to movement? Have device check due in 2 weeks.

6 Comments

Don’t tap

by Lavender - 2023-04-13 10:12:54

I'm not able to answer your query but I am thinking not to tap on your pacemaker. We should not touch the skin around them at all. 
If you're not comfortable waiting the two weeks for your check, perhaps they can move your appointment up. It's worth asking. Hope it's resolved quickly and easily. 

Pacemaker tachycardia

by Tem - 2023-04-13 10:23:31

Apparantly bike riders tap to increase their rate response. Was tapping gently on jumper not skin. That was enough to set it going.

bumpy roads

by Penguin - 2023-04-13 10:50:39

The Biotronik devices seem to be very sensitive to movement even without CLS (rate response) turned on.  If you put 'bumpy roads' into the search engine on this forum some posts will come up which describe reactions similar to yours from going over bumps in the road and with a Biotronik device. 

From reading posts on here it seems that these PMs are indeed very reactive devices. I hope you can stop the higher h/rates soon. 

Biotronik

by Tem - 2023-04-13 11:10:12

Thanks for that. I do have a biotronik pacemaker & hope that proper adjustment will solve the problem.

Bumpy Roads

by Tem - 2023-04-13 11:45:22

Followed your suggestion. Very useful info in those posts. Thanks 'Penguin'.

Pacemaker update

by Tem - 2023-04-19 08:26:04

Had my device checked today. They found 22 episodes of atrial flutter in the last week. Was in flutter during interogation. They wheeled me off to the ward where I am awaiting medication, blood thinners & probably beta- blockers. Hooked up to ECG can watch my flutter & irregular beat. At least I now know cause of my elevated rate. Good that pacemakers keep accurate good records.

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I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.