No shortness of breath, Why?

6 weeks ago I got my 5th dual chamber Medtronic pm. I also had my ventricle lead extracted and replaced. Since having pm's I have always been short of breath after going up a flight of stairs. But since getting this new pm and new lead, I can climb stairs and not be out of breath at the top. I asked the Medtronic tech and she said it was probably the newer (better) lead. My cardiologist, he's also an EP, says he has no idea. My settings are the same as they were with my former pm. It's a huge difference. Can someone give me your opinion? Thank you.

 

7 Comments

wow!

by Tracey_E - 2024-08-08 15:34:34

How awesome is that?!

A theory... according to a chart I saw on another group that was compiled by someone who works in hospitals with pacers, the newer Medtronic devices have minute ventillation in addition to accelerometer for rate response. Maybe your new device has some upgraded bells and whistles? 

Fab News

by Penguin - 2024-08-08 16:41:39

What a fabulous result. Good for Medtronic if they've upped their game. 

What a long wait you've had! Hope that you're still fit enough to take advantage of it. Take it slowly upping your exercise perhaps.  It can take longer to get back to reasonable fitness than you think in my limited experience. 

I wish you well : )))

 

No shortness of breath, why?

by Gemita - 2024-08-08 18:01:40

Doublehorn, what wonderful news.  I had to re-read your message, to make sure I had understood it since such sudden improvements don't often happen. 

I would put it primarily down to the replacement ventricular lead especially if your old ventricular lead was struggling and you were experiencing symptoms, including more in the way of rhythm disturbances (tachy events)?   Now with a normal functioning ventricular lead, your heart is truly supported and you will have less in the way of symptoms, including breathlessness.

Perhaps your ventricular lead has been failing slowly over many many years causing your breathlessness and it is only now with a new lead, that you are able to "feel" the difference.  Of course a new device with all the latest technology will no doubt be helping too.  I am just sorry that you have had to endure your symptoms for such a long time.  Could this have been avoided?

Improvement

by piglet22 - 2024-08-08 21:10:38

It's nice to have something to go right now and again and get a real life improving change.

Like some new piston rings in the clapped out engine or a new pair of glasses.

Over the lifetime of a pacemaker, huge leaps in technology take place, the processor and especially the sensors.

Accelerometers the size of pinheads, positional sensors.

A lot is driven by the mobile phone market. Bosch is in the forefront of sensor technology in the vehicle industry and it all filters down.

Makes you want to go out and get the latest model

 Pity that battery technology is improving as well to put paid to that ambition.

Aren't we lucky?

Yay🥳

by Lavender - 2024-08-08 21:12:39

A tech told you it's probably because of the newer lead-that's good enough!

New leads

by Rch - 2024-08-09 03:10:43

Hi

Some one owes you an explanation for having gone through a risky procedure to abate your symptoms you suffered for years!!! If your EP has no plausible explanation, you should call the Medtronic representative and discuss your case. 

THANKS

by doublehorn48 - 2024-08-09 11:38:27

I want to thank each of you for replying. Your comments are appreciated. I've read that the newer pm's have more technology in them. Maybe it's the pm, the improved lead, or God just decided to let an old man feel like a kid again.

m. scott

 

You know you're wired when...

You participate in the Pacer Olympics.

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