the quest for a hrm

I've been through two brands in the last week. One was the wrist type. It took three or four tries to get a read while sitting still, I could not get it to read at all when I was working out. I think it was the model, not me, because the reviews on it were pretty bad.

I took it back today and traded it for a Polar P6 with a chest strap. It works fine on my husband but I can't get it to read on me at all. From browsing the old posts here, I see that I'm not the first to have this problem. Guess it's going back tomorrow!

Does anyone have any brilliant suggestions? I've been having some exercise-related issues with the pacer, the hrm was the cardiologist's idea. They've got it worked out to keep me regulated as long as I stay under 170. I'm usually 150-170 when I work out, so I need something to tell me when to ease up. You know, other than the room starting to spin. ;o)

My pacer is St Judes, btw.

6 Comments

hr monitor

by vtlaney - 2008-07-03 07:07:17

Hi Tracey....I have a polar f11 which works just fine one me....I wish I could get my hr up to 150-170....my sometimes will spike but I do believe it is the monitor just wacking out...not able to read it correctly. I am hoping to get back to running when I get my other issues ironed out ...but for not just walking 5 miles a day but the highest I can get my hr is 117...good luck..vtlaney

hrm

by Tracey_E - 2008-07-03 08:07:26

Are you on medications that could be keeping your rate down? My mom is on betablockers and she can't get her rate up no matter how hard she tries. Five miles a day is terrific whatever your hr is!

I'm going to call both St Judes and Polar today. Polar's website says hrm's can interfere with pacers, not the other way around.

HRM's and pacers

by ElectricFrank - 2008-07-04 03:07:18

Interesting! I've found that the spike on the ecg from the pacer can sometimes cause an ecg based HRM to read double the HR, but only erratically.
One other problem is that some of the heart conditions that lead us to need pacemakers with also give the monitor a fit. Long before I developed AV block I developed right bundle branch block. It changed my ecg signal measured from arm to arm such that exercise bike or tread mill HR monitors wouldn't work. I had to experiment with chest electrode placement to get a good reading.

frank

BBB

by Tracey_E - 2008-07-04 07:07:30

That's very interesting Frank! I do have a BBB. The women's models don't have a lot of wiggle room where you place the chest strap. :o)

I called the St Judes tech who does my battery checks yesterday and she said she wasn't aware of any brand/model that will work for me so I'm officially throwing in the towel. I sure would like to have one, tho!

HRM's

by ElectricFrank - 2008-07-04 10:07:26

Tracy,
It is hard to get a good HR measurement under active conditions even in the best of circumstances. I carry a finger tip unit that measures both HR and blood oxygen. I just plan on stopping once in a while for a measurement.

frank

POLAR

by LIVE_STRONG - 2008-07-23 05:07:25

Tracey,
I have a Polar F6 also...but I don't have my PM yet. I get it on Friday....I am hoping it's going to work. That was one of my first questions to the doctor.(I always have it on)

I have how ever looked into a Garmin Forerunner. I know some gals who love them.
It does have a strap too...but if it does not work for some reason....it aslo has a virtual partner on the screen for pacing....so if you get your pace adjusted to the HR you do not want to exceed...you can just keep in sync with the virtual partner...if you start to go past him..you can see that and would know to slow down....actually I am getting one anyways for that reason. When i get up to 170 I feel like I am going to pass out....and I get so dizzy!

Holly

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Hi, I am 47 and have had a pacemaker for 7 months and I’m doing great with it.