What does tweaking your pacemaker mea... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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What does tweaking your pacemaker mean? how will that affect me..anybody know?

franksavage profile image
17 Replies

I have my first check friday and just want to know how the tweaking can affect me as i feel kind of ok at the moment just a little breathless and cant walk far?

thanks all1

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franksavage
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17 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

It depends on what they set it to at the start. I would expect the rate to be set around 70bpm but they may go up or down depending on how well you feel. It may ell be set at 60 now?

franksavage profile image
franksavage in reply to BobD

Thanks Bob...can i request they leave it at 70bm it feels great?

I had my PM fit June 2013 and will be going for my 3rd check next week.Each time they will ask you how you have felt and they will check the readings it has recorded over the last 6 months or so,they can alter the settings according to how you have been,each time I,ve been they have altered the settings so I can do a bit more exercise wise,you,ll find at first when you are out walking for instance if it is set low say at 60 if you try and go to fast it will tend to hold you back,it won,t give you the energy you want as the heart won,t speed up to pump the blood round your body for the oxygen to cool you down,I found this as sweat would pour out of my head like a water fall.It,s a long slow road so just pace your self and you will be fine.When you go for the check just ask and they will explain it better for you.

franksavage profile image
franksavage in reply to

Thats exactly what happens i get out of breath but like i am unfit and mny heart rate shoots back to 70bpm quickly but rains sweat yes...i need to shed some weight (3 stone] and have been slowly, but i could do with more exercise , can they adjust it to accommodate more walking or maybe cycling for example ? Thanks for your reply it makes sense

Savage

in reply to franksavage

Yes they can but will only do it bit by bit over time,it is a slow job but you,ll get there in the end,these PM are wonderful pieces of technology.

mine was reset from 60 BPM in october can now do soooo much more just explain how youve felt. Dont fret about how they do it all done via computer strange but true

franksavage profile image
franksavage

Thanks Frills did they set your's bit higher or lower? Mine is currently at 70 bpm and im sure its helping me shed some weight because my heart rats was 35-40 standing rate before and all arrhythmic now its regular and beating 70 ? it feels ok as it is...as long as i don't exert too much, is that normal do you think?

Thanks for the words Frills it really helps me!

Savage

Hi Mine has been left at 60 but another part activated so if i exert myself it will now raise to between 70 and 125. soon as i stop it drops again. Explain to them what happens if you try to do anything you are out of breath sweating etc. With me i had leaden legs and arms too. Mostly im at 60 but when needed it responds plummets when i stop though but the pacemaker keeeps me mainly at 60 . I too used to be 30-40 i cant tell you how much better i feel The pacemaker and pills working well together > Let me know how you get on

franksavage profile image
franksavage in reply to

I can relate to the leaden legs a bit frills, i get that and sometimes they go numb..? cant feel a thing in the big thigh muscle. The back of my head gets drenched with sweat if i exert too much...I do need to learn to slow down as i am terrible for rushing and have always walked quickly. I will see what they say when i go see them Friday and let you know but im thinking we are in a very similar place Frills!

it does all sound similar. I had tumour removed from my heart found during investigations for AF. They have tread very carefully with me as my heart has had such a hammering. The tweaking of pacemaker brill. I used to walk very fast too but now just go wee bit slower ive managed hour and half at gym 5 days a week which is great too . Been today for check myself and leaving me now for 12 months. Good Luck

franksavage profile image
franksavage

GYM!? You must be feeling better than me frills! if i could get to that stage i be over the moon!! Walking without shooting pains is a great leap forward for me at the moment, but i take great strength in your progress1

Thanks frills! Brill.

back at gym first time in 5 yrs i do feel well for first time in 8 yrs

Frank how did your check go?

franksavage profile image
franksavage in reply to

Sorry Frills i got mixed up itsd this week! :[ Ill let you know!

Ha ha v similar indeed you and i

franksavage profile image
franksavage

Hiya Frills! Been a while since we spoke...I went for my check and i said what you said about exerting myself and getting out of breath ect ect...she tweaked a program and switched some thing on and it made it even better though i still cant walk very far that might be the COPD ive got? yes! i guess so... but my AF has ceased since then anyway!

missmaudie profile image
missmaudie

I had mine tweaked today for first time an now every time I took my pulse it was 97 to 100 today,I don't no what they set it at it use to be sixty I just no they upped it a little they said. Should my pulse go up when resting, i also came home and slept for 2 hours. The reason they tweaked it because I have not had any energy an tired faster .Does tweaking raise pulse?

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