Pacer heart rates

[901]

After my surgery, my HR varied between 50-55 bpm. Then the Rehab unit identified the heart block condition and I now have a pacer.
The pacer technician told me that the pacer is a "follower" unit that doesn't drive the heart rate but keeps it from going too high or too low.
As soon as the pacer was installed, my HR went to around 90 bpm. The technician said this would slow down as the atrium "realized" that the ventricle was back in time with it and the atrium didn't need to do all the work.
Well, I've started back into rehab and my resting HR is still around 90. This seems high to me, like it should be in the 70's. As far as I know, I don't have any symptoms of a "too fast" resting HR but I don't know what to look for symptom-wise anyway.
Does anyone else on a pacer have a high resting HR? Is 90 still considered normal?

 

[Bionic Valve Tim]

As always with these things, the doctors know best, of course

My pacer is set to keep me above 60 bpm, and as of my last checkup it was only necessary ~10% of the time. My HR is pretty high, due mostly to having gotten out of shape, I suppose. When I came off beta blockers I was right around 100. Now I'm in the 80s at rest, and I expect it to keep coming down as I continue to get back into shape. Incidentally, I'm coming up on 1-year post-op.

I'm not sure what the rule of thumb is, but I think if you're over 100 at rest the doctors are probably concerned; I think that being in the 90s is considered in the normal range.

Don't take my word, though; just going from memory.

Tim

 

[jax3172]

heart rate

heart rate

I just posted the same type of question - my HR used to be low - even post op but now it's around 80. Nobody ever told me why. I hope we get more action on this question.

 

[maiae]

Hr

Hr

I was told anything over 100 bpm is high; my hr was always over 100 before my mitral valve repair; after, it rarely got above 50 bpm and a pacemaker was implanted.

I have a dual chamber medtronic kappa 900 that I had to have tinkered with many times to find the right settings. I am set to pace so that my hr doesn't go below 60 or get above 150 and it senses when I'm active...very confusing stuff for me; I pace 80 percent of the time so I would welcome a higher hr.

Wish I could be of more help. Be sure to tell your doc--if you're not satisfied with his answers don't be afraid to find someone else.

Best wishes,

Maia

 

[Ross]

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003399.htm

Normal Values Return to top

For resting heart rate:

newborn infants; 100 to 160 beats per minute
children 1 to 10 years; 70 to 120 beats per minute
children over 10 and adults; 60 to 100 beats per minute
well-trained athletes; 40 to 60 beats per minute
What abnormal results mean Return to top

Resting heart rates that are consistently high (tachycardia) may indicate a problem, and you should consult a health care provider. Discuss resting heart rates that are below the normal values (bradycardia) with a health care provider.

Also, discuss a pulse that is very firm (bounding pulse) and that lasts for more than a few minutes with the health care provider. An irregular pulse can also indicate a problem. (See heartbeat sensations.)

 

[Johnny Stephens]

Does anyone else on a pacer have a high resting HR? Is 90 still considered normal?

3 years after my valve surgery, I went into complete heart block. I wound up with a dual-chamber Guidant, and am now "pacemaker dependent." At my last check, I'm pacing 100% of the time.

Right before my valve surgery, my resting heart rate was high - hitting 140 at times . Now, it's more like 80-85 once the beta blocker kicks in for the day. If I don't take my Toprol XL (beta blocker) my rate will be around 100. If I'm hitting the gym like I should, I can get it down to around 75

 

[901]

I went to see the EP Dr. yesterday because of "excessive sweating" during workouts in rehab. They adjusted me up to a 150 max. I told the Dr. that I was expecting that my HR would go down after the pacer was installed. He told me that it is what it is and that if I want to get it slower I need to get in shape.
I was impressed with the data that they were able to take from the pacer. They were telling me that I had an episode of AF for 15 seconds on the 26th of August @ 11 something PM. All the other episodes were shorter and occurred in the middle of the night.
I have a dual chamber St. Judes 5376 that paces 100% of the time. While I was at the EP office, they turned off the pacer and my HR went right to 50.