Pacemaker & ICDs: Introduce Yourself & Meet Others

Hi @mfenn I remember those first days after my first realization that i needed to get back to exercising. When i first had my Pacemaker/icd i was working a pretty physical Job but after my first heart Arrythmia my fear became real. I had to be shocked back into rhythm and that got me real nervous. So my team suggested Cardiac Rehab. They have a 4 point monitor on you while you exercise. So they can see how the Heart is doing while riding a bike or the treadmill. It was a a Cardiac Hospital so I knew any problems could be handled quickly. It was the hospital where I got it implanted. That helped a lot in realizing i could get back into working out.

Heart failure scares all that have it as immediately think "My heart has failed." It has not. It just means does not pump out blood as well as normal heart. I like the term "Reduced Heart Function." Mine has been at 25% for over a decade. Is not getting better but stop getting worse when got on ICD/Pacemaker and on some great medications (Entresto and Carvedidol).

I think heart failure should be used for when heart has failied altogether and you are on heart bypass machine as you heart has failed. Most read heart failure and think (as they should with such a term) I am dying. Some, like me, have very good body compensation and do not have any physical side affects from my HF diagnosis. You may notice I said physical side affects as mentally still really bothers me.

I only have HF on the left side of heart as right side is normal. I am told that is crucial to my abiilty to exercise as much as I do as the right side is pumping blood to heart.

Just joined, I am 52 years old, massive heart attack when turned 29, 100% blockage, was at best place to be when happend, was at hospital getting Catheterization, coded right there on the table, long story short I got a Defibrillator almost 15 years ago, in beginning had hard time living life, got over that, had an event April 2024(first one ever) 14 years of not having any shock I got first 2, got ablation end of April 2024, started taking amiodorane a year this April, just started taking Carvedilol (since 29 yo) and entestro lowest dose since this past November, got the fatigued and cough and all that, EF has been at 37% for years, getting first echo done in April since started all, no episodes since last April, always anxious now since then, I walk 1 mile + everyday, still have weird PVC's scares me. Sorry so long lol

Hi @tman1172 welcome to our group. Sounds very familiar as my journey has been very similar. I know what you mean I went a few years before my first shock and it changed my thoughts on what life was going to be like. But as I always say at least we have options and that's what keep me going.

I’m glad to be able to join this group but am a little confused because I had already posted a pacemaker comment somewhere here on Mayo Clinic Connect.

My concern is that when my pc was implanted four years ago I was not made aware by the electrophysiologist that changes could be made in the settings to improve on the workings of the pc. I won’t go into that all again because it’s somewhere in the MCC cyber sphere and I don’t want to repeat myself.

Anyway, I did receive some helpful comments from others , for which I’m thankful. And I’m glad to be a part of this new group.

Thank you.

Hi Jackiet
I had a pacemaker inserted early December for Bradcardia and at my 3 month check they did adjust my pacemakers-what they called pacing rate and also told me what the estimated battery life I would have at the new pacing rate. (My pacemaker is Boston Scientific)
Take care

You are lucky, jer22. I also am fitted with Boston Scientific. Bradycardia was my diagnosis also. After four years of doing nothing they switched the minimum bpm from 60 to 70. Then to 65. But they also made another change. Though I’m not sure about this, I think they took me out of the number 2 (exercise) mode and into the number 3 (which they label the athletic mode).

I had the presence of mind to jot down that my upper sensor rate is now 145, whatever that means. Anyway, since this latest change the chest tightness has lessened. I’m relying on future visits with the electrophysiologist to continue to monitor and make changes to hopefully fully eliminate the chest pressure I feel when I walk fast or do a lot of bending over.

The shame is that the doctor who implanted the pc never scheduled a follow up visit and I found it stressful to get an appointment with him so I finally gave up.

I have a Medtronic (2.5 years). As I have become more active, I have had the upper pace rate raised. It is now 150. That means that my pacemaker will 'pace' my heart rate up to 150 beats per minute. If I exceed that I could have bradycardia symptoms.

I was at 145 but asked for 150 just to give me a bit of space as I was anxious about exceeding the pace rate. I have been a bit over and was fine. If that continued I would ask to have it raised to 155.

This has been my experience. @gloaming might have more to offer as they have been around far longer, and have much more experience than me.

Hi mfenn….

Can you explain the difference you feel when they upped the upper pace rate? My problem is that I have this SOB and chest pressure when I walk for a distance at too fast a rate. I unfortunately don’t know whether the rate was below or above the 145 before they changed it.

what is SOB?