Pacemaker

[SunsetRunner]

I have a pacemaker. It is a demand type, set at 60 unless I am up and moving. Therefore, the night readings are totally off. Also, if I sit and read or watch TV, my heart goes to 60 and my Flex assumes I am sleeping. My readings are sometimes humorous, mostly annoying. Can I turn off the detailed sleep stuff and have it enter when I go to bed and get up, not have to do it manually on my online dashboard?

[JohnnyRow]

Just curious - Not really familiar with demand type pacemakers; do you mean your heart rate is always at exactly 60, except when you are up and moving, never above or below?  What about if you have been up and about, then sit?  Would it know that you sat down and abruptly drop to 60, or would it gradually let the heart rate slow down to 60?  In that case, wouldn't it be that it just wouldn't let it go below 60?

[SunsetRunner]

My pacemaker is set at 60, never goes below that. If I walk, run, or just move about, the rate increases as the body demands, just like a normal heart would function. Same with when I stop moving. Like a normal heart, it gradually slows down, but not below 60. Only quirk is that it is a horizontal type, meaning if I go up stairs or a steep slope, it will not automatically kick in. The solution is weird but works... I have to give it a couple of sharp pats to tell it I'm going up and then it increases. Otherwise, I will get short of breath on stairs. My kids call me the bionic woman because this device is acually the only reason my heart beats at all. Hope that answers your questions.

Oh, another neat thing... the pacemaker clinic can check it, turn it up/down etc. check battery life -- over the phone. I have a device about the size of an old phone and an app on my smart phone. I call the clinic, put the device over my pacemaker, and they can read it no matter where I am. This was helpful during the pandemic as I didn't need to drive to their office. 😊

[LZeeW · Accepted solution]

@SunsetRunner   My background is physiology and I have a very good idea about how your pacemaker works, how Fitbit's sleep algorithms work  -- and why you have so much trouble with your sleep tracking.  To put it simply, you just don't fit in.  I thought about workarounds, but you would need to change Settings and turn features on and off several times a day.  I think you should stop editing something you can't fix and just ignore everything about your sleep data.

[SunsetRunner]

I've come to the same conclusion but without the education so nice to have it affirmed! Thank you. However, my old Flex 2 worked fine on the sleep mode, just hours not analysis. I'm noted for being a sound sleeper and am quite aware when it does not happen.

I also have to wear this Luxe the same way as the old one --- on my ankle as it does not pick up my steps on my wrist. I often hold a book when I walk and don't swing my arms. If I go online, I can change sleep settings, but as you say, it is a pain to look for the wrong times and fix them. Who needs it! Thanks again!