Hi everyone,
I haven't been on here in a long time and I've miss it. Its good to read some of your posts again - this site is full of the kindest, most caring people around.
I have a question..do any of you know the reason why my heart is pounding lately? It's been going on for several days now and makes me feel lightheaded, weak and out of breath. My first PM implanted in 1995 was wonderful and I had no problems with it until it needed to be replaced in 2004. The current PM however, has been uncomfortable from the moment it was implanted. For several months I had constant PVC's that made me feel choked, out of breath and just weak. The cardiologist I was seeing would just shrug and say I was fine, there was nothing he could do except prescribe drugs which is the last thing I want. The EP he used would do the same thing, they always made me feel like I was just a big whiner. I got fed up with them and haven't been back to a cardiologist or had a pacer check in over 4 years! I started taking Potassium/Magnesium and the PVC's got better and everything was basically fine until recently. Now the hard heartbeats. I have a complete block as the result of 3 failed ablations and I am 100% paced, so this seems to be a PM issue. Has this happened to anyone else? If so, do you know why?
Thank you in advance for any comments at all.
Teresa

 

 

You need an appointment NOW with a cardiologist or ep Four years is 3!/2 years too long.I am sure they can help you some with the PVC's. Sometimes raising the resting rate will over-ride some of them.

The over the counter meds are not FDA approved so you have to be very careful with any use of them.

 

Many things can cause your heart to feel like it's pounding or beating really hard. Arrhythmias, bradycardia, a drop in blood pressure, or a change in the heart rate just to name a few. However, if you got your PM in 2004 and are 100% paced your PM battery may well be running out of juice and you need to get it checked right away.

I can understand your frustration with the Cardiologist, and frankly I'm impressed that you didn't just complain about it, you took definitive action, albeit inadvisable at least you stood by your convictions.

It's time to find another Doctor and get that tin can interrogated. The pounding heart beat may well be the signal that the device is dying, and we don't want you to follow it.

Good luck and let everyone know what you decide.

 

I appreciate your comments and you're probably right, Cabg Patch. I think this baby is running out of juice. I just figured I'd know what that felt like since it happened before. In August 2004 I saw a cardiologist and had a pacer check because I wasn't feeling great and felt especially weak after exercising. They said I was fine, battery had 19 months of life left. I kept feeling weaker and the following month I could hardly lift an arm, putting my make-up on was exhausting. My husband (sweetheart that he's not) got upset with me when I asked him to work for me in our business because I was just too week. He told me if I couldn't work then I should go to the emergency. When I asked if he'd take me, he said, "What? You can't drive yourself?" The EKG showed my heart was skipping several beats, usually 3 at a time and the pacer check showed my PM had gone to "single lead" and needed replacement. This was only 1 month after being told it had 19 months!! With this one I thought it would feel the same, but I guess it's a different experience each time. I have noticed recently that my HR does not increase when doing cardio exercise, so I guess it's skipping?
I have a pacer check scheduled for the 14th (unfortunately with the same clinic - ugh!). I just haven't had luck finding good care here in FL.
Again, thank you for your input, it was nice to feel that someone cared.

 

Please repost hear and a new Doc is viatl they should listen!!!

Michael