"Out of shape"? or not?

I have had my pm for about 6 months now and still do not feel "normal." I saw my cardiologist this week and he said I can do anything I did before the pm, but that is not happening. I still feel very "out of shape" and cannot do the things that I normally did prior to the pm with out getting out of breath. For example, yesterday I rode my bike for only four miles and was breathing hard.I used to be able to ride 10 miles with out that feeling. I also notice that every day things can also make me breath harder. I get very frustrated with all this since up until Feb. '09 I was very healthly, then Feb, I had a kidney tumor removed and one month later the pm installed. Now I am wondering if I have some type of lung issue. These last few months have caused a lot of anxiety.

2 Comments

Hmmmmmm

by Pookie - 2009-08-14 11:08:35

Hi.

Perhaps you should ask your cardiologist for a stress test. There is even a stress test that they hook you up to a breathing machine to check out your lungs, but I forget the name. I think it may be called a Pulminary Stress Test. When I had the test it revealed that my already very low blood pressure dropped during exercise and my heart rate remained flat (both are meant to rise during any activity).

Or, all you might need is your pacemaker settings to be adjusted.

I know what you mean by feeling very out of shape as for the first 2 yrs I too couldn't do anything without feeling short of breath...it took some adjustments to the pacer, and I still think I could be adjusted a bit more.

It's SO understandable that you are under stress, but please speak to your doctor(s) because if you don't, they will think you are fine. Remember: the squeaky wheel gets the grease!!!!!

And never ever ever give up hope.

Pookie

Felt horrendous!!!

by Hot Heart - 2009-08-19 05:08:30

for a few months. Am a teacher as well, bit older than you, now feel back to normal, apart from the odd episode of breathlessness.

HH

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My eight year old son had a pacemaker since he was 6 months old. He does very well, plays soccer, baseball, and rides his bike. I am so glad he is not ashamed of his pacemaker. He will proudly show his "battery" to anyone.