Bending over...

Does anyone experience shortness of breath, fatigue and weakness after bending over for a period of time? I was doing some gardening and when I got up from bending over, I felt those symptoms. I am getting somewhat frustrated because not only did I feel those symptoms while gardening, I can hardly mow the lawn without stopping because of getting very fatigued and short of breath. I read about people doing marathons that have pms; I just want to be able to mow my lawn. I have had my pm for over a year and this is very dishearting since I thought I would be able to do the same things I did before the pm. My husband and I used to do a lot of hiking and now I can hardly walk a mile with out getting short of breath and very fatigued. Any suggestions?

5 Comments

How long has it been since

by janetinak - 2010-04-03 11:04:37

you have had your PM checked? I was SOB 'cause I was doing more & needed my PM settings changes & basically solved the problems. Hope this is as easy a fix for you.

Good luck,

Janet

Exercise symptoms

by ElectricFrank - 2010-04-04 02:04:09

A lot depends on what kind of condition you were in before getting the pacer. All it can do help assure proper pacing of the heart beat. It is up to heart to actually pump the blood so it you have any other condition like congestive heart failure you will still have some limitations.

Another common problem happens if you have gone for several months needing a pacer, but not knowing it. The lack of good cardiac pumping can slowly cause various organs in your body to deteriorate. When the pacer is implanted it may restore good blood flow, but can take a while for those organs to heal.

You will read some of our posts here with immediate miraculous increases in energy and return to normal activities. We have been fortunate to have our pacer implanted in just a short time after the block appeared in our hearts.

Give it some time and get it adjusted properly before becoming too concerned about it.

best,

frank

Same experiences...

by Pookie - 2010-04-04 08:04:24

and I saw an EP, wore an Event Recorder...and well, he can't find the results right now, but ....

he thinks I may be dealing with what they call Junctional Rhythm.

Guess I'll know the results when he finds all the events I recorded and sent in :)

Another thing to ask for is a Pulmonary Stress Test.

But as ppt stated: usually the doctors will start you off with either of these 2 devices to record what your heart is doing.

Hope this helps.
Pookie

Holter Monitor or Event Recorder

by ppt - 2010-04-04 09:04:23

Have you worn either of these devices? They tend to depict episodes graphically and can help your Dr diagnose any other issues that may be on going - and can give the Dr good information about PM setting changes that may be necessary. Wishing you the best - it is no fun. I have also been where you are but have come out the other side after about 1 year or so ...

SOB & Fatigue

by SMITTY - 2010-04-04 12:04:34


I have the same problem but the main cause for mine is old age (81 in 6 weeks) and a paralyzed diaphragm. SOB when I bend over is a big, a big problem for me now, but SOB has been a problem in the past. Now I'm not trying to frighten you with this story, I'm just trying to give you an example of why I think you need to see your doctor.

The year was 1982 and I discovered almost any physical activity caused me to be very short of breath, and tired. I tried to pass it off as being over weight (about 20 lbs.) and in poor physical condition as I knew I did not get enough exercise. I had a white collar job so the SOB seldom bothered me at work. Then one night about 10:30 I learned the truth. I had a heart attack followed by quadruple bypass surgery, followed by heart rehab and about 3 months after the heart attack I was in the best physical condition I had been in for 25 years.

I learned the hard way what it took to enjoy life the way I wanted too. Today I'm certainly no Charles Atlas but I can do a lot of things, including cutting the grass, that I enjoy. Many of these would not be possible if I had not got a PM 10 years ago.

Now to end my long story, my advice is see your doctor. Your problem could be pacemaker related and if it is then adjustments to the settings can probably correct that. However, it could be from anyone or more of a hundred different things. So don't sell yourself or your PM short, One, or both, of you may simply need a tune up and your doctor is the one to decide that.

I wish you the best,

Smitty

You know you're wired when...

Your ICD has a better memory than you.

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