Lack of sleep
Hi all,
I have now had the pacemaker for about 12 months and this was a result of low pulse rate and regular blackouts. Overall it seems to be making a significant difference and whilst I maintain fluid intake and medication I am managing OK. However I am having serious problems with lack of sleep. I keep very active and cycle between 200 and 300 kilometres per week and work in a very stressfull management job in child protection. I have no doubt the work situation does not help but I struggle to sleep more than 4 hours per night. It is not falling asleep that is the problem but when I wake up it is impossible for me to fall back to sleep. I have spoken to the cardiologist and he has resett the pacemaker to drop from 60 BMP to 50 from 9.30 PM till 5.00 AM each night but this does not seem to be making much difference.
I would like to hear if there are any suggestions out there as well hear of others who have a similar problem. Only last night I read of an elite cyclist who has recently had a pacemaker and is suffering similar sleep problems.
Paul
3 Comments
My opinion...
by Pookie - 2010-12-19 10:12:27
You need to be tested for Sleep Apnea.
I have the exact same problem as you do. I can fall asleep, but I get no more than 3 hrs in a row.
I had the Sleep Apnea test and although I don't have Sleep Apnea ~ by taking this test I found out 2 important things:
1) my oxygen saturation is going down to 87.5% which is not good
and
2) I have what they call Sleep Disturbances.
I also had a Pulmonary Function Test (just blowing very hard into a plastic tube which was attached to a machine) and found out that something is wrong with my gas exchange...whatever that means....
So, now I wait to be seen by a Respiratologist. I could have misspelled that word...lol. A lung doctor.
take care,
Pookie
paul, sleep issues
by Fatigue1 - 2014-01-15 07:01:54
ive had this problem also, 12 years now. never had sleep problems prior to icd. my energy level, muscle mass and ability to think has degraded more each year from 4 hours a day sleep. ive been tested for sleep apnea, border line and sorry but i cant sleep with scuba gear. wore battery out scheduled new battery, they put a new device with current options. i noticed the new serial numbers on card so i researched. found the pm setting info on this site. called medtronics and verified my new icd had pm mode . Told my cardiologist about my new updated device and set to minimum beats per minute from 11pm to 7am. she acted suprided about the new device, never heard about this option blah blah blah. improved 70% sleep rim level. if i had this setting 12 years ago i would be able to still work. paul keep fighting the manufacture of device makes more money as a plug and play. you have to force any solutions yourself. don't be scared to find a better doctor, some care more about the manufacturer than the patient.
DonH
You know you're wired when...
You have a shocking personality.
Member Quotes
I am an avid scuba diver.
I forgot to add....
by Pookie - 2010-12-19 10:12:17
that I did read somewheres (and my EP acknowledged it) that 60% of pacemaker patients MAY develop Sleep Apnea, so it's worth taking the test.....
(too funny...but you know those letters we have to type in the Spam filter before we press Add Comment....the ones that just popped up for me are: zzzst....how funny is that???)
Pookie