Never have had so many problems

Hello again everyone,
I had my PM put in in December and am now almost 3 months post op. First off let me just say, I have had nothing but problems from day one. I have episodes of what they call PMT (pacemaker tachycardia) which is my pacemaker ventricle spiking which looks and feels like v-tach. It hurts and causes alot of anxiety.
I also seem to have more paceing the longer I have the devise. I started off with less than 1% atrial and ventrical pacing. I now have 4% atrial pacing and 1% ventrical pacing. I can't seem to do anything strenuous as I get very out of breath and the pacer seems to start pacing more. I am sooooo tired and can not sleep more than a few hours and then I am wide awake. I have ambien but, I would like to know if anyone has taken it with a pacemaker and is it safe?? I really need a good night sleep.

I also am wondering how long does it take before the soreness and pain goes away from the surgical site? I took a bath the other day and my site has been sore and tender ever since. My pacer was implanted submuscular. I like it because you can not see or feel it but, the site does not seem to be healing correctly. Any and all advice or help is appreciated.

kris

5 Comments

Re: Problems

by timberhitch - 2010-03-06 11:03:20

I am also three months post op. and and have wondered if sometimes it was worth it. I guess it was because my heartbeat was really slow and now it beats at a steady 60 bpm. I can't say that I feel any different, however. I too, have pain and I think it is caused by the muscles and nerves still in the healing process. I had my three month PM check last Monday and they did not seem to think there was a problem. My pain gets gradually worse as the day progresses. I am doing a little remodeling now on a home project so things are being stretched a little.

I take Ambian as I have always had a sleeping problem and have found that I have no ill effects from it.

I would suggest that you talk to your doctor about your symptoms to be on the safe side.

Hopefully, things will settle down for you shortly. I know what you are going through. Good luck!!

Timberhitch

healing

by Tracey_E - 2010-03-07 09:03:29

My pm is also buried very deep- under the muscle and the breast. It takes a good 3 months after a replacement before I can move in any direction without feeling it. It's not awful,it just lingers for quite a while. I had it replaced (4th one) 6 weeks ago tomorrow. I feel pretty good now, but I do feel it if I overdo it or use the muscle too much. It just takes time for the scar tissue to form and the muscles to heal. In the end I think it's well worth it! Once I get over the hump after a replacement, I can forget it's there until the battery goes again.

Ask your dr if the pm is doing a self check in the middle of the night.This could wake you up.

Don't get too caught up in how much you're pacing. 1% or 4% isn't that much overall, and each time they adjust your settings, your numbers are going to fluctuate. The important thing is if you're feeling good - be it from 1% or 100% pacing- and apparently you are not. Settings often affect how we feel and it can take some time to get them just right. You might ask for a stress test so they can watch what your heart does when you exert and get sob. That may help pinpoint what needs to be adjusted.

Good luck! Don't let this get you down, it's all perfectly normal.

Ambien

by ppt - 2010-03-07 09:03:30

Yep - I am on Ambien and have PM. No problem ! If your sluggishness continues you may want to see an EP - I was sluggish for months and was finally diagnosed with PM Syndrome...a couple of months later, with many PM setting changes, I can exercise at the gym, power walk a couple of miles etc etc. I still get tired at the end of the day but no complaints as I have come a long way from not being able to walk to the mailbox!! Trust your body. It will tell you when you need to "push" the Dr for a solution.

Re; More infor

by msn - 2010-03-10 10:03:49

I had a pacemaker initially implanted in 2008 for third degree heart block. I had much the same feelings as your are describing. Mine would do the v-tach thing whenever my arm was raised over my head. I told my first cardiologist ( nurse practitioner because I never actually saw that cardiologist again) about the issues I was having and I was passed onto the Boston Scientific rep. That was no help at all. Went to my primary caregiver and was sent to an electrophysiologist (cardiologist) who after several tests was about to say she couldn't help me. Then her nurse hooked me up to the pacemaker machine to check and when I moved my arm it showed I was in v-Tach.
Ten days later I had a revision and that was about fourteen months ago. It was placed just where yours is behind the pectoral muscle. I do not have those sensations anymore and only occasionally I will wake up feeling the self check that the pacemaker does in nighttime. I am so glad that I didn't give up and went for a second opinion.
I am a small person and placing a pacemaker in me isn't exactly easy because of lack of tissue. I still have some sensitivity where it is implanted. I pace 100% in the ventricle and 1% in the atrial. I feel really good with the new pacemaker. What I am saying is that adjustments were not the answer for me because that was tried several times. Boston Scientific found nothing wrong with the first pacemaker. When I had the revision the leads and pacemaker device were all exchanged. It was a tough surgery and a long healing time than the first placement but it was worth it in the long run. Don't give up get a second opinion if you need to..

Re: More info

by garywhittaz - 2010-03-10 12:03:48

What manufacture do you Have? If it is a Guidant, I had the same problems for years. I was totally wornout after they adjusted it trying to handle the PMT's (pacemaker mediated tachycardia)

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