I have my pm feb 15,10 and not feeling well.
Hi! I'm 70 and was a healthy and still working man. Suddenly on Jan 21 feel dizzy and short of breath with chest pressure, my wife took me to ER and was admited for possible TIA, after tests were made my cardiologist said I had A fib,gave me prescriptions Amioderone,toprol xl, coumadin and lisinopril and was sent home after 7 days. At home never felt well, and my conditions worsened and one week later was taken again to ER and admited for very irregular heart rate going from 135 to 28 and finally on 2/15/10 had my pm implanted.Everything went right and came home the next day. I felt well and my bp was great!! 120/80 HR 60-65. The wellness lasted 5 days and started feeling terrible!! my bp rise to 200/104--160/95 but my HR in the 60's, my strenght was going away, and again on feb 23 back to ER by ambulance because my bp was 214/107, HR 70,severe chest pressure, jaw pain and then numbed legs.
Doctor said was not a heart attack, but a anxiety attack, I stayed for 2 days with the holter monitor and my bp stayed stable in 150's 90's with HR 60's and was sent home with same meds except coumadin and a antianxiety Celexa. Now I am very tired, short of breath most of day, I'm not hungry and my wife cooks different meals to make me eat.My bp just lower when I take my meds and lasts for 3 or 4 hours and rises again its been in between 150-200 / 80-101 and my HR has been sometimes up to 89 but not lower than 60. I have been having hypothirodism for 4 yrs and take 100mcg of levothiroxine. I used to work construccion (concrete pre-cast) until the day I feel dizzy and I feel depressed thinking my life has changed totally.And probably never will be able to work o do any thing else.
Thanks for your time and for letting me express my feelings, since I don't want to worry my family more than needed.
Reysab
5 Comments
Hi and Welcome
by Pookie - 2010-03-01 05:03:39
I'm so sorry to hear you are going through such a rough time right now.
My first thought was all the medications you are on. Especially the thyroid ones.
Perhaps you should call your pharmacist as I find that they will help you with a schedule when taking so many. They seem to know a lot of little secrets of how and when to take them and in what combination so you might be able to feel a bit better.
Every medication has some kind of side effect and when I was on more than a dozen I sough help from my pharmacist and she really really helped me a lot. She even suggested some alternative ones that didn't have as bad side effects, then I took the list and her suggestions to my family doctor, so between the 3 of us I finally got the right doses and began to feel a bit better.
Celexa....I've been on that a couple of times. It's just my opinion, but if you just had a few panic attacks, being put on Celexa seems to be a big jump. There are other drugs out there that can still do the same thing but are not as "heavy duty". I hope they started you on a very low dose of Celexa, but then again, you might be fine on it, I wasn't. I now take Clonazepam .... when needed.
When it comes to medications, I've learned that we as patients have to take the time and educated ourselves because sometimes the doctors are pretty fast to write us out a prescription.
Like my pharmacist told me: start on a weaker drug at a low dose, see if that works, then you can always add, but you can never take it out.
If you are extremely tired and short of breath......I think you need to take a serious look at what meds you are taking.
I've been where you are and hate to see anyone take a bunch of pills when PERHAPS all of them are not necessary.
Take care and good luck.
Pookie
depressed?
by DanaT - 2010-03-01 10:03:31
Hi Reysab - I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. I know the last thing you probably want to do is take more medication, but you might need to take some meds for anxiety and depression, even if it's just temporary. And maybe even go to a therapist. Don't let your depression spiral out of control. Do something about it now. It WILL get better.
Thanks, you lifted my spirit
by reysab - 2010-03-04 09:03:46
Hello, and thanks to all of you who wrote in my post. I am feeling much better now. I went to my cardiologist on monday and he change my meds and reduced my amioderona and now I am feeling much better, my blood pressure its been in the 120's with my HR 60's. I was given xanax very low dose and I am finally sleeping all night and still feel tired but my mood and hope have changed. I have reading other posts about different cases and was a relief find out that I'm not the only one.feeling that bad.Thanks for your support and God Bless you all.
I am feeling very well
by reysab - 2010-03-20 09:03:16
I want to tell you that Thank God, I have been feeling very well after the meds adjustment. I am eating much better, sleeping well and working around the house, gardening.I have tried use of electric circular saw, jigsaw some of the tools related to my work, without any problems.My Cardiologist said I can go back to work in april 5th.I hope to be able to do my work as usual, I work driving a motor grade, a heavy machine and my doctor said I should have no problem.
I will keep you informed how things are going.
Thanks and God Bless you all.
Reysab
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70 years YOUNG
by qwerty - 2010-03-01 03:03:56
70 is not that old anymore. Not feeling well causes depression. I am sure you know both of these things. I just want to encourage you to keep "bugging" the Drs. There is no reason for you to feel "bad". You may have to slow down from the active life you have lived, but you should not have to feel bad. Keep working on the Drs and get 2nd opinions if you have to. Sometimes it is just making the Drs. know what is going on.
My mother in law turns 97 this week. Getting Drs. to listen to her is more than a little challenging, but she never gives up. She lives by herself and still drives!!
So hang in there young man. And keep us posted.
Hope you get to feeling better real soon!
Cherell