Help
Hello I am a 38 year old female with a pacemaker I got in 12/08. I have bradycardia and atacnicardia hopefully i spelt it correct anyway ever since had it placed i feel weird not myself. I have had chest pains shortness of breath tightness in chest and everything comes back normal they say its in my head and I know it's not. I am getting sent to Johns Hopkins for a 2nd opinion because none of the other cardiologist can figure it out. I was just wondering if anyone else out there has same problem. I am on so many pills I couldnt begin to list them for you sometimes I wonder if I stop taking al my meds will it get better? By the way I also have high blood pressure, depression,panic and anxiety disorder which I am sure plays a role in my problems with the pacemaker any suggestions to help get through this is much appreciated Thanks
3 Comments
Hi Bama
by Pookie - 2010-03-02 08:03:58
Wow. It sounds like you are on a lot of medications. I was too right after getting my pacer in late 2004.
So, what I did was I took them all to my family doctor and laid them out on her desk and asked which ones could we get rid of and which ones could we possibly lower the doses.
Every medication (as you know) has some kind of side effect and this is what is probably making you feel so lousy....It's just my unprofessional guess.
I went from about 18 drugs down to about 5 and it did make a huge difference on how I felt both physically and mentally. I was living in what I call brain fog.
Like my pharmacist always says: start with a low dose as you can always add if needed.
I'm not quite sure what the word is after bradycardia, but did you perhaps mean tachycardia (heart going too fast?)
I'm glad you are being sent to John Hopkins, they should be able to figure it out.
Thought just popped into my head: make sure you tell all your doctors any over-the-counter medications or any natural stuff you are taking too!!!!!
And oh....don't stop any of your pills "cold turkey" or you could go thru some awful withdrawals.
Good luck,
Pookie
Back on the beta blocker
by francine1 - 2010-03-03 10:03:57
Sorry you're having problems still. I was on Toprol 200mg for yrs. for hyperadrenergic syndrome.Basically I'm hypersensitive to my own adrenaline and my heart over reacts to it causing me to have a heart rate on avg. 120-185 per minute. I then developed a need for a PM which was placed on 2/11/10. I drop every other beat and my heart rate would drop from 90 to 35-40. In my post op visit I told the cardiologist I was still having some problem with tightness/pressure in chest and shortness of breath but I notice it when my heart rate hits 112-120. I'm back on the Toprol but only 100mgs and feels great! I wish you luck...keep us posted
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ASK BEFORE STOPPING MEDS.
by J.B. - 2010-03-02 02:03:48
I suggest that you get a list of your medicines and got to http://www.drugs.com/. There you can find the side effects of each medicine you take and If you think some of those side effects fit your feelings, ask your doctor. Or just go to your doctor first.
ABOVE ALL DO NOT QUIT TAKING ANY OF YOUR MEDS WITHOUT ASKING YOUR DOCTOR, UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF YOU SUDDENLY QUIT ONE. SUDDENLY STOPPING SOME MEDICINES (HEART MEDICATIONS IN PARTICULAR) CAN BE VERY BAD.