New to the Site

Hello Everyone,

I had my PM implanted on Nov.20. Four months ago today! WOW! I had gallbladder surgery on Oct. 26. During the surgery I had heartblock 3. Placed on Coreg and Lisinopril for heart failure. My ejection fracture was 35-40 upon testing. Continued to have heartblock at home and went by squad to the emergency room on Nov. 16. Nineteen years ago I received an artificial aorta valve. Was told that a lot of times when a person has heart surgery, the electrical system can become faulty. Did fine until this incident. Am taking Coumadin, Coreg, Lisinopril, and Lexapro. In January I began to have body twitches and lightheadedness when I lie down. Was wondering if any of you has experienced either of these. They tell me it is not caused by the pacemaker. Have had rather a diffecult time accepting the PM. I have a love hate relationship with it. Time has helped greatly though and now it would be great if the twitches and floating feeling would just go away. I am usually a pretty optimistic person. Any answers to my situation? Thank you for responding. I have been reading post and comments on here for quite sometime and you all seem to be very caring people. Just the kind I like!!:)

3 Comments

Welcome

by JessiWay - 2010-03-21 02:03:58

Welcome westj814! My name is Jessi. I had a PM implanted on February 23rd of last month for 2nd degree heart block & bradycardia. I have experienced some different sensations since having my pacemaker implanted, but no body twitches or lightheadedness when I lie down. I do experience some lightheadedness & dizziness as a result of some PVC's. I am currently taking no medication other than Asprin. Have you looked up the side effects of the medications you are taking? Is there a chance that the lightheadedness & dizziness are side effects?
I also have a love hate relationship with my PM & am typically optimistic. I love the energy I have now that I haven't felt in years! I love that I am going to be able to be a better mother to my boys & wife to my husband. I love that my quality of life is greatly improved.
All that said...it is a difficult adjustment. I have times when it is hard to see the benefits, but luckily they don't last long. The people on this site are incredible! I wish you the very best!
Nice meeting you, best of luck!
~Jessi

Twitch

by cfritza - 2010-03-21 07:03:46

Hi westj814,
I got my PM in Oct 09 for Sick Sinus Syndrome and have noticed that I do get a lot of muscle twitching that I did not notice before the PM implant. Is it muscle twitching or body twitching that you get?

Thank You

by westj814 - 2010-03-21 07:03:50

Thanks to Jessi and cfritza for commenting on my post. I suppose it could be from the PVC's that I am having , though my cardiologists has not attributed it to that. He doesn't really know why I am having the twitches and lightheadedness when I lie down. The twitches seem to be more in my abdomen and sometimes in my head. I noticed in church this morning. I hoped no one saw my head jerk a little bit. I believe it is possibly caused from some of the meds I am taking. They all have side effects of causing one to be dizzy. I went dancing last night and am still experiencing some shortness of breath and kind of a burning hurting feeling in my abdomen if I fast dance. I am hoping this will stop as my body gets used to the PM. I joined the YMCA last Wednesday and plan to start walking. Perhaps I just need to buil up my endurance. As I stated, I am optimistic and hope that I will begin to have the energy I had before the PM placement. Hope you have wonderful days.

Westj

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I, too, am feeling tons better since my implant.