pacer

I have just had a pacer implanted 3 weeks ago, & was promised to feel 100 percent better the next day. I have put this procedure off for years, but as time went by, I just got more tired. I have an AV block, & the top of my heart doesn't work with the bottom, correctly. Anyways, After I got home, I have had fast rates..even throbbing in my throat. Shortness of breath. I was put on a beta blocker Toprol for BP, etc. I have never been able to take blockers, due to the block. Now I feel so very tired, all I want to do is sleep!! What am I supposed to do? Any one have advice?

8 Comments

Frustrating...

by qwerty - 2010-06-08 10:06:24

Yes it is frustrating but remember a couple of things. You put this off for "years". During that time your body got used to not doing as much, so it will take time to build your body back up. And.. It has only been 3 weeks. You can't expect "years" to be wiped out in 3 weeks. Take it slow, build back up at a steady pace.
Now with that being said, you really should feel better, so if you don't, see your doctor.
My heart rate had declined but when they put in the pacer it now does not go below 60. I do feel better, but I found that as time goes by, I feel better when I keep exercising and moving forward.
Again, you need to check with your Doctor and make sure everything is OK, but it has only been 3 weeks. I have had mine since January 25,this year and I still have days when I realize that I am still building up my body from letting it run down so low.
Hang in there and keep us posted.

I agree

by janetinak - 2010-06-08 10:06:56

altho I felt 100% better after an AV node ablation & PM insertion it took awhile to get better. I only put it off for 2 yrs. The advice above is excellent in my opinion. See your doc & get an explaination. You may very well feel better with an adjustment or two or three. It takes awhile to get it all straightened out but it is worth it in the long haul. Remember it took awhile to get to this point & it will take awhile longer to get better. Also it is depressing so the tiredness may be depression. I know when I feel down I want to crawl into bed & cover my head. So my advice is see your doc & try & get more active. Let us know how you are doing.

Thinking of you,

Janet

I'll Try To Help

by SMITTY - 2010-06-08 11:06:26


I'll offer some advice for what it may be worth.

If after three weeks you are not feeling any better and my guess is you may be feeling worse, you should see the doctor. The initial settings are in effect the doctor's best guess, based on what he knows about your illness and your overall health. However it is not uncommon for settings changes to be required to get a pacemaker in sync with the heart's natural pacemaker and do the job expected. I have seen a number of people here say it took more than one try to get the optimum settings. Also, keep in mind, unless your doctor hears from you that things are not as good as expected he will have no reason to think otherwise.

I've had beta blockers prescribed a number times, the first being in the early 80s. While beta blockers may help many people, I have not been one of those people. Without fail the biggest problems I've had with them is extreme fatigue. Like you, I was continuously tired and found my self wanting to take naps two or three times a day. So you will also need to talk to your doctor about this.

If you are like most of us you were given some date to come in for your first checkup. If that date is not soon call and get a new one. There is no need to try to tough it out because things are not likely to get better than they have after 3 weeks.

Good luck to you,

Smitty

Settings for AV Block

by ElectricFrank - 2010-06-09 02:06:04

You may be having a common problem some of us have gone through. At implant most docs leave the pacer at the factory settings which are not right for AV Block. With this type of block your atium (upper chamber) is beating at the proper rate determined by your natural pacer, but the connection to the ventricles is broken. So all the pacer needs to do is sense the atrial beat and send it on to the ventricles. With the factory settings there are several that are intended for people who have more extensive needs.

The most common issues are the lower and upper pacing limits which are usually set to 70 and 120. The pacer won't let your heart go below 70bpm which after living with AV Block for years would feel like it is racing. The other setting is what is known as Rate Response which is intended for folks who's natural pacer is kaput. It senses your bodies movement and tries to pace your atrium appropriately. With both your natural pacer and the rate response competing for attention the result isn't very comfortable.

The result is like having a wife and mother in law in the same house telling you what to do.

Another issue is the meds you are taking. Your BP may temporarily increase with the faster HR now that you have a pacer. Mine has jumped around some since my pacer 5 yrs ago. I simply refuse meds for it unless it was above the 150/90 range, which it never has been.

Welcome to the world of pacer medicine where the only way to get things working right is to take charge your self.

frank

pacer 3 wks ago

by nee nee - 2010-06-09 06:06:18

I really want to thank all of you for the quick response!
Gosh, just for someone to take the time and speak to ya about the experience is the best medicine ever.
I also want to say that with my AV block, the Dr did say I may have to have the AV Node ablated....hmmmm. Now, he is telling me, per phone call, to take one half the dose of beta blockers. It was nice to know that I need to know the numbers, top & bottom as to how I am set up. What a leaning experience. I will heed your advice, & give it more time, unless something else crops up. As for depression symptoms, that is not the issue. I know. Thanks again.

3 wk pacer

by nee nee - 2010-06-09 07:06:35

I wanted to add that I do have a dual pacer, and the MD wanted me to get a biventricular pacer. The insurance company wouldn't approve it. The MD wasn't happy. He said eventually I will have to have it & go through the whole thing again. But because I didn't have heart failure, they wouldn't approve it. Medical Mutual for ya.

Not uncommon

by Genie - 2010-06-09 08:06:22

I was paced 2 and half months ago and, like you, immediately had problems with fast heart rates - so bad I had to be readmitted. After talking to a lot of people here it's not uncommon (at least two other people have posted similarly before you and after me). I was put on beta blockers, and my doctors have gradually been weaning me off them. I stopped them completely yesterday and am feeling pretty rubbish so am not sure how long that will last, but I felt much better on a lower dose than they started me on, so it may be your dose needs fine tuning. Over time, you may find that the rates settle, too: your heart has been used to working hard and those of us who have discussed this over the past couple of months seem to think it is taking our bodies a while to adjust (my excellent cardiologist couldn't offer me a reason for my problem, although he though it was an adjustment issue, almost like my heart reacting against the pacemaker).

I'm writing this assuming that the fast rates are your own heart, not PM induced. Your cardiologist should be able to tell you which it is. If it's the latter you might need to get the settings changed as ElectricFrank suggests.

But you will improve. Just give it a little time. And in the meantime we're here for you.

Genie

Hmm

by ElectricFrank - 2010-06-10 12:06:28

Several things don't make sense:
1: With AV block you may need an AV Node ablation. Unless the AV block is only partial and is creating arrhythmia problems there isn't any reason for this.

2. MD wanted you to have a bi-ventricular pacemaker. Again, there is no reason for it unless you have heart failure.

Putting both of these together I begin to get uneasy about the MD. Sounds very much like my early experience. If I didn't have a lot of electronic experience I would still be fighting problems and meds.

You might want to ask to have a checkup with the pacemaker manufactures field representative. They are generally more knowledgeable than an MD. Next best would be an EP.

frank

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

Member Quotes

I have a well tuned pacer. I hardly know I have it. I am 76 year old, hike and camp alone in the desert. I have more energy than I have had in a long time. The only problem is my wife wants to have a knob installed so she can turn the pacer down.