Pacemaker 3 days old
Hi everyone,
I've survived 3 days so far. I went to the hospital for female surgery and 6 days later left with a pacemaker. Still feeling somewhat in awe how it all happened and very thankful to God for a second chance. Wondering how long it took you to adjust?
Also, I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea right before my hospitalization. Before my pacemaker my heart rate was 33 -45. Now it's at 70 and I'm fully oxygenated; I'm sleeping better. Do you know of anyone whp didn't need a CPAP machine after the pacemaker?
Glad to find you folks!
4 Comments
CPAP
by SMITTY - 2010-06-26 11:06:35
Hi Ginnysmom,
Of course what Frank says is true, but I never heard of anyone being able to stop using their CPAP after they got a pacemaker.
To me the two devices compliment one another. The CPAP insures more regular breathing at night which will increase the oxygen level in the blood. The pacemaker, in your case, will increase your heart rate at night. The two of them together will mean your body will have a higher blood flow and the blood will have a higher oxygen level. The result is you should feel better, or as in my case, I described it as being less tired each morning.
But as you can see with only the pacemaker you will have a higher blood flow but the oxygen level will be low. In spite of the lower blood O2 level the higher blood flow rate may make you feel better.
The question in all this is how low is your O2 level dropping to at night. In my case I was I getting into the low 80% range and the doctor tried to convince me anytime it is below 85% to 88% level, regardless of heart rate, that is low enough to make a CPAP unit beneficial. Of course, as I told him, you haven ever tried to sleep while using one of things on either, so the benefits may be debatable.
Good luck,
Smitty
CPAP
by riodog - 2010-06-26 11:06:54
Hi,
I have a CPAP unit also and no problems sleeping with the noise. For some reason it affects me like "white noise". I find it kind of comforting actually. Of course, I have been told I can be a bit weird at times. None the less, I sleep much better with it than without it. Tried it both ways.I can sure understand why it might drive some people nuts trying to sleep with it. I think the secret is falling asleep rapidly (if you can) so you don't focus on the noise.
gretchen
Cpap and sleep
by Settingthepace2 - 2010-06-28 11:06:58
I too had a pacemaker in for 10 days now. I have sleep apnea and was supposed to use a cpap, but I have not been able to get used to it at all. Trust me, I have been trying to get used to it for 6 months now. But, the last ten days have been wonderful. I have been sleeping like a baby and have not had to take a single sleeping pill to sleep. I think if nothing else good comes from this, at least I am getting a great sleep now. Go figure!
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Affect of pacer on sleep apnea
by ElectricFrank - 2010-06-26 02:06:26
It is always possible that getting your HR up to normal and being oxygenated could eliminate the need for a CPAP. This would only be true if the low HR was causing the apnea.
frank