Recovery time?

My husband (age 59) had a pacemaker/defibrillator implanted one year ago after a prolonged illness in which his heart was weakened due to a severe infection. Prior to his illness he was always a very active person, healthy & in pretty good shape, although his weight tended to be a bit on the low side & he was/is a smoker (15-20/day.) Nobody would've believed he was in his 50's! (In fact, I'm 16 years younger & I had trouble keeping up with him!)
Now he just looks/acts like a frail old man. He has no energy, gets lightheaded & gasps for air with the slightest exhertion, has all kinds of gastrointestinal problems & trouble keeping food down, is moody & depressed & never wants to leave the house, has terrible-sounding COPD, has a great deal of trouble performing sexually, & constantly complains about a multitude of aches & pains.
He's talked to his doctors about this, who frankly don't seem all that concerned. They just prescribe more medication & tell him to quit smoking.
My question is, is this typical? Should someone still be feeling this bad a whole year later? Is this just how it's going to be from now on? I've known several people who have had open heart surgery &/or devices implanted & who have been able to resume normal activities a short time later. I don't recall that it turned any of them into invalids. Does anyone have any insight into what could be going on?

6 Comments

Recovery time

by LeighWNY - 2010-07-09 02:07:43

Thank you for the prompt responses :-)
His problems started with an upper respiratory infection, which due to extenuating circumstances went untreated for a long time. It wasn't until he literally collapsed that the doctors finally took it seriously. (All his internal organs were shutting down; he actually flatlined twice in the ER & ended up being hospitalized for 3 weeks!) Fortunately, his heart was the only organ (we know of) that was permanently damaged.
I would love for him to get a second opinion, although Medicaid makes that tough to do. (I also wonder if that has anything to do with the quality of care he's receiving.) He has an appointment scheduled for next week, & I plan to go with him & stomp my feet a little. I just hate this constant cycle of, "Here, try these new meds for the next 6-8 weeks then come back & tell me if they helped at all."
The nicotine patches are sitting on the shelf at home, & I've refused to buy him any more cigarettes, but no luck so far in convincing him to quit :-(

Typical? I don't think so.

by Bob C - 2010-07-09 02:07:53

Sorry to hear how bad your husband is feeling but I would say quit smoking and go see a different Doctor. It could be the medication he's taking or maybe the infection affected areas other than his heart.
Bob

meds

by Tracey_E - 2010-07-09 02:07:56

Some people bounce back quickly, some bounce back but it takes a while, for some the pm is merely a bandaid that keeps us going but doesn't get us back to full health. Did the illness do a lot of permanent damage? A year is a long time if there isn't a lot of permanent damage. Sometimes some of the things you listed can be fixed by tweaking the programming of the pm, but it depends how strong the heart is. The pm can make it beat but it can't make the muscles contract strongly and efficiently enough for good circulation if the heart muscle is not well.

One thing you said jumps out at me... they prescribe more meds. Have you had a second opinion, someone with a fresh eye to sit down and see what all he's on and if it's all necessary? Sometimes the side effects of the drugs are worse than the original problem but some docs rather than address the problem will just throw more drugs at the symptoms and you end up in a vicious cycle.

Any chance of getting him to quit smoking? He doesn't need lung damage on top of the heart troubles and his heart doesn't need more stress.

Good luck to you and your husband.

Recovery Times

by Pookie - 2010-07-09 09:07:14

Hi.

I have experienced most of what you have described.

Prior to having my pacer I was experiencing very infrequent lightheadedness.

AFTER the pacemaker I developed:

Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Profound Exhaustion
Gastro Issues
Colitis
Depression
Mystery Aches & Pains

My shortness of breath & Exhaustion is a bit better but it took me FOREVER (4 yrs) of constantly telling the pacemaker techs, cardiologists, and my EP and finally they adjusted some of my settings and now at least I feel I am 50% back to where I was prior to the pacer.

For me the answer was what was called the Optimization (it's in the settings) and I think it has something to do with or is linked to the Rate Response Feature. I'm sorry I can't give you more information as they way they explained it - well, it went right over my head. But you might want to bring this up as Optimization is a very simple adjustment - either they turn it ON or OFF.

My dizziness is from my Junctional Rhythm, my Neurocardiogenic Syncope, my Orthostatic Hypotension, and a form of Meniere's Disease.

I went through almost 2-3 years of stomach issues and low and behold it was ALL due to the medications I was taking. Then I was diagnosed with Colitis and my weight fell to 105 pounds. A Naturopathic doctor solved ALL my stomach issues. I was SO hesitant on going to this type of doctor - but I count my lucky stars every day that I finally went thanks TraceyE as she was the one who suggested it to me. Now I have NO stomach issues what so ever. Yeehaw.

The Depression is a very common "side effect" for many many people after having anything done to their heart. Along with depression comes a very long list of other things. Just to name a few - mystery pains, no energy, can't sleep or sleep too much, mood swings, etc. Depression is a nasty thing. However, there is excellent help out there and perhaps your husband is going through this too.

It took me almost 5 yrs to feel 50% better because I trusted the doctors I had and then when I could no longer work and had to quit my job and go on Long Term Disability - that is when I really got going and hounded every doctor until I found answers. I too was just given pill after pill after pill.

Please - do what you can to find a doctor willing to help because there is no reason for your husband to feel like he does. I was where he is and discovered that you have to be your own advocate and get out there and politely demand help.

Take care and I wish you & your hubby the very best of luck.

Pookie

Thank you

by LeighWNY - 2010-07-10 05:07:29

Thank you all again for your responses. You've made some very helpful suggestions - particularly you, Pookie :-) We certainly plan to keep hounding the doctors for help, & we will not give up, even if we have to get 3rd & 4th opinions.
We definitely appreciate your help & support.

about medicaid

by rvrs7081 - 2010-07-12 04:07:32

Don't just accept that you can't get care. Call the state office, not the local and request a list of what they will cover exactly. Speak to some real person. When one says no, ask to speak to their supervisor and so on. then there are groups that speak up for those on medicaid like welfare rights groups.
About the depression, how well I know. I seem to have changed some after the pm. It is scary to be so close to death. I refuse almost any medicactions as I prefer alternative treatments. Thankfully, I never smoked.
Now my attitude is well, I have more time since I got the pm., so i need to use it. Even when I can't sleep, I jump on this web site to share with others. I sure wish you both well with these problems. I would say, if you are gifted with more life, use it. Don't waste the gift and help others who are just coming out of the pm surgery. They are scared too. You don't have to be knowedgeable, just care. Reach out that helping hand. Ann

You know you're wired when...

You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

Member Quotes

I am just thankful that I am alive and that even though I have this pacemaker it is not the end of the world.