lightheaded

Hi all

I had a complete AV Node ablation done a week ago and am now pacing at 100%
I keep feeling lightheaded and a bit dizzy at times as well as short of breath on exertion. Could anyone tell me if this is normal at the beginning, i was used to a heart rate above 110bbp now it is set to 70 with rate response turned on?
Thanks
Karen

7 Comments

maybe

by Tracey_E - 2010-11-02 06:11:51

I'd call, just to be on the safe side. Dizziness is common but should be addressed. It might be your body healing and getting used to your lower rate. Your settings will definitely make a huge difference in how you feel on exertion but they might want you to heal more before they get more aggressive in programming you for exertion.

address

by pioxen - 2010-11-02 07:11:54

address with your doctor. I've had several ablations and if rate was reset your pacer should be checked for rate response and operation for new heart activity post ablation. I would highly recommend having a tech rep from your pacer manufacturer be present and tweek your settings...always got the best results that way...

Good luck...

go back

by Tracey_E - 2010-11-03 05:11:54

You're a long way from a pm syndrome diagnosis! Who does your testing/programming? If it's not a manufacturer's rep, try that first. Usually the nurses and a lot of time the drs are not good at fine tuning the devices. The reps do it all day long and know it inside and out and can be more helpful. It can take some tweaking to get the settings right for you, that's normal.

Unfortunately having a single lead limits what they can do. Why didn't they give you two? We don't really need both for pacing with av block, but it gives them double the information to work with.

re admission

by amethyst34 - 2010-11-03 06:11:38

Thanks for the comments, I am being readmitted to hospital tomorrow for the pacemaker to be changed to a dual chamber, they are certain that is the cause for the dizziness as something to do with only having a single lead and the heart being out of synch. I am in the uk and we do not have the option of a rep being present here. The setting have been changed 3 times now without any improvement!

good luck

by Tracey_E - 2010-11-03 08:11:13

Good luck tomorrow!! How awful that you have to go through this again instead of getting the two lead the first time. I hope this fixes the problem for you! Let us know how you're doing.

pacing clinic

by amethyst34 - 2010-11-03 08:11:38

Have been back to pacing clinic at my local hospital, base rate increased to 80bpm but they do not understand why I am still Dizzy, breathless and so tired. They have only put in a single chamber which they dont understand as should be dual chamber with complete heart block so all very strange. Talk of pacemaker syndrome! not sure if any one knows about this?

thanks

by amethyst34 - 2010-11-07 05:11:07

Hi there

Thanks for the good wishes, I had indeed developed pacemaker syndrome seem better now that 2 leads have been placed but a bit angry that this was not done in the first place!

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