Will I ever feel normal again?
I had my PM implanted June of 2010. I am having a horrible time adjusting to it. My heart beats out of my chest....I am weak all the time and my pulse rate is all over the place. I had another MI 2 weeks ago....fortunately no damage.
@ days ago I fainted 2 times and my B?P was all over the place.....very dizzy and horrible pressure in my head. My husband called 911 and at the ER all the blood tests and my ekg were normal. The St. Jude rep came and did a test....said my PM was functioning properly. The ER sent me home. I still feel horrible and I am still having the same symptoms. Is this just something I have to learn to live with??? I thought by now I would feel better. I can't take this much longer.......what else can I do?? I can't keep going to the hospital every few days!!!
7 Comments
Re: Will I ever feel normal again
by Karen W - 2010-10-31 01:10:50
Dear Beksmom
I had a similiar episode in the hospital the day after the installation of my PM. Heart beating out of my chest,
wild sweats, lightheaded, etc.. It happened after talking with a night nurse that was a very alarming type of person. It seemed like I was in deep trouble with my pacemaker but after she left the room and I calmed down, the symptoms improved drastically. She scared the heck out of me but I got over it and improved.
I believe in checking everything out with my cardiologist and that is what I suggest. It could be a combination of things and the stress added to it can cause havoc with your system.
I am just learning about BP but I would ask your Cardiologist to explain how BP works as the heart rate changes. It seems to work opposite each other but I am too new at this to explain, other than, the more I learn the better I feel. I believe you will get to feeling better. I am sorry for the panic feelings you are having on top of everything else. It is so hard to know the difference butween what is real and what is emotion. It is hard but you can do it. Things will get better.
............Karen W
second opinion
by Tracey_E - 2010-10-31 08:10:33
I agree with Smitty, you need a second opinion. Why did you get the pm and what symptoms did you have before? A pm is not a magic wand that can fix every problem. For instance, it doesn't affect blood pressure and it can't prevent your heart from racing on its own. All it can do is add beats. Unless all of these things started happening for the first time after you got the pm, it sounds like something else is going on.
Have you had an xray to verify that your leads have not moved?
Functioning properly is not the same thing as programmed correctly for you.
Stay on top of St Judes as Smitty suggested. They're a great company and I've found they'll go to extremes to help a patient. Not all reps are created equal- some are amazing, some are merely competent. If you're a complicated case, competent won't get the job done. A few years ago when my drs and rep were not able to come up with a solution to a problem I was having. My rep brought in two others and between them they were still stumped so my records were faxed to a team of their engineers who made me a case study. I've heard of good experience with other pm manufacturers, but never one who's gone to the lengths St Judes will.
Good luck!
:(
by pacergirl - 2010-10-31 09:10:22
I am so sorry that you are going through this...
There is some excellent advice posted above. I just wanted to add that you can feel "normal" again. You can actually feel a great deal better.
Please don't give up. Make some calls and find the help you deserve. There is hope... you can feel normal again. It is just going to take some time.
Pacergirl
wonderful advice
by Beksmom - 2010-10-31 12:10:51
Thanks to all of you for the advice. I will contact my cardiologist first thing next week. It is so comforting to know that I am not alone and that others have gone through similar situations.
I had my PM put in due to bradycardia. I have CAD and CHF. I am 45 years old. All these symptoms started AFTER my PM was implanted so this is deff something new.
Thank you again and best of luck to ALL of you....stay healthy!!
Beksmom
normal
by JoFosqk226 - 2010-10-31 12:10:57
Beksmom, you need to make an appointment with your cardiologist or electrophysiologist ASAP. Though it is normal to go through changes once you get a PM implanted, you shouldn't be having fainting spells. There could be an underlying problem, or it could be the way your body handles the new stress of having a PM. Either way, it is something that needs to be checked out, and make sure your doctor listens to you and takes what you have to say into consideration. Don't just let them tell you that it will go away with time. Especially with your BP dropping, it is something that needs to be addressed. Best of luck and keep us posted!! I hope everything turns out well for you!
Not normal
by cruz - 2010-11-01 02:11:07
What you have described is not normal after PM. If the hospital didn't decide to call your cardiologist in and get all the tests necessary to see what else is going on, then you need to have the cardiologist involved ASAP. It's not normal and they should be trying to find the cause. Hope they get this sorted out soon.
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You Will Feel Normal Again
by SMITTY - 2010-10-31 01:10:07
You should not have to be going to the ER every few days for the reasons you name. If your problem are from the pacemaker and not other heart problems or medicines you may be taking I have a question and a comment.
Are you sure the St. Jude rep is actually a St. Jude employee, or is he just pacemaker technician employed by the hospital and can do checkups on all brands.
If he is a St. Jude employee I suggest you contact St. Jude and tell them of the problems you are having and you think they are caused by your pacemaker I know he said your PM was functioning properly, but pay no attention to that. That is what they ALL say when they don't know what is going on, or how to fix the problem.
If he is not a St. Jude employee I say you should still contact St. Jude and tell them you have one of their pacemakers and tell them the problems you are having. St. Jude makes a good pacemaker and they do not want one of their customers having problems the PM should be correcting.
As a last resort see another doctor and if that is not possible contact the administrator of the hospital and let them know you are having problems that you came to their facility to have fixed and things are no better, or maybe worse.
Good luck,
Smitty