Pacemaker syndrome ??? I think I might have it

It's been a month now with my dual lead pacemaker and my blood pressure is high when lying down and low when standing almost not registering on my BP monitor.  My heart will start racing while just walking and I get ortho static and have to lie down with my feet up, till it passes. The electrophysiologist is  waiting ( it is The holidays you know ). I am miserable . I send the daily blood pressures in to the clinic.  I was looking on,MEDSCAPE WEB site , and the symptoms look like this condition called "pacemaker syndrome".   I can ride my bicycle but the pacemaker does not seem to kick in ( I can't climb up any hills ) and I have to get off and walk ( I say this as I was racing my bicycle , competing , last year ).  I am frustrated and want to get back to being active 

2 Comments

Don't be too quick to judge

by Good Dog - 2016-11-24 11:49:41

It sounds like you are using Dr. Google. That isn't always a good idea. Although PM syndrome is a possibility, you probably don't have it. You do know that it is "human nature" to think the worst thing! There are so many different things that could be going on. Worst case scenario is that maybe a lead became dislodged. That isn't really a big deal to fix (it is pretty quick and easy). However, it is much more likely that you just need a simple adjustment of the settings. I don't know if you have the activity monitor turned-on, but if you do that can make you feel really bad if it isn't adjusted properly. Even without the activity monitor, there are many settings that just simply need to be tweeked. You need to get in and get a PM check ASAP, but in the meantime you should just try to relax. Don't over do it until you get checked-out. If you heart is out of sync due to the need for adjustment, activity will just make you feel worse.

Not to worry though, you'll probably feel like a million bucks when they get your PM properly adjusted.So just try to chill till then.

Wishing you the best,

David

high blood pressure

by bobcc - 2016-11-25 15:40:45

There are several of us that have found high pressure events since getting a dual chamber pacemaker.  I have not had high blood pressure before.The most significant observation was that one person mentioned a pain specifically in the right ear.  I also have had three events of that type about a month after the pacemaker was installed.  It is clear that the blood pressure is highly correlated with the implant event.

The significant impact is that my pressure rises at night, sufficiently to wake me up.  Everything I read says it decreases at night.  Pacemakers do not have a diurnal change in minimum level, so my body probably thinks I'm awake when I dream and responds by pumping up the pressure.

Bob

 

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I’m healthy as a horse because of the pacemaker.