Symptoms

I just wanted to know what you all symptoms or complications were before you knew you would have to have a pacemaker? Or did you have heart problems before all this came about? 


6 Comments

Symptoms

by twinboo28 - 2016-12-29 15:28:01

Did it runs in you all family with heart problems?

Misconcepton

by Artist - 2016-12-29 16:19:15

There are many different circumstances that prompt cardiologists to implant a pacemaker.  A general misconception is that PMs are needed because of a structural physical problem with someone's heart.  While that can be a factor, many people like me just have trouble with the electrical impulses that regulate their heart beats.  My doctor tells me that I have the physical heart structure of a much younger person.  In  my case, 30 day Holter monitoring revealed that I had a resting heart rate that sometimes fell in the 20 to 30 BPM range along with various arrhythmias to include afib.  Medications were needed to control the arrythmias, but could not be safely administered until a PM was implanted.  That was because those medications commonly have the side effect of lowering blood pressure and the heart rate.  Since my heart rate was already dangerously low, a PM was implanted and set to kick in to prevent my heart rate from falling below 60 BPM.  Sleep apnea was also affecting my heart/oxygen level.  Many people with a PM also have sleep apnea. I am sure that you will get a variety of answers to your post since there are many different circumstances that result in people having PM implants.

symptoms

by Gotrhythm - 2016-12-30 13:46:13

My symptoms were that I felt terrible. Too tired to do anything but sit in a chair when awake, and I was sleeping 10-11 hears at night, but waking up tired. Sometimes when I climbed my stairs, about 4 steps from the top, I became short of breath and so weak and lightheaded, I had to sit down on a step before I passed out. My heart would skip beats and then pound so hard, you could see my chest move. But sometimes I felt okay. Not great, but okay.

I had permanent black circles with bagginess under my eyes, and sometimes my complexion would turn gray.

I existed in the twilight of brain fog all the time. My memory was so poor sometimes I couldn't even finish sentences, much less develop a complex argument. I'm a writer and writing became impossible. I shudder when I look back and realize how mentally compromised I was--and I was driving a car!

I went from doctor to doctor. My heart rate was 60, my bp 110/60. My chest clear. My ECG picture perfect. Arteriogram, no sign of CAD. Pulse ox 98%. Blood work textbook normal.

Finally, I was hot potatoed to a pulmonologist who just happened to be listening to my chest when I had a heart-skipping-pounding episode. He orderd a Holter monitor, and SSS was diagnosed.

The need for a pacemaker seemed to come out of the blue, but with hindsight, I can see that the SSS had been coming on and gradually getting worse for 5-10 years.

The pacemaker was like a miracle. I felt better as soon as I woke up. I looked in the mirror and my cheeks, which had been absolutely white when they weren't gray, were pink again. I only wish I could have been diagnosed  and gotten a pacemaker years sooner.

Simple

by Cabg Patch - 2016-12-30 18:59:42

I died...then I got better. 

The symptoms are dependent on your heart condition and even then vary individual to individual. 

symptoms

by Ileen - 2016-12-30 22:01:45

I think symtoms vary from person to person. Some feel faint, dizzy, lightheadedness. Some people do faint. Some get palpitations, some don't get any symptons they are aware of. All the comments above are right on from what I have learned. The one marked Simple ,is very, rare, that is the type of comment you want to ignore. Most people on here want to help you, some just do it in a not so positive way.. Do what I do, take the positive advice and help and run with it, the rest of them just let them go!God bless!!

My symptoms

by WiredandTired - 2017-05-31 07:24:18

I was healthy as a horse. Treadmill daily. Little flutters and skipped beats for years, but otherwise fine.  Then about a month before my PM, I was getting lightheaded daily. dizziness, palpatations, extreme fatigue, confusion and brain fog like crazy.... generally feeling unwell. Then a tachy episode that landed me in the hospital for 6 days - everything checking out.  Finally got on a 30 day event monitor and 6 hours into it my heart paused for almost 4 seconds. HR dropping into the 40s.  Diagnosed with SSS.  I am 6 days post op now with a dual chamber PM.

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