Feelings pre PM?

Extremely out of breath...that was it

by Grateful Heart - 2017-01-15 12:34:47

I would walk 50 feet and it would take a while to catch my breath.  I thought it was due to getting older (51 years at the time) and being overweight.....of course it didn't help.

No fainting, no sensations.  A change in my EKG was discovered during a routine physical.

I never needed any medication prior to all of this. I only took vitamins at the time, so I went for a 2nd opinion because I thought they must be wrong.....they weren't.  I was diagnosed with SSS, LBBB, Cardiomyopathy.....enlarged heart and an EF of 24%.

I have a Bi-Vent... CRT-D.  My heart is no longer enlarged and my EF is now 55%....truly amazing. 

I read your prior posts and see you did get a few 2nd opinions.  What is your status now re: getting a PM?

Grateful Heart

Feelings

by ScardyDog - 2017-01-15 12:49:39

Hi, thanx for sharing.

Actually I had many "second opinions". A little worriesome that now there are four cardiologists saying its artifacts and not pauses, and one saying they are pauses.
So with this "evidence" I demanded another Holter/registration and a week registration. First one is done, and showed no pauses. They (EP's) say no need for PM. But life is still hard, in the sence that I am not functioning right, and I "feel" like its all heart related. So from the shock and fright of maybe having one implanted, My thoughts are more: wow if just having that PM could make my life better, I defo would wish for that to be "necessary". Ofcourse if you are in lifedanger, theres no choice i get that. But..get my drift?

Nigh on 20 years of cardiac

by DampDog - 2017-01-15 12:59:09

Like many of the folks on here my cardiac problems have developed/progressed over many years so I’ll try and give a brief overview of my history.
I had my initial MI way back in 1998 which involved an immediate triple bypass. As a result of the MI, I became moderately bradycardic from day one, with a resting rate of around 40. Once I’d recovered I was relatively symptom free, other than being more easily fatigued which could be severe at times, though breathlessness was not a problem.
Just prior to Xmas 2012 I suffered another NSTEMI. Again recovered well until Xmas 2013 when I had another NSTEMI. following that I was referred for various more detailed cardiac tests. Results from those test indicated that my heart had begun to enlarge (dilated/ischemic cardiomyopathy) and my ejection fraction had fallen to 39%, they also confirmed LBBB QRS 140ms. I was then transferred to a specialist in pacing.

The NHS is good but not fast!  So it took until mid 2015 before I’d had a Mibi,/MuGa done and they came up with a more accurate ejection fraction of 33% It was suggested it would be beneficial to have CRT-D implanted to correct the dyssynchrony and pace me out of being brady, which would facilitate optimized medication. Also the LBBB meant I may at some point be susceptible to sudden life threatening arrhythmias. By this time I was starting to get a breathless during exercise.

It's only been 9 months or so since I had the device implanted and I have no information as to if it's improved anything measurable, other that it's in and doing it's job. Even now I have days when it is still quite sore (today being one of those) but for the most part it's not too noticeable.

dampdog

by ScardyDog - 2017-01-15 13:58:56

Sorry to hear! But wishing you the best recovery!

I have been checked by so many cardiologists both private and hospitals, throughout my life its almost scary. But never found anything other than the two pauses that some now say is only artifacts, and ectopics and some incomplete block. No matter how nice it is to have been checked so many times, i feel that maybe thats not interely good Some point they may have felt that this guys only scared for it, its in his head, u know? And therefore not really dived into it.

I do get your drift

by Grateful Heart - 2017-01-15 14:12:05

And your frustration.  Have you had an exercise stress test?  For newbies....you exercise on the treadmill while they monitor you (hook you up to an EKG)  and see what that test picks up?

Have you had your lungs checked?  Just a thought.  It seems the doctors may be thinking it's something else.

On the plus side, you seem to be adjusting to acceptance of a PM if needed.

Grateful Heart

fatigue

by zawodniak2 - 2017-01-15 14:15:23

Some times a slow heart rate which may develop over many years and creep up with age is not apparent to the patient and the body tries lt's best  to adjust.  The result is often an undelying fatigue and after a pace maker implant the recipient realizes a better overall quality of life and feeling of well being.  Also.  if dizziness and even faintimg is an issue, a pace maker should resolve this unless there is other underlying health issues not addressed.

                                                      Good Luck,

                                                       Rodger

Thanks

by ScardyDog - 2017-01-15 18:50:50

Good of you all to share.
Yes, there is just too much weird stuff going on in that heart of mine to be "all good".
So I do believe Im closing in on something, or the docs do. Then again, if not for my percistance I wouldnt be near getting answers. Ofcourse, I dont WANT a pacemaker. Scares me to death, especially the operation.
 I have fatigue, and irregular heartbeats. And somewhat slow pulse, as well as periods of fast.
I done it all almost, stress test, cg, 24 hr, 72hr, week registration, ultrasound, MRI of heart and longues.
Tomorrow I get a call if the latest holter showed anything bad. So fingers crossed.

I Felt Fine

by MathTeacher - 2017-01-15 22:03:56

I actually felt fine, except that I'd stop breathing every night when I went to bed, and I'd wake up gasping for air.  They thought it was sleep apnea, so I just got used to it.  I have SSS, so when they put a heart monitor on, I was apparently "pausing" a lot during the day, too.  Just didn't know it.  So, I was quite shocked when the cardiologist drove my results over to the EP.  He threw me a model pacemaker and told me to make an appointment with his secretary, just like I was scheduling an oil change.  I was slightly shocked, but I survived the surgery.  It really wasn't that bad.

No Symptoms

by Macabr - 2017-02-10 20:54:29

I was fine, or thought I was fine.  My PM journey started because by HR was slower than usual.  My PCP and later my Cardiologist thought it was due to me going to the gym regularly.  One especially hot afternoon in July 2013 I pass out in a pharmacy (luckily not what driving there a few minutes prior).  ER says it was dehydration but my cardiologist doesn't buy it so he puts me on a 24-hr halter monitor which comes back normal.  He's still not satisfied so he puts me on a 21-day monitor which reports several gaps in HR daily, especially while early morning hrs while still sleeping.  Sends me to and specialist who performs an EP study and finds I have sick sinus syndrome.  She sends me to a sleep specialist who discovers mild-moderate apnea, recommends to CPAP which I'm unable to get used to.  Time goes by, no further faints btw.  Card takes a wait-and-see attitude until I see my PCP for regular checkup and freaks out because my HR is around 40bpm.  She sends me to my Card who puts me on a 24-hr monitor again and he freaks out becuase during a time I was walking around w/my wife and kids shopping, monitor shows HR down to like 34bpm (I didn't feel anything though).  He recommends to PM asap, and sets me up to get it placed a month later.  In that time I get a 2nd opinion and that card concurrs due to the files I show him.  In July 2015 I got my PM placed and most of the time even forget I have it.

Sorry for the longwindedness. :)

Lots of symptoms

by Heartstop - 2017-03-04 19:42:03

I have had my PM for almost 9 years and about to go in for battery change. Before having my PM I had migraines, fatigue, episodes of my heart stopping with fainting and instant fever and convulsions. Before an episode I would get light headed and dizzy and very nauseous. It took 29 years for me to get correctly diagnosed. So far my PM is working great, I just hope it contnues to help me.

symptoms

by DennyO - 2017-07-10 22:54:58

Hey dog.  My main symptom was foggy thinking.  LIke when you get up in the  morning and still feel half asleep.  That would last for longer and longer periods.  Tried different meds and had other side effects.  Doc finally told me the side effects were not from the meds from my slow hearbeat.  Had A-Fib and a small stroke.  Don't fear the operation, it's really simple.  I talked to the doc and nurses during the whole thing.  My foggy thinking went away immediately.  Good luck to you.