Hello

Feelings after pacemaker

by Selwyn - 2017-06-05 08:57:38

Hi Caz,

Welcome to the club. You certainly should be feeling better one week after your PM. I think you should be seeking medical help again, especially in view of the breathlessness at night. Don't be put off. Perhaps attend with someone - this always signifies importance of a problem. Make sure the doctor understands that you are waking up breathlesss, and ask for an explanation as to why this is happening to you.

The vast majority of people receiving PMs are able to resume normal activities. You only have to search this site for the sporting sections/exercise and see that this is the case. I was out riding my bicycle a week after having my PM. I have been swimming ( a mile) this morning.

I do get short of breath on steps. The rate response of your PM ( this is the setting needed to increase your heart rate when you move) should be set to a level of onset that suits your lifestyle.  I haven't really sorted out the stairs thing myself, though I suspect that if you go upstairs in a hurry no PM copes with this and you build up an oxygen debt ( I am off for a stent in 2 days as I have a 90% narrowing in my main coronary artery- I will then see how this goes for the stairs). On your PM check ask about your rate response setting.

Please do seek further medical help. I don't know what meds you take. I was taking Flecainide for atrial fibrillation. I couldn't exercise with beta- blockers and like you thought I was on a downhill course. Suprising how changing a little tablet made all the difference!

With best wishes,

Selwyn

meds?

by Tracey_E - 2017-06-05 09:07:33

Are you newly on the meds for afib? What you are describing sounds more like medication side effects than post-op. It can take weeks to get used to heart rhythm medications. The first one I was on made me so dizzy I tripped over nothing and broke my foot. It didn't improve so they tried a different one. It still took weeks to feel myself again,but it was much better than the first one. What you are describing is not typical. You may have to be persistant to get them to listen.

Problems

by The real Patch - 2017-06-05 13:44:48

We can only guess what's going on based on what you say, and I'm sure there is much you've left out, so let me run a few things by for you to consider.

My good friend TraceyE hit on my first thought, sounds far more like side effects of medication than the pacemaker. Think through and list all changes that have occurred in addition to the new pacer. If you did have a medication change, or even a dosage change, look into the possible side effects. Rest assured a small dosage change can have a negative effect. I took an Ace inhibitor for 10 years and when they increased the dosage suddenly developed an allergy and can no longer take it, so don't ignore anything. over the counter herbs and Life style changes can all be factors.

Next comes the device. It is quite common for them to have to adjust settings for your specific needs after implant. Make note of all the problems and issues you are struggling with and discuss them with whomever adjusts/interrogates your device. It's rare the doctor makes those adjustments, usually the manufacturer's representative.

Again as TraceyE so astutely recommended, be persistent. Oft times medical personnel don't give the attention needed unless you become an annoyance.

While I have high hopes for you, there are cases whereby a pacemaker, defibrillator, or CRT just do not help the patient. It's a sad reality and doesn't mean you shouldn't try, but by all means don't believe for a minute everyone will get better. I know of which I speak.

Good luck

Pacer adjustment?

by Buz - 2017-06-05 13:45:41

sounds like you are having a tough time! I had a pacer installed in 2006 and had some of your issues. Ie could not sleep, and no energy at all. At that time I was a serious cyclist at 71 years of age, cycling over 1000 mile as mo. I went to a different cardio doc and he sent me to a tech to adjust the pacer, he said it usually takes 2 or 3 visits to get it set right and the first doe had done an 
"out of the box" install, he was angry! Anyhow the tech worked with me 3 times and made several adjustments and I felt great! The sleep was caused by the pacer being set to take over at too high a HR and every time it would kick in I guess that woke me up. The energy was the way the rate response was set and he had me on a treadmill while he adjusted the pacer. Final result was great!. Everyone is different but that was my experience. I lived with it for the next 10 years and cycled all over the western US and a lot of serious hikes. Good luck and let us know

Sleep Study

by Artist - 2017-06-05 15:17:03

I just feel the need to really emphasize the need to have a sleep study.  Waking up breathless and gasping for air are typical symptoms of Sleep Apnea.  I have a pacemaker and went through the process of adjustments to medications and PM settings.  In addition to that, all of my doctors including my general practitioner routinely ask me how compliant I am in using my CPAP machine each night to control my sleep apnea.  Many PM club members have heart arrythmias, PMs and sleep apnea.  My EP and cardiologist especially emphasize the importance of being conscientious about using my CPAP machine.  I know it is difficult to look at the need to subject yourself to more doctor's appointments and tests like a sleep study, but I really believe that this is important.

Feel Great after having a pacemaker......???

by aussieray - 2017-06-06 05:00:39

I feel like this is revisiting my journey and feelings with having a pacemaker implanted and being told beforehand how great you are going to feel after having it done, it didn't work for me and it certainly hasn't made me feel 'on top of the world', so yes I can understand where you're coming from.

I too suffered from Afib and so far a year down the track after an ablation I have only had about 5 episodes of less than a minute, but it was afib that caused me to have a stroke prior to having my pacemaker implanted for bradycardia ( a sleeping heart rate of less than 30 was the clincher). I have after 3 years of battling pacemaker technicians and cardiologists into setting the rates as I wanted them to be not how they reckon it should be feel not too bad in that area, but another problem may have arisen in my so confused life that has nothing whatsoever to do with the pacemaker, an underactive thyroid!

That gland that sits in your neck looks like being the culprit into myself feeling like you describe ( breathless, lightheaded, brain fog, nauseous, muscle pains, lethargy, my resting heart rate dropping) you name it the thyroid can affect many things. My last hurdle is in two days when I have to have an angiogram to make sure there is nothing in there causing problems, if that's negative then it will by thyroid hormone replacement drugs for me.

What I am saying is, consider other things as well as the time it takes for the body to get over the pacemaker being there and don't think that it can solely be the pacemaker, I'm 65 and never thought that a thyroid problem could affect a person so much, if after my next test comes back ok, then that's what I have...Thyroid problems.

Good Luck and yes it's not a magic bullet.