Settings frustration

When you get your pacemaker settings changed, can it take a little while for your body to acclimate to it? I bumped up from 60 to 70 yesterday and my body is feeling a little anxious today.  A little short of breath at times too, but not bad. At 60 I had zero energy in the afternoon and throat pressure, and a little short of breath sometimes also.  The throat pressure is gone now but I feel like I need a Xanax.

I can't seem to get this right for anything. They also lowered my voltage finally yesterday. I'm 10 weeks in.

Thoughts?

3 Comments

Can it take a little while for your body to acclimate to it?

by Good Dog - 2017-08-03 16:28:59

No! You should not feel short of breath. I can understand the feeling of having more energy and maybe feeling a little anxious as a result. However, any shortness of breath is not normal. That is the way I felt when my PM was at end of life and pacing "only" my ventricle. Basically, my heart was beating out of sync. The other alternative is excess anxiety and/or stress. That can cause shortness of breath as well, not to mention a million other problems.

So my thought is that you should give it a little time to sort out if it is the PM or simply anxiety/stress. If in-time you aren't feeling 100%, get checked-out again. I am not suggesting it is anything to worry about, but if your settings aren't optimized, you just won't feel 100%. You do need to feel 100%. That has to be the goal.

Just keep at it and you'll get there.

Sincerely,

David

 

Sincerely,

David

It can take a while

by Gotrhythm - 2017-08-04 12:48:15

You said at 60 bpm you had no energy, but you didn't say whether you felt improvement at 70. If you do feel better, it seems to me that's what you should focus on.

There are a gazillion causes for slight feeling of anxiety. Everything from not enough sleep, to caffiene, to low blood sugar, to habitually trying to beat the clock and get more done in less time.

I will have to say that when my HR was raised to 70, I probably did (do) feel some mild anxiety more often, and I'm more likely to get "wired" and have trouble going to sleep. But if I'm honest, all that means is that I'm now more like I used to be before SSS and a pacemaker. In other words, normal for me.

Perhaps if your'e honest, you would say the same thing i.e. that feeling a little anxious sometimes is really nothing new for you. Anyway, from what you say, you do at least feel different. Give yourself a week or two to settle into a new groove.

 

 

Youre right.

by WiredandTired - 2017-08-04 12:53:01

Someone else just told me that their cardiologist said it can take about 4 days for your body to get used to the new settings. Today I feel great and walked 8 Miles. I'm going to give it a little time and see how I feel. Thank you!

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