What are these episodes/reactions?

• by NANNA
• 2009-04-26 03:04:59
• Complications
• 1322 views
• 1 comments

I got in pacemaker 10/09 after a heart attack and surgery resulted in 4th degree blocks. I seemed to be doing well, exercising daily except for the occasional episode. The first time it happened my little dog was in trouble and I got up from sitting, ran to a high fence and climbed it. That was 8 weeks post surgery.

Generally it will happen if I push myself exercising though lately it has happened when I get up at night.

It comes on suddenly though I have a sense it is coming. At first I thought it was rapid heart beat that backed off but wore a holter monitor and there was no rapid heart beat. I noticed that it feels like I have lost Oxygen, a sense of impending doom or terror sets in, I get dizzy and disoriented and as it backs off I notice ringing in my ears and tingling everywhere.

It always goes away on its own tho I generally use Nitro in response. One night, after it backed off it felt like my lungs were congested, like asthma. That lasted until my daughter insisted I go to a free-standing clinic where they gave me a breathing treatment.,

I told my cardiologist about it several times and got no reaction. My pacemaker seems ok at regular check-ups.

Is this what is meant by atrial fib.? Reading on here it sounds like my pace-maker needs adjusting. It is getting worse. I try to walk 1-3 miles a day. I never had rehab because of my insurance company so I just gradually walked longer and can, at times, really pump up the exertion with no negative consequences.

I would greatly appreciate any information.
Thanks,

Nanna