Off balance and loopy!

Hi everyone,
I had my pacemaker implanted in May, and was just starting to get back to my active lifestyle( I work full time , have three kids and work out at the gym 4-5 days a week). On my last visit with my primary care Dr. my blood pressure was elevated again( I was on cozaar and it had been stable for months finally, but now it was through the roof just like it was right before I got sick and had to have the pacemaker put in). The Dr. switched me to Lisinopril, and I have felt tired, chest congestion, palpitations, and a spacey off balance feeling. The low setting for my pacemaker is 60. My blood pressure is normal, but I feel awful. Anyone else ever have these symptoms while taking lisinopril? Also, my pacemaker area is still pretty tender and has burning feelings and pain shooting through it still from time to time.

7 Comments

I feel the same!

by Melody Welsh - 2009-08-06 09:08:48

I've only had my pm for two weeks but I am experiencing the same issues you describe. I am also on Lisinopril. Given your message I am going to discuss this with my primary and my cardiologist and see if the med could be the culprit.

Lisinopril

by ted - 2009-08-07 02:08:05

I was on Lisinopril (Prinivil) for many years. This drug is notorious for
causing a cough, and I coughed a lot. I was then switched to Diovan, Inspra and Norvasc. No more side effects.

Lisinopril

by pete - 2009-08-07 03:08:13

Lisinopril can make you tired. I am talking from experience. I am in the Electric Frank camp and agree with him. Cheers Peter

Anyone been checked for pericarditis?

by bobad - 2009-08-07 08:08:45


I had the same symptoms from day 1. I have felt awful for the past 14 months regardless of medicine or no medicine. Loopy, dizzy, weak, feel a little chest pressure, low and high BP, heartbeat feels "mushy" compared to before pacemaker.

Last week I had sharp heart area pain when I breathed deeply, then it progressed until it was very painful continuously. I was really in distress, and almost called the doc. I looked up pericarditis symptoms, and it was a dead ringer.

I self medicated with over the counter NSAID, because I have a doctors appointment in a week or 2. Not only did my chest pain resolve within 24 hours, but the dizziness and loopy feeling got 50% better than it's been for over a year.

I have complained to 3 doctors continuously for 14 months. Seeing a new doc soon. I'll fire him too if he can't diagnose the dizziness, weakness, and BP varying from way too high to way too low.

Good luck!

Your screen name makes me hungry....

by Angelie - 2009-08-07 09:08:20

We have a member here, although her GPS went out in her pacer and now she's lost somewhere in space. Anyways, her name is Loopy and don't worry she's a little off balance too....


welcome to this place,
Angelie

Beware

by ElectricFrank - 2009-08-07 12:08:50

Changing your BP med based on one or two measurements is an error regularly committed by docs. It isn't uncommon at all for BP to go up considerably if we are sick with a virus or bacterial infection. It can also be high just from a tense drive to the docs office.

So taking the med just adds one more unknown to the situation. Worse yet after the bug is gone they continue the meds unnecessarily.

I absolutely refuse to take BP meds unless my average BP taken at home over several days remains excessively high. I have had several experiences where my BP was in the 220/110 range and the doc went into a panic. I told him NO and that I would monitor it at home. He gave me some samples, but by the next day it was something like 95/60. If I had taken his med I would have had the symptoms of low BP and #^%@*& more meds.

If you are the affected my that fearful look the doc gives you then you don't have much choice but to go along with him though. The last time he pulled that one on me I suggested he take his BP right then..that I was concerned about him.

frank

Check settings

by MRSNO1MAX - 2009-08-10 03:08:12

I was having alot of problems for over a year. I had a very hard time breathing and I couldn't do anything. I moved and got a new doctor and my first visit a lady from Medtronic checked my pacer and she said my settings were all off. I'm 100% paced and I was`set at 60 and she said it was to low. When she was done about one hour later I felt great and still do about six weeks later. Hope thats works for you

You know you're wired when...

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Member Quotes

I am just thankful that I am alive and that even though I have this pacemaker it is not the end of the world.