New Pacemaker

A litle bit of history: I am 59 yrs old and had been experiencing lightheaded and faintness since Dec/2009. I was Christmas shopping and started to feel faint. All I remember is waking up on the floor with a huge amount of shoppers staring at me. Transported to hospital with vital signs of BP 90/50 HR 34. I was admitted to a small hospital (not by my choice!) and the tests began. Thought I had a silent heart attack, but had no symptoms. Blood enzyme level remained normal. After an Echo Cardiogram, multiple EKG's, and carotid artery study, the Dr determined that the Beta blocker I had been on for 12 years was the culprit. Discharged after 4 day stay with new meds. Did ok for 2 weeks, then symptoms came back but I did not pass out. Then Jan 17/2010 I was in church had a bad dizzy spell and my husband took me to the ER. While there, on a heart monitor, I had another episode. I was diagnosed with Heart Block and told I needed a Pacemaker. For as bad as I had been feeling it seemed like a good idea to me. Next day pacemaker implanted. Stayed overnight in hospital, then discharged. So - here I am on Thursday Jan 20th wondering if I am really going to be ok! Site of implant really sore. Having some pain like a "cramp" feeling in my chest. Today is the day my Dr said I could return to work..NO WAY. I hurt. Stopped taking pain pills (narcotic) because they made me lightheaded. I am hoping that someone can share with me what the first couple of weeks will be like! My Dr is great, but he doesn't have an implant.....Thanks...sorry this is a bit long...I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. jm

12 Comments

Thanks for the positive input..

by jm - 2010-01-21 01:01:07

Thank you Carol for taking the time to respond. I am feeling better today. Stopped the pain meds just in case they were making me dizzy. I am not the best sleeper and right now I know that rest is important so I have phoned the clinic to see what I can take to help. I have decided to take another fews days off work as I have plenty of hours to do so. I think it will help me thru this adjustment period as before 5 days ago I sure didn't know I was getting a pacemaker! Any suggestions about some type of padding for my bra strap and seatbelt?

Good Luck

by winelover - 2010-01-21 02:01:02

Hi jm,
I had kind of the same experience except I was not on beta blockers at the time, but 1st time I fainted was in a mall, December 1996 and I woke up with all the mall's shoppers staring down at me (at least it felt like it). After tons of testings I was put on beta blockers, they helped for a few months but then I started fainting again and I was diagnosed with 3rd degree heart block - due to the beta blockers. Got the pm and was able to return to work after 5 days but I think I was really lucky. Everything has been fine since then. Take your time but I am sure you'll fell better again. I used a potholder under my seatbelt for awhile, bra strap never bothered me.
Take care

You'll be better soon

by bgarza - 2010-01-21 03:01:11

Hope you are feeling better and I'm sure that by the end of next week you will feel even better. I was originally on a calcium-channel blocker for 1st Degree block, but change of meds to a beta-blocker took me straight to 3rd Degree, got my PM April 24, 2009. My incision site was glued and I didn't have any problems other than soreness. I used the sling for 10 days to make sure I didn't lift my arm and slept with 3 pillows in a reclined position. As for the bra strap, I just moved it slightly to the left. My husband got me a lamb skin thing to put on the seat belt and it works just great. I did take 14 days off from work even though I have a sedentary job. It was more to adjust not just physically but also emotionally. Take care and feel better. - Blanca

padding

by cfritza - 2010-01-21 03:01:35

I did not wear a bra whenever I could go without, but then did take a 4x4 dsg and fold it up under my strap to keep it off my incision for about the first 2 weeks or so. The seatbelt didn't bother me as much, I would just adust it but winelovers advice about a potholder sounds great! I have seen on this site somewhere that they sell pacemaker covers for seatbelts but I think after the incisions heals the discomfort goes. I also had problems sleeping about a year before all this happened I figured it maybe related to perimenopause who knows but getting your rest is very important with recovering from anything! You will find this is a great site for information and people being able to relate! Carol

You Are Fixed

by PM4LIFE - 2010-01-21 04:01:29

I was told that with my Heart Block Stage 3 the PM has fixed me. My story is the same a yours, except that for a year-and-half I thought I was just out of shape. I got a Golden Retriever to force me to exercise. At first I saw improvement in my energy, then as if a an event occured that sent me starving for air at the end of our walks. Then it happened, I went 100 yards from our door and nearly fainted. That was it - I went in and the next afternoon I got my PM. I was told I AM FIXED!
Taking those words to heart (no pun intended) I live by it. We all respond differently to pain, to events and to life altering changes that are permanent. I found after 6 weeks of not lifting my arm was the most difficult. Now, I just do everything accept use my left arm for grabbing and pulling things. Otherwise - I'm fixed and you are too!

Response to "You are Fixed"

by jm - 2010-01-21 06:01:28

Thank you so much for sharing that! I have noticed many folks have posted about not using the left arm...My Dr has not stressed that as severe. I did wear a sling while in the hosp and basically told that when I sit or lay to have a pillow to prop my arm on. It is really hard to not use it but I am trying to be more aware of that now. The only wierd sensation I am having now is a tiny tingle around the incision area that feels like a hair has fallen on it - more like a gentle tickle I guess....I go back to the clinic for my first checkup next Tuesday...I will probably have a list of questions by then...Thanks to everyone who have left a comment. I think I am still sort of numb with a sprinkling of denial. Then I have to deal with the reactions of my friends who freaked out! Guess it is a reminder that we are not invincible.

recovering

by cfritza - 2010-01-21 10:01:17

Hi JM,

I had somewhat similar experience with when I first fainted I had also been on a beta blocker for about 7 yrs a low dose 12.5mg and they though maybe that was causing my heart to brady down really low and then pause. But even after taking me off I had anoter episode 18months later. It felt overwhelming to me also I know when I first found out I was going to really need it I cried off and on the day before surgrery ( I guess I was morning my old heart :)) Anyways I did not go back to work for 2weeks because my job required a lot of patient care and lifting. Iam glad I had those 2weeks to get adjusted and was very ready to go back. I had similar pain and still if I move my left arm a certain way have some discomfort. I felt a little better every day and tried to get back to my old life as soon as posible. I felt better knowing I could do what I had been doing. Although I did wait 5weeks before weight lifting again but was walking the next day (slower for sure) There are so many of us who understand what your going through and wish you the best! Carol

response New Pace Maker

by qwerty - 2010-01-23 03:01:12

jm... I read your post with much interest. I go in on Monday 1/25 for my PM. Please post frequently. I look forward to seeing your progress. You will be a just a couple of weeks ahead of me, so you can help me know what to expect.

Hope you continue to feel better.

New pacemaker

by qwerty - 2010-01-23 03:01:27

jm.
I forgot to tell you, I am 59 also, so we have a lot in common.

Can relate

by Doc - 2010-01-28 01:01:50

JM
I had the same sysptons with my heart rate. I was on bata blocker and my heart rate dropped to 20 causing me to drop. I went to the emergency room and stayed for 2 days in the hospital. This was 2 years ago. They took me off the bata blockers. I was fine until Jan 20, 2010 when the same happened again. Back to the ER I go. I was admitted again and during the night my rate dropped again to 20 a couple of times while I was sleeping. Next day I had the implant with the rate set for 60. I hope this will keep me from falling out in the future. I go back for checkup next week. They have me off work for 6 weeks, but I plan to return sooner. Not much pain with the implant. Did not have to take pain meds. All is looking good.
Doc

Response to can relate...

by jm - 2010-01-28 09:01:41

I had been on a beta blocker for 14yrs and it kept my HR from racing. When I was admitted to the hospital the first time in Dec/2009, the doc said that the beta blocker was the culprit, but it wasn't. My HR would not get above 52. I was taken off it and did ok for 3 weeks, then crashed in the ER (at a GOOD hospital) and diagnosed with 3rd degree Heart Block. Luckily, I was on a monitor at the time. Have had my pacemaker for 11 days now and all was well until...today! My heart rate took off like a runaway train...130bpm and I was huffing and puffing all the way to the clinic. I was checked out and told that pacemaker is fine....but my old problem had come back after being taken off the beta blocker. Needless to say..I do have faith in my cardiologist even though he has now put me back on a beta blocker!!!

Can relate

by Doc - 2010-01-29 02:01:49

As soon as I was released from the hospital, my doctor put me back on the beta blockers. I have been monitoring my heart rate and all is still OK. My HR remains around 60-62 with a BP of 130/75. I go for a recheck on the 2nd of February and expect good results. My doctor said I will be off work for about 6 weeks. I feel that is way too long. I need to get back to work ASAP.
Has anyone else had to wait this long to return to work?

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