3 months later

I had gotten my pacemaker 3 months ago & I still feel like crap for the most part.  I have new symptoms I never had prior to pacemaker like a heaviness in my upper chest & I get lightheaded & weak feeling.  I still have yet to get my life back to the way it was, at least to a extent I miss being able to go here & there without worrying if I am going to get lightheaded & dizzy, any help would be greatly appreciated ty fred

18 Comments

3 months later

by freddyv - 2010-05-03 02:05:54

I have been to a 2nd & 3rd dr no one sees anything wrong with the pm I will ask for the dr to put me on the treadmill again to see if it will activate the light headed feelings i have gotten he thinks it has to do with my pressure something else i never had before so this things is so frustrating & stressing me out I know i need it obviously but it just sucks that I still get feeling weak & at times light headed besides the heaciness in my whole upper chest the heaviness he claims is asthma related which I have had since a kid I think I would know the difference

Feeling like crap

by ElectricFrank - 2010-05-03 02:05:56

Have you had a checkup yet? Often the pacemaker is left with the factor settings until the first checkup, and they are rarely the ones you need.

One of the first things everyone seems to have to learn is to be assertive with the doc. Unless you have some serious physical problems with your heart you shouldn't be having these symptoms. Call the doc and let him/her know things aren't going well. Don't be put off.

frank

Dizzy

by musser75 - 2010-05-03 03:05:19

It seems that You have got the so-called "pacemaker sydrome". It happens due to the inapprociate timings of the atrial and ventricular leads. Do You have dual chamber pace maker? What's the brand? What were the last settings? And what was Your pathology? Was it 2nd od 3rd degree block??
With these data, I can be more help full!!
musser75, MD

go back

by Tracey_E - 2010-05-03 06:05:16

You shouldn't have new symptoms. As Frank said, it could be that your settings need adjusted because the factory standards are not right for everyone. Call your dr and ask to be seen.

3 months later

by freddyv - 2010-05-03 08:05:50

I have been to my dr & others none of tem have any idea why I am still feeling like this the 1st time they lowered the heart rate cause it was still racing at times but I have even been to a specialist & none of them have any idea why I am feeling like this so technically I am a medical mystery & I do not want to I want to get on with my life again he says it seems fine nothing he can see wrong

It's in YOUR HEAD!!!

by GMan - 2010-05-03 09:05:07

The biggest battle is your Head. Clear your mind and keep active!

Best wishes.

Gary

stress test?

by Tracey_E - 2010-05-03 09:05:16

Have they put you on a treadmill and watched what your heart does when you exert? That may give them someplace to start. Or keep a diary of when you have symptoms, what you're doing and what you've eaten, how much water you've had to drink.

which dr?

by Tracey_E - 2010-05-03 10:05:21

main dr, as in internist or cardiologist? Does your cardiologist have a treadmill in their office? It doesn't have to be a full stress test, just hook you up to the pm computer and let you walk on the treadmill. Good luck! Have you had a second opinion? When one gives you the runaround, it might be time to move on.

I understand...

by jm - 2010-05-03 10:05:31

Sorry you are feeling so bad. I too have had some problems after getting my PM. At first I was very anxious..but it has now been 3 months for me also, and I am adjusting. Hard to say why some folks take a bit longer to get to feeling better. One thing that I am doing is to take control of anything that might be negative to my health. I am eating better, losing weight, and have gone off all caffeine. My heart flutters have decreased since doing that. I was diagnosed with 3rd degree heart block, got the PM after passing out. I still have some lightheadedness, but not near as bad as before. I believe that I have been "fixed", but still have a way to go until I can say I feel great! Just take one day at a time, try to stay positive, and make sure you get enough rest. Try taking short walks, it refreshes the soul. Get to feeling better and let us know of your progress. Jeane/Dallas

3 months later

by freddyv - 2010-05-03 10:05:37

my main dr said they wont give me another stress test till july cause of my insurance which I think is bullshit

3 months later

by freddyv - 2010-05-04 01:05:23

t is a dual chamber & is made by st judes and as far as i was told arithmias are for pacemakers was 157 now 65 bpm blockage is angiograms I know the spelling is not right but you know what I mean

I felt like that too...

by Pookie - 2010-05-04 03:05:14

can you get a blood pressure monitor?
can you get a tilt table test?
can you get a pulmonary stress test?

perhaps and I'm just guessing and grasping at straws, but you need some more tests to determine what is wrong.

have you ever discussed Neurocardiogenic Syncope with your heart doctors? Is your blood pressure high or low?

Just some thoughts.

Pookie

3 months later

by freddyv - 2010-05-04 11:05:06

It is a dual chamber & is made by st judes and as far as i was told arithmias are for pacemakers was 157 now 65 bpm blockage is angiograms I know the spelling is not right but you know what I mean

3 months later

by freddyv - 2010-05-05 01:05:41

my pressure has varied but lately when i do not feel good it gets low the dr said to eat foods with alot of salt or to put salt on my food and as far as any type of stress test they will not due to insurance issues and I am not on any meds except stomache meds which i have been taking long before the pacemaker & the pressure machine I am going to get I got to find a place that takes my insurance

3 mos later

by riodog - 2010-05-05 12:05:55

You didn't mention if you are on any medications. Are you? If so, check them out for side effects and dosage. I spent a year feeling horrible only to find out it was a med I was taking. Got off that toxic med (to me) and felt better almost immediately. Been off it two mos. now and most of the time I feel almost like my old self. My husband is ill now and I have a lot of stress so I find I am sleeping more than I used to. Anyway check your meds too. Might not have anything to do with the PM.

gretchen

Get a copy of your last checkup.

by ElectricFrank - 2010-05-07 01:05:56

Call the docs office and ask for a copy of your last checkup. What you want is the pre and post programming report. Don't take any crap out of them on it. You have a right to get it. If possible arrange to pick it up in person at the office. If you ask for it to be mailed they are likely to stall.

When you get it let us know. Several of us are able to help interpret the readings and can sometimes spot the problem.

frank

3 months later

by freddyv - 2010-05-07 06:05:30

I am curious if getting the pacemaker effect your lungs? cause I notice at times a harder then usual time breathing plus my heart was racing alot today & I went to a movie I made a fast turn around to look at something & got a little dizzy is all this normal also?

3 months later

by freddyv - 2010-05-08 01:05:42

I am curious if anyone prior to there pacemaker had a cardiac ablation I remember that after the procedure my 1st few nights home i had a very hard time breathing & had to sleep sitting up just so i could breathe I could not take a full breath

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