Less Stamina after Surgery

Greetings: 66 year old with good health history. On 31 Aug I had my first PM implant. No history of heart attack, but a slowly declining stamina with shortness of breath over the past two years. Four days prior to implant, I detected a steady pulse of 37 and reported to emergency. They admitted me to hospital, made the dual lead implant, and released me the next day. Since coming home, (I know, only three days) I cannot walk as far as I did before surgery without exhaustion. Two hundred yards is a marathon with pounding pulse. I know the PM is working since my pulse goes up, comes down, etc. Is it normal to experience greater limitation AFTER surgery and if so, is it just a process of starting exercise as if I were a brand new athlete? I had fully expected that once my heart was regulated, I would be able to distribute the proper amount of oxygen to allow for exercise.

One final question: I read the definition of ablation, but with reference to PM's, I cannot ascertain the connection. What is ablation as regards Pacemakers?

Thanks to everyone for assistance.

9 Comments

Less stamina

by ElectricFrank - 2010-09-03 01:09:05

The problem is likely the settings on your pacemaker. It comes from the factory with settings that are "safe" for the patient with serious problems. Most cardiologists don't change the settings until the first office checkup. I suggest giving them a call and letting them know how you are feeling.

The most likely setting is the upper pacing limit. This sets the highest your HR can be paced at. A typical default upper limit is 120, which won't support much activity. This wouldn't be too bad if it just stopped the pacer from going over 120, but it actually does it by skipping beats. This feels lousy.

There is also the possibility that several years of low HR has left your body in poor shape. It may take a few months to regain your ability to exercise.

best,

frank

Frank's Comment

by Novelist - 2010-09-03 01:09:24

Frank, thank you so much for your comment. I think the settings were right, given that they said 60 to 140 was where they set it. But your second alternative was likely spot on. Although the drastic drop to 37 only occurred a couple of days before the implant, I was probably running in the 50's or perhaps even in the upper 40's and did not know it.

Time will tell I suppose and my first check up with the medics. Appreciate your quick response. So good to have this board.

Cheers,

Gordon

medications

by Tracey_E - 2010-09-03 06:09:13

In addition to the settings, if you're still taking any pain meds they can also wear you out, and depending what anesthesia you had it can stay in your system for several days. Definitely bring it up when you have your next check, but give your body a bit more time to heal first, get the meds out of your system, and see how you feel then.

Sometimes they start them turned up higher than they need to be then turn it down once the leads have grown into place. That might be the pounding. If you get dizzy or have any kind of pain/pressure/left arm tingling, get checked out immediately.

My experience

by 8thID - 2010-09-03 08:09:49

Hello,
After my ICD implant, I felt great for about the first week, except for the pain at the incision, etc. But about 3 days from my first 2 week check, my pulse stayed around 52, this was AFTER my implant. I felt much worse than I had before my device. When I got to my appointment, the PM tech and EP Doc said I was in complete heart block. They adjusted one setting and I felt great after about 1 minute. I was in today for a month check--they tweaked my device again and I feel great. I'm a 44 year-old male in good health otherwise. When trying to do my first exercise, I felt short of breath, etc., but my HR elevated smoothly. What I've discovered is what Frank said: I had lost so much cardio conditioning over about 2 years before fatigue, etc. sent me to my Doc, that I believe it will take some real work to get back in shape. I hope this helps. Take Care!

Jeff

Wow

by ElectricFrank - 2010-09-04 01:09:38

I live in Calif so know what earthquakes feel like. A 7.1 is enough to get any of our hearts pumping especially being wakened from a sound sleep.

What you described is the rush of adrenaline from an experience like that.

I just found video's of the earthquake on You-Tube. Hope you didn't have too much damage.

frank

California or New Zealand

by Novelist - 2010-09-04 03:09:27

Frank, I thought as much, but that rush has never incapacitated me before in life. I was simply too struck by a racing heart and the inability to breath. Again, the mind was working well and I knew what needed to be done, but the racing heart made me certain in the next two minutes I'd be lying on the floor or floating above myself. LOL Truly not fear. I know that feeling too from earlier military experience, but this was so very different and I attributed it to the pacer. Anyway, all turned out well and I will certainly hit the pacer clinic next Monday to have a check. They will probably get an amazing reading from my "high."

Cheers,

Earthquake Rush

by Novelist - 2010-09-04 12:09:27

Thanks to everyone for your thoughtful comments. I will do exactly as suggested with regard to calling and having a check. The first check is not until six weeks, but I need to go in this coming week.

Today we had a 7.1 earthquake here in Christchurch, New Zealand. We were sleeping this morning when the extreme shaking began. I have been a very confident, calm person throughout my life in such emergencies, and was this time also, MENTALLY. But for some reason, adrelenine rush or something, my heart just shot off the charts. The pacemaker seemed to have no control (I know it doesn't lower rate, it raises it) but my heart was a steady beat (I can hear it in my ears) and I had to stay in bed to allow it to slow down. I suppose it could be called excitement or fear, but mentally I was fully in control, but just could not do anything about it. Too much chest and throat closure. No pain. But I thought I would have the pacer for four days and then take it with me to the grave. LOL What a ride.

This is unrelated to my question, but coincidental to the discovery of my new pacer actions. Since the smoke alarm batteries all started tweeting, I wondered if the frequency that an earthquake can cause might have triggered something in my pacer. Any thoughts?

Gordon Ryan

ablation

by Taisha - 2010-09-05 11:09:52

Just in answer to the other part of your question. Ablation is done to get rid of arrythmias in the heart the danger is that it affects the pacemaking capacity of the heart so people sometimes need a pacemaker as a consequence of the ablation.

Earthquake Rush

by ElectricFrank - 2010-09-06 01:09:29

The other possibility is that Rate Response is turned on in your pacer. It would sense the movement and respond by cranking up your HR.

frank

You know you're wired when...

You can take a lickin’ and keep on tickin’.

Member Quotes

It may be the first time we've felt a normal heart rhythm in a long time, so of course it seems too fast and too strong.