Still out of sorts

Next step

Comment posted by shirley d on 2012-05-15 17:08.

Near fainting just after lunch for no reason I could fathom. Went to the GP She took one look and said it had definately swivwlled and moved. BP 145/100, HR 54 (PM kicks in at 55 and lifts HR to 60, Did the vitals again an hour later, BP 140/95, HR 60 (Pacing). She phoned the cardio and he felt it must be anxiety as her description of the movement didn't sound too severe.
I had such a peaceful, focussed day today, NO STRESS and stayed very calm during the whole episode. Nothing peeves me more than being brushed off with it is just anxiety, here have a tranquiliser!
I just want to get back to being in control of my body and enjoying teaching! Very frustrating result all round. Only the hands-on GP truly concerned, but couldn't get through to the cardio.
Thanks for kind words and support. Honestly I think all cardios should be required to have PM inserted.

3 Comments

Dealing with multiple docs

by ElectricFrank - 2012-05-19 01:05:11

Any time you are dealing with more than one doctor, nurse, tech, etc. you will hit a wall. There is an intricate code of ethics that control the interactions and authority of the "team". There is only one way to break it. Any time I sense things like this going on I bring it up directly, and make it very clear that I will decide who is going to make the decisions, and that I won't tolerate any ethics games.

I don't know your situation, but I would let the GP know that you appreciate her concern and you don't want to get her in hot water with the cardio so you will contact him directly.

If possible get an appt with the cardio to go over your concerns. For things like his anxiety diagnosis, ask him to give you a written diagnosis showing how he arrived at the conclusion.

Now for the other side of the story. I take it that you are experiencing the pacer moving in the pocket. This won't cause any of the symptoms you mention above. During my replacement surgery my pacer was laying on my chest hanging by the leads and still functioned fine. I agree that having it move can be very uncomfortable or even painful, but it doesn't affect the operation.

Don't reject the possibility of anxiety causing the increased BP or even an erratic heart beat. Our autonomic nervous system is very sensitive to things we feel uneasy about. I work in the field of biofeedback and it isn't uncommon at all for a person to feel calm when the instrument is showing fear. That doesn't justify the cardio passing it off as just anxiety though. It is very real. In many cases all it takes is to give the person a reasonable explanation for things to settle down. Just don't be upset about being told you are anxious. That's a sure route to an increase in BP.

And finally, the pacemaker should not be moving around. There is an eyelet in the pacemaker that is supposed to be used to suture it to underlying tissue to stabilize it in position. The implant instructions for my Medtronic states that this is required to assure it doesn't move. For some reason surgeons decide this isn't necessary and then when it becomes a problem tell all sorts of stories to avoid going back in and fixing it. (especially when insurance considers this a warranty job).

Hope this helps. Put it all together and see what fits. Then go after them.

best,

frank

Hope your feeling better

by Moner - 2012-05-21 12:05:42

Hi Shirley,

I hope you get this straighten out real soon,.

I loved your advice Frank.

Moner
>^..^<



anxiety vs arrythmia PM

by surprisedlv - 2012-05-23 07:05:18

Yes, i loved your advice too but i have been there where the PMclinic rn says nothing is happening and then i insist on a Holter monitor and find out i have had 2nd degree wenckebach amd then got a cardiologist to do a stree treadmill and it reproduced it with walking. I personnally dont believe now that the MERLIN unit shows eveything because the readings from Merlin said there was nothing going on. Apparently i was having A Flutter and PMT. So Yes... I get a little anxious when they now say they see nothing on the Merlin when I know specifically on certain days I feel "different". I have to say as time goes on.. its is 11momnths now, I am more used to the different beats and the anxiety is less. But when you have to rely on a machine vs what you are feeling it is difficult.. Thanks for listening.. Lisa

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