Faint & Short of Breath

• by laurajelliott
• 2012-01-06 11:01:47
• Complications
• 1684 views
• 5 comments

My father had a pacemaker inserted a few weeks ago after a fainting spell and detection of A-fib. Upon returning home from the hospital, he felt pretty good even though his heart hadn't achieved sinus rhythm quite yet. A day or so later, his heart was in sinus rhythm and he started to feel very faint and short of breath while walking. We took him to his cardiologist who did a chest x-ray, blood work, ultrasound of legs (for clot) and everything came back negative. His thyroid was tested and that came back negative. My father's cardiologist believed that his symptoms were not heart related and told him to see his internist. His internist ordered more blood work, renal test and a lung function test. All came out normal. His BP and HR are normal during these episodes as well. My Dad still cannot take a few steps without feeling very faint and short of breath but the doctors have no explanation and are of no further assistance.

Has anyone heard of a patient experiencing this after pacemaker surgery? His new meds are Digoxin (.125mg) and aspirin. He has one kidney due to kidney cancer about 10 years ago. Tomorrow he goes into the lab for a Digoxin toxicity test.

His internist placed him on Xanax to help him relax. We are all so worried for my father. He is constantly pale and his hands/feet very cold as if he is not getting good circulation. We have demanded that his pacemaker be checked, but his cardiologist refuses to do this until later in the month. We don't know what else to do.

Thank you.