Pacemaker complications

I am new to the forum. I am 37 year old female who had a single chamber insert in December 2011 for bradycardia. HR was in the 30-40s. I was also dx with POTS in June 2011. My PM is set at 60. For about 4 wks after the insert I had a tremendous improvement in my energy level. Before I was always very weak, fatigued, and lightedheaded. However, just a couple of weeks ago, the fatigue and weakness is starting to set in again. I can feel my heart pounding up thru my chest and throat, having problems sleeping because I can feel it pounding and skipping beats. It makes me very shaky feeling and sometimes nauseated. Could this be pacemaker syndrome? I had my device check last week and the tech told me since it heart rate was always low that the PM is working hard. She changed my night setting to 50. And said it may be something I need to get use to. Does this sound normal for anyone? I work full time and have 2 small kids and some days I feel like I have a debiliating disease. How do they dx pacemaker syndrome? I go back next month to have my device checked again. After they dropped by night setting to 50, I still feel the same---like crap! Any advice would greatly be appreciated.

3 Comments

Curious

by bredren - 2012-02-18 11:02:43

Are you taking any meds in addition to the PM?

pacemaker complications

by amstone - 2012-02-19 10:02:39

Thanks for the advice. The only medication I'm taking is Midodrine 10mg 3xx a time. This is mainly for my POTS. It helps to keep my BP up and helps some from keeping my heart rate from getting to high. It's my miracle drug. Before I was taking that, they had me on betablockers and I could not tolerate any of them. It bottomed out my BP. However, that was before they discovered I had POTS>

A few suggestions

by pacergirl - 2012-02-19 12:02:04

Your body has been through heck and back so you are going to have to see how things go for now. It took me a long time to "adjust" to life again after getting a pacemaker. Some people don't have any problems at all, but some like me do.

Here is my suggestion for what it is worth:
Keep a journal as to how you are feeling. The time, what you are doing and any important other information when you don't feel well. When you go for your next PM check take it with you and show your dr. how you are feeling and the history.

Pay attention to any and ALL medications that you take, also anything that you drink, like wine or a beer or a lot of coffee. Keep track of your blood pressure and your activities. These things can all be clues to helping you feel better.

You could have some underlying medical issues that were not apparent before you had your pm. Now that your heart is beating correctly you may discover that all along you also had other "issues".

Also, sometimes extra heartbeat scan feel like skipped beats, so ask your Dr. about that as well.

Hang in there... You are NOT ALONE!
Pacergirl

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