Shortness of Breath

I had pretty severe shortness of breath which was my primary symptom that led to the PM. I have been fine for a year with my PM. Over the last two weeks or so I have had bouts with shortness of breath again and they are getting more frequent. My PM was just checked on Thursday and they say it is fine. Anyone ever go through this? I have an appointment with my PCP on Friday.

9 Comments

I can relate

by Vicki - 2007-08-22 07:08:18

I actually posted about this the other day and you were the only person who responded. I'm having the same issue the past week or so. Doesn't happen all the time but when it does it bothers me. I am wondering if I blow it out of proportion and focus on it too much and that makes it seem worse? I know that stress and anxiety can sometimes bring it on. Glad you have an appointment with your PCP in two days. Let me know what he has to say.

Thanks Vicki

by hooimom - 2007-08-22 07:08:28

How are you doing now? I have had this for a day or two at a time before but it is two or three weeks now so I am tired of it. I think the short spells are stress related but I am not so sure this time. We'll see. Thanks for your response.

Michelle

Shortness

by ridera - 2007-08-22 08:08:09

Ask your Dr. to fit you with a Holter monitor for 24 hours so he/she, and you, can see what's going on.

Thanks ridera

by hooimom - 2007-08-22 11:08:15

That is the test that showed my problem to begin with so I was thinking the same thing. Thanks for the advice and confirmation.

Michelle

so many reasons...

by bambi - 2007-08-23 01:08:19

for shortness of breath, it's sometimes hard to figure out what's causing it! Of course my first thought was either your settings on your pacer need to be adjusted, or your battery has gone into "time to change" mode. I know shortness of breath was the first symptom I had when my battery went into it's end of life mode. Since you had your pacer recently checked, I guess that's not it. However, even though the function of the device has checked out, that doesn't always mean it's ok with how you're feeling! Have you explained this to your Dr.? I hate climbing back up on my soapbox about the issue of a computer printout check up versus how the human being is feeling, but it makes me shake my head sometimes. I think some Dr.'s hide behind the paper reports because asking their patients how they are really feeling would mean spending extra time with them. Of course we know how very busy Dr.'s are seeing other patients with those tricky problems too! LOL! Anyway, I hope your PCP can shed some light on this for you! Take care!
Bambi

Doctor's Appointment

by hooimom - 2007-08-24 03:08:27

I went to the PCP this morning and she wants to try allergy meds for two weeks. During that time she wants me to keep track of my pulse rate during the episodes. If I am not feeling better in two weeks she will order a holter, lung scan and send me in for blood work that isn't due until Ocotber. I am really praying it is just allergies, which I have had from time to time, just not with this much difficulty breathing. Thanks for your information and support.

Michelle

Doctor

by hooimom - 2007-08-24 09:08:01

I live two hours away from my doctor's office in Orlando. I have my PM checked at a satellite office they have 30 minutes from my home. There are no EPs at this office and the cardiologist I saw there to begin with told me he didn't think I needed a PM even though I had symptoms so I don't trust him! They send all the information to my EP and always tell me if she sees a problem she will call me. There is very little information available at my checks and I still don't know they questions to ask. I am off to see my PCP in an hour. She seems to be my best source of information! Thank God for her!!! Thanks Bambi and Jessie for your responses. I'll post this afternoon and let you know what she says.

Michelle

yes

by jessie - 2007-08-24 09:08:35

bambi you hit the nail right on the head. i believe you are absolutely right when it comes to doctors. they do a lot of them hide behind the paper reports. i don't know how old you are but i found the answer to my year round cold with sob . hate to say it but i have copd from smokinf for years. it is controlled now though with spiriva. hope this helps jessie

Me Too

by sgrozinski - 2007-08-25 06:08:00

I got my PM May 30, 2007. I didn't feel right when I got home so I had the technician make an adjustment. Still I didn't feel right. I knew I was going to have to climb 33 steps when we were to go to the beachhouse for 2 weeks. So, again she made an adjustment and I thought it felt O.K. Well the most I could climb was about 5 or 6 steps and I was beathing very heavily. Not a good 2 weeks. As soon as I got home the technician
checked the PM and said it was working O.K. I said I was feeling lousy and she said she would make another adjustment which she didn't think was necessary ...I don't know what the adjustment was.. now I feel great
and have no problem climbing steps. Persistence paid
off. Hang in there.
Steve

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