Trying to uderstand

Thanks for your comments. Cipro caused the destruction of the bottom chamber of my heart because I got c-Difficile from taking the heavy duty antibiotic. C-Difficile destroys all the good bacteria in your stomach. This then caused a rapid drop in my potassium level which caused a 3rd degree heart block with tousardes de points and my heart stopped and as I was in the hospital I was lucky enough to survive because of rapid intervention. I was externally paced for 4 hours then had a temporary pacemaker and then the permanent one. I have no heart disease, excellent LDL and hdl levels and low cholesterol . Blood pressure is a bit high but controlled by medication. (130/65) I am 66 years old. I just don't understand why I can't even climb a set if stairs without getting out of breath or having my heart rate go up to 110 . I get all shaky too and have periods of fatigue where I sleep all day and all night. The cardiologist says nothing is wrong. You all talk about running and exercising and I can't even walk a block. I am not over weight and have always been physically active. My job was designing and installing irrigation systems. I only direct workers now, not dig trenches myself. I will try and find another cardiologist. My present one doesn't want to see me for two years. I do see the pacemaker people every 6 months.

4 Comments

Place of origin

by sprinklergal - 2013-01-31 03:01:00

I am from the states . Asheville, NC

What do you mean by heart pills

by sprinklergal - 2013-01-31 03:01:55

Heart pills? I take toperol and amolopidine to control my blood pressure but nothing else except for pain meds for my rather extreme case of fibromyalgia which causes chostchroditus an inflammation of the lining of the rib cage and constant leg and arm pain. What do you mean by heart pills?

who manages your pacemaker?

by SaraTB - 2013-02-01 06:02:23

from what you have written, I gather you have a cardiologist for the damage to your heart from the C-diff. and 'the pacer people' for your pacemaker management. Who exactly are the pacer people? Do you see an electrophysiologist there? An EP is a cardiologist who specialises in pacemakers the electrical system of the heart. It seems to me that you need to talk to an EP about whether the PM programming can be adjusted to reduce the shortness of breath. Many cardiologists are not good at programming PMs and as long as it's working, don't go any further.
I agree you should look for another cardiologist, but I think you should also be involving your pacemaker team (ideally an EP) in this process as they may be able to assist with programming adjustments.

Thanks again..so much for your help

by sprinklergal - 2013-02-04 10:02:59

Went to the pacemaker clinic today for a checkup. The tech said my pacemaker was fine but my heart was the problem! I was at 111 bpm at a resting state. She made an appointment for me but the 1st available was on March 13th. I felt that was too far away, so I am seeing the PA on the 13th of Feb. should I be worried about this? I'm paced at 60bpm for the upper chambers and the lower of course works all the time. Blood pressure is up too. I have been checking the bpm and it drops to 72 , but getting up for any reason makes it go up to 110 and then it takes 15 or 20 minutes to go back to 72. Usually it's at 60 most of the time. I can feel this is different. I am jittery and can feel that heart beat.

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It's much better to live with a pacemaker than to risk your life without one.