Normal reactions to checks...what are they?

1. After getting a routine PM check this am and being assured that no changes were made to the settings, why do I feel a little odd still, four hours later...a little fluttery? Normal?

2. Does anyone else feel fluttery after donating blood? Is this in my head? I took a while to recover and had never had that experience before the PM (have had the PM for 14 months)

3.With my PM doing 30% of my atrium and 98% of my ventricle pacing, what is my life expectancy? I have the idea my heart is gonna be the end of me. Its scary ...I am 52.

and I am really glad you all are out there!!!

3 Comments

thank you!

by cb - 2014-04-21 06:04:08

I really appreciate you taking the time to answer.....!!

checks

by Tracey_E - 2014-04-21 06:04:22

1. Theoretically everything is set back to normal so any strange feelings we get should only be during the testing, not after. However, you are not the first to report feeling odd for a few hours after.

2. they won't take mine, so can't help you there but there's a reason they give you juice and cookies after

3. Your life expectancy is longer than it would be without the pm because your heart is working like it should. I've been told to expect to live a perfectly normal life but we're the first generations to be paced long term so no one really knows. So far, so good. I've been paced every beat since 1994 and am in the best shape of my life at 47. Another way of looking at it... I'm in better shape than many of my friends my age because having the heart problem has made me very conscientious about taking care of myself. Without the pm I wouldn't have seen my 30th birthday, so I'm already ahead. I dunno, none of us knows what is in store for us down the road. Worrying won't change it but I trust that I'm doing everything I can to keep my heart healthy. That's what I can control.

Good Questions

by NiceNiecey - 2014-04-21 11:04:14

Since Tracey has been paced for 20 years, presumably 100% in both chambers, she's a good one to ask on most of your questions. My understanding is that we shouldn't worry how much/often we're paced because that's what the PM is for.

As far as giving blood, I think it's probably normal that you feel "fluttery" afterwards. When you think that they just removed an entire pint (1/8 of your volume), I can imagine that it might cause some "strangeness" in how one's heart is beating. I use to give blood (and get called incessantly because I am Type B) but stopped long before I got a PM. Why? I'd feel so sick afterwards for around 24-36 hours. And I was in good shape back then. I drank tons of liquid in advance of the appointments but I just felt lousy afterwards and would have to lie down with my legs up. I finally quit (plus I was a bit anemic so they didn't want my blood).

It sounds like you're doing well. Don't worry about a thing.
Niecey

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You have a little piece of high-tech in your chest.

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