Blahs

Had a dual lead St Jude defibber on
dec 31, 2012, and am disappointed in several respects:
I have no energy at all, and the slightest effort causes fatigue and shortness of breath........the ekgs, pacemaker readings come back showing OK minor fibs no pains but I can't do anything without the terrible tiredness I'm noticeably not as healthy feeling as before the pm.......Doc doesn't show concern 88 yrs old may have something to do with , but I was that old before the PM was put in

8 Comments

go back

by Tracey_E - 2013-03-28 09:03:44

You should not be more tired or sob than you were before you got it! Why did you get it? Depending why you needed it, you may or may not feel better. Some people feel better, some are safer but may feel the same. Whatever the case, you should not feel worse!

Is it the nurse/technician or a dr telling you everything is normal? Because a pm can be pacing and working but not doing what you need it to do, big difference. A technician may not know any better, they see that it's pacing and send you home. A good dr should know better, that the settings may need to be tweaked to help you feel better. Something that has been helpful to me is to get on a treadmill in the office while on the pm computer, then they can see what the pm is doing on exertion and adjust accordingly.

I Agree

by Many Blessings - 2013-03-28 09:03:52

Hi Nodog,

Please talk to your cardio doc and PM tech about changing the setting some. Tracey's right, you shouldn't feel worse, but if your settings are wrong, you will. It could still be something else, but a setting change is an easy fix to give a try, and I'm hoping it may be just that.

Even if everything looks okay with the PM and it's working fine (as they're telling you),a bad setting or two can make you feel absolutely miserable. Most of us have that that at least once or twice, and it's a scary feeling thinking that's your new normal. It isn't, so keep hopeful.

Others can explain other settings better than I, but with me, my problems in the past have been with the rate response settings. All was well for months until the tech changed them to what they felt would work better for me. It made things worse. WAY worse! I could barely walk across the hall at work, let alone the parking lot. And, the stairs were pretty much impossible. It truly made that much of a negative difference with a couple of bad changes. I felt way worse than I did before (and I was used to having CHF and other issuses).

When they changed the settings back, all was well. It really does make that much of a difference. I know others will agree, as many of us have had this happen in the past.

Good luck, and don't let it go! Keep after them until they give a setting change (or maybe more) a try. If they won't, try to change doctors (as hard as that may be for you to do) until someone will give it a try. Again, hopefully, this is the problem and will get taken care of soon!

other causes

by Hope - 2013-03-28 11:03:05

Hi! It is not always the settings. If not, have you added a new medication, increased or decreased one, or stopped taking a previous one, including over the counter medications/supplementa? Have you had a recent general physical? Have you had any recent blood work done? You seem genuinely concerned, so do not stop until you get an answer, even if it means a second opinion. I hope you get an answer soon and start feeling much better. Hopeful Hearr

joe

by ncddog - 2013-03-29 03:03:32

got an appointment for 4/3 afternoon with surgeon and the defib nurse/technician she says she can tweak it again, but would rather the doc advise her after checking all the medications I am taking: 75 mg metoprolol twice a day------ .25 tikosyn twice a day........25 warfarin daily....................40 furosimide daily........5 mg lisinopril daily.......81 aspirin daily guess I'll just sit and rest til Wed.

Good Job!

by Many Blessings - 2013-03-29 09:03:35

Good luck! I hope they find what needs to be changed, whether it's the PM settings, meds, or something else. Hope is right. It could be your meds or something else. I always think "settings" just because that's what it's been for me in the past.

Don't give up until you feel better!

katxray

by katxray - 2013-04-10 11:04:35

I have had my pm since 10 2012, i have had it tweaked and also been on treadmill....still so tired all the time and short of breath..Help!!! is this the new normal and I just have to make adjustments I pace 100% and I am no 59 years old..this is the 1st time I have been on this site and would appreciate any info..thanks

joe is me ncddog

by ncddog - 2013-05-08 03:05:00

Bottom line: P Poor Cardiologic's..........finally, after 3 MONTHS, nearly dying, I went to hospital,, had an echo cardio doppler, and they found that the upper ventricle wire had penetrated the heart wall, and the pericardial sac was hyper filled with blood.....they got me in operating room and drained a ton of blood from the pericardial sac, and I am now like a new man...walking, rehabbing etc.........Folks, if you don't feel right, you probably ain't right...get on yo' Doc's back and ride him til you get action. I was nothing but a pile of raw meat and money to them. TO SAY THAT I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN MY HEART CLINIC IS THE MIS-STATEMENT OF THE YEAR.

ncddog

by ncddog - 2013-05-13 07:05:28

Had a long talk with the Pacemaker surgeon today...he spent quite some time with me...listened to all my complaints and feelings about the past 130 days........I feel that we have cleared the air about the lack of concern and diagnostics of my case, and that there will be a marked improvement from now on.
But, I repeat my warning in a previous post..........listen to your body..if it don't FEEL right, it probably ain't right...pressure your Doctor 'til YOU are satisfied.

You know you're wired when...

Jerry & The Pacemakers is your favorite band.

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