feeling weak and dizzy

Had a PM in 3 days ago. I am 85 years old and my ears feel plugged up. Is this normal? I also feel weak

7 Comments

cold?

by Tracey_E - 2013-05-17 02:05:57

There are a lot of colds going around, could you have caught something at the hospital? Ive come home sick after every surgery! There's nothing about a pacer that would affect your ears.

Weakness, depends. You just had surgery so some weakness is to be expected as you get the anesthesia out of your system and your body adjusts to its new normal. If you get a fever, feel dizzy or like you will pass out, call your doctor. When in doubt, call! They would rather take calls for false alarms than have you tough it out and not call when something is wrong.

Welcome to the PM Club ~ ~ ~

by Carolyn65 - 2013-05-18 02:05:03

I have been a member of this sight since 5/2009 and love the people, the Friends I have met on here and all the Great advice over the years. These Friends are my FB Friends and on my Email addresses now and from all over the World!

The 'pitter-pat' of my heart beats every once in a while since I was about 12 and on thru my life at 64 was Afib! Did not know this 'til I mentioned it at age 64 to my GP!I was petrified when told by the Heart Specialist I should consider a PM. With God's help, I was guided to the PM Club. Practically 'wore out my welcome' w/all my fears, worries, questions, etc. Finally had my PM placed in 11/2009. I did not have any of the symptoms of being tired, dizzy, etc. before the implant ~ thus did not have them after the PM implant. I followed the Dr/nurses advice and 'listened' to what my body told me to do to get well faster w/o complications (I was retired, also).

I would give this advice to anyone new just having a PM implant ~ to wait the full suggested recovery time by your doctor/nurses before becoming too concerned over minor feelings. Of course, IF there is severe pain, bleeding, any doubts, etc. a person should go to the ER and/or call their doctor ASAP ~ ~ During my 'recovery period', I had all kinds of new sensations, feelings, involuntary 'tic'/slight jerk of a small body part (lower leg, foot, fingers, etc.) and just minor 'stuff' I had never had before. After a couple of months, all these went away, whether it was 'just me' and/or the PM after affects.

TRACEYE always has good advice, as 'Commented' above ~ she helped me out many a time w/my questions over the years.

Take care,
Carolyn G. in TEXAS ~ ~ ~

Welcome to the Pacemaker Club

by SaraTB - 2013-05-18 07:05:32

It's not uncommon for people to feel tired after their initial implant - in the first place, you have anaesthetic that needs to work through your system (it made me feel very tired, and I was 42 when my first implant was done). Secondly, it may help to realise that the PM itself will have been set with a "best guess" at the settings, at this point: they will make adjustments and fine tuning at your follow-up appointment. Initially, they really have to use factory settings, until they see your activity level, and adjust to suit you: every person is different, so there is no setting that suits everyone (or even more than one person!).
Make sure you let them know at your follow-up appointment that you feel very tired, so that they can look at the settings.
So far as the ear blockage is concerned, it does sound like a cold or perhaps seasonal allergies.
Hope you feel better soon, and keep visiting the Club - don't be afraid to ask questions: we all know what it's like at first, with very little information!

Any New Medications, Cleaners, etc.?

by Many Blessings - 2013-05-19 04:05:55

Hi,

If it's not a cold or normal allergies, could it be from a new medication you were given at the hospital, or for you to start taking after you went home? Could it be a reaction to something you were given during your procedure, or even something you were exposed to at the hospital (chemical, cleaner, perfume, etc.) that you aren't used to being around? Bleach or ammonia will do that to me if I'm around it. So will some perfumes. Has anyone in your household started using a new cleaner, perfume, or any other product? Have you started using anything new or different for anything?

Like mentioned above, do mention it to your doctor to see what he/she thinks. Wrong PM settings can cause some weird symptoms. I'm not sure if what you're describing is one of them, but you just never know. Weirder things have happened.

Best of luck!

when I lay down I feel shakey, nervous

by valvarad - 2013-05-22 01:05:56

When I lay down at night I feel shakey and nervous and I have difficulty sleeping. I had my PM implanted one week ago. When I sit in a chair or do minor activities in my home, I am alright. I don't have trouble sleeping in a recliner chair only when I lay down. Did anyone feel like this after their PM was implanted. I am 85 years old. I see the doctor tomorrow for my post/op visit.

Thank you all for your comments and support.

Still New To Your PM

by Many Blessings - 2013-05-22 10:05:31

Since it's only been a week, you're probably still in the early healing stages. You may have a lot of weird, uncomfortable symptoms for the next few weeks. It's been said many times, the first few weeks aren't always easy, and in fact, it can take up to 8 months to really feel "great". I'm just sure you will feel better after a few more weeks, and within a few months, this will be a breeze!

During your healing phase, you can experience weird symptoms due to your body and heart trying to get used to things. Plus, it takes a while for the anesthesia (conscious sedation) to get out of your system, and if you were given any pain pills to take when you get home, or any other new meds, this can be an issue as well. The procedure alone causes stress to your body and heart, and sometimes can cause trauma & shock as well. Everyone is different. Everyone's body is different.

Talk to your doctor tomorrow and let him/her know everything you're feeling, when it happens, what bothers you, what doesn't, etc. I bet they have an answer for you. I know my cardio doc wouldn't make any setting changes for the first few weeks until my body and heart healed a little more, and my body and heart got used to the new way it's being run (by my CRT-P/PM). He was right! I did feel better! And, seriously, once I started feeling better, I just got better and better faster and faster! There is hope, I promise. I know it sucks right now, but you'll be there soon!

Hopefully, it's something as easy as you just need a little more time to heal, or even if it's a setting issue, that will be easy to fix as well. Could you be having any circulation problems when you're lying down? Maybe you could ask about that too? Or, is your PM or lead(s) resting on a nerve? I really think it's too early in the game to know for sure, but I can guarantee you, you will feel better in a few weeks, if not in a few more days or so. It really does take some time for things to settle down. I know it's not fun when you don't know what's going on, but I promise you, you'll get it figured out soon. Just hang in there a little while longer. I know you're doctor will have some positive answers for you.

If you need some meds to help you sleep for a while, you ask for some. It's important to get your rest right now. Don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it, whether it's meds to sleep or to help with anxiety. This is your time to heal and get better right now. Do whatever it takes to do that. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. This too shall pass and soon you'll be feeling much better!

Take care and good luck! Let us know what you find out tomorrow.

Prayers & Blessings,

feeling weak and dizzy

by valvarad - 2013-05-29 07:05:15

I went to the doctor today, PM implanted two weeks ago. He says I have a touch of pneumonia. I must have caught a cold in the hospital because I haven't been feeling well. I had a rough night getting short of breath and aches so I was fortunate my doc had an opening today. He prescribed an antibiotic and rest. I am glad I went in. I was just toughening it out thinking I had PM post-surgery symptoms. Thank you all for your comments and support. Appreciate everyone's time and concern.

Thanks again!

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