important questions

I am going to my second check up with the cardiologist this Tuesday. The first time around, I had no idea just what questions I should be asking because I just had the pm implanted in June for third degree heart block. I was in Ireland (I live in the US) on vacation and collapsed and had the pm implanted before I really understood what was happening or I would have died. So, I never got the chance to ask the Dr. there all the questions I had. I was still a little shell shocked. I feel okay, but am still abnormally tired and sometimes get dizzy and lightheaded when I stand up fast and also can get short of breath from moderate exercise. I am asking for some opinions about the questions I should be asking the dr. and wondering if it's possible that the pm is not set high enough. Thanks for any help.

3 Comments

It might be nice if you...

by donr - 2013-09-22 08:09:04

...told us what your settings are. How can any of us give you an opinion w/o facts? Also - what is your reason for the PM? I went to your profile & it says "Heart Block." Which class? How often do you pace? What is your BP? Do you have Orthostatic hypotension? You gave one of the symptoms of it. Is your Rate Response turned on? Did they give you a copy of your Download report at your last (First) checkup?

My guess is that you did not get a report copy, so would have NO clue as to the settings.

That's the first question: "May I have a copy of the download report?". If they say "NO!" or hesitate, the questions stop & turn into demands. You need that report so you can begin to understand what has & is happening to you.

Three months Post-op, you should be feeling better than that. Sounds like a few settings need trweaking - but cannot tell w/o knowing what they are.

Don

questions

by Tracey_E - 2013-09-22 09:09:21

Write down your questions. If I don't take a written list, I'll come home with only half my questions answered.

I would ask how much you are pacing. Ask for a copy of the pacing report, it's good to have it.

Ask about the exercise. Two common things can make us feel bad on exertion when we have av block. Sometimes they turn on the rate response but we don't really need it. Rate response is there to help our rate get up when it senses we are moving, but with av block our own heart does that just fine so the pm can compete with our natural rate.

Or, often they send us home with a low upper limit, 120 or 130, which means the pm will only pace the ventricles up to that number. If you are young and active, odds are your heart easily goes higher than that. If your atria is doing 150 and your ventricles are only paced to 120, the heart is out of sync and you'll feel bad.

Standing up too fast sounds more like blood pressure than heart rate.

Like DonR said

by PacerRep - 2013-09-22 10:09:08

We need the settings to help.
Based limited information here it sounds like you need Rate Response turned on, Smoothing and/or rate drop response. Upper limit maybe inappropriate, or even some of the clocks need adjusted.

Questions I always get are..

Can I be around Microwaves, TV's, Cell Phones, Radio's, Stun Gun's, Intergalactic space stations etc etc. (Yes)

When Can I exercise

How long do I need to wear a sling

Do I get a pt ID card

What is my lower and upper settings

How long will the battery last

What happens when the battery dies

...Just to get you started.

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

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