Driving fatigue

I am 3 weeks post implant and have been back to driving for a week. Driving back and forth to the office (a four mile trip) results in no issues. Last Saturday, at the end of a 14 mile drive I felt faint and asked my wife to take the wheel for the return trip. Today, at the end of an hour and a half trip, I started again to feel faint and was very wiped out. After spending nearly three hours at the location, I attempted the return trip and made it about half way before I was felling faint once again and again asked my wife to take the wheel.

Out of the driver's seat I feel fine. Doing stairs, long walks, short jogs, all day at the office - none of these or anything other activity causes this issue.

Is this a mental issue or could my PM need tweaking or could it be something else? Any thoughts?

6 Comments

Hi rfassett

by IAN MC - 2013-11-13 05:11:52

It ain't normal and that's for sure ! I had to drive 700 miles one week after implant and didn't have any problems,

Is it the same sort of " feeling faint" that you had prior to your implant in which case the lower setting may need increasing or is it a new sensation ?

Something unrelated to the PM could cause it e.g. a drug side -effect . I would definitely return to your PM guru a.s.a.p. and get to the bottom of this ; it shouldn't happen.

Best of luck

Ian

Thanks IAN

by rfassett - 2013-11-13 06:11:45

The feeling faint prior to implant had to do with extreme SVTs. Prior to the implant my AV Node was ablated in an attempt to stop the SVTs. I assume, since nothing was said about it, the SA Node is still driving the ship and the PM is taking the place of the AV Node. At the same time the PM is pacing my SA Node for the bradycardia I had/have. I am paced at 70 at the low end and 120 at the high. The bradycardia was a hr from 35 to 59 bpm. (That is the way my simple brain comprehends it.) That said, I am not feeling anything like an SVT episode prior to the current faint and fatigue feelings.

I am not on any drugs other than Flonase and Allegra - drugs I have been on for a very long time for the treatment of non-allergic rhinitis symptoms.

So I guess that leaves calling my PM guru.

Thanks IAN

High Frequency at drivers seat

by HK - 2013-11-13 07:11:51

Is it possible there is a device emitting a high frequency wave form that interferes with ur pacemaker. It is possible especially if driving is the only time u feel faint. Speak with ur PM manufacturer

Driving/feeling faint

by sugar - 2013-11-13 08:11:17



Some people have the pm set at a lower pace and it may need to be set slightly higher.
I have a Medtronics dual line that has a timer and a night mode so the pacing changes at night and goes higher at 6:30 in the morning.
I now have two leaky valves and one has the blood backing up. No one in the medical field that I see is concerned and it will be checked in six months.
Life is a bit more complicated when living with these things.
Always ask the doctors when you have a question that is serious and feeling faint while driving is serious in my mind. I think that all questions are important when it comes to keeping us alive.
Take care, Sugar Patty

Thanks all

by rfassett - 2013-11-13 09:11:54

The vehicle I was driving today is a 2006 Prius that has been in a few accidents and repaired from each one. Your comments have made me wonder if this might be causing an issue. I have searched Prius and Hybrid on this site but none of the posts talk about a 2006 that has in several accidents and repaired. (BTW, none of the accidents were the fault of the driver except the one that hit a raccoon and the one that hit a porcupine.)

Is there an inexpensive device that measure electric fields that would affect the PM?

Toyota Prius

by IAN MC - 2013-11-14 04:11:02

I see the Mayo clinic has done recent research on the possible effects of hybrid vehicles such as the Prius ( they used a 2013 Prius in fact ) to see if they have any negative effects on implant patients. They concluded that the electromagnetic field from the batteries appear not to cause any problems but their studies are ongoing.

I assume that the 2006 model is as safe as the 2013 one .. but apparently racoons and porcupines don't think they are safe at all !

Cheers

Ian

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