5th day after insertion of pacemaker
- by alan4heidi
- 2013-07-29 03:07:20
- General Posting
- 2350 views
- 6 comments
Hi. after having a pacemaker op 5 days ago I have just removed the dressing and there is bruising around the stiches and 6 inches lower but feels ok.on discharge from hospital I was diagnosed as bradicardia and SSS [sick sinus syndrome] which still makes me feel dizzy and unable to walk far in a straight line, also big headaches are still there as they were 2 weeks before the op..this morning my pulse rate was only 29 /31 until I got out of bed .it goes back up to around 60 on walking about, is this normal . I am 79 years old ,thank you alan
6 Comments
Hi Alan
by IAN MC - 2013-07-29 06:07:24
I see you are from the UK . If I were you, I'd give the pacemaker people, in the cardiology dept, a ring ( I assume you were given their number )
Bruising around the incision wound is normal , your heart rate going up to 60 when you walk around is good, that means either your sinus node is functioning OK or the PM is helping your HR to increase.
Although some people do feel dizzy for a few days after the op I would tell them about it and your headaches
You should be feeling better 5days on than you are now !
According to your measurements , your resting HR is only 30 . This sounds pretty low to me and could account for some of your symptoms . You may need adjustments to the PM settings or there could be another cause.
Let us know how you get on
Best of luck
Ian
Questions Revisited
by donr - 2013-07-29 07:07:48
Alan: Good Start!
1) HR taken w/ fingers & watch. Slow method for finding things that may be short duration. You may have a rhythm dysfunction that you & your wife cannot feel because of lack of experience at finding pulse. Especially if some of the beats are faint. See question 3 for more. That would cause you to come up w/ pulse rates lower than actually are occurring.
2) Good to know that you have no infections.
3) Ah, the stumbling block for accurate pulse taking by inexperienced people. If you have the arrhythmia called a PVC (Which is quite common) inexperienced people cannot sense the very light beat that is part of it. It is also called an ectopic beat.
PVC = Premature Ventricular Contraction. In this case, the premature beat comes earlier than normal & consequently is much fainter than normal because the ventricles have not filled w/ blood as normal. It is common for people to miss feeling it. The wimpy beat is followed by a heavy beat that comes because the ventricles now have more blood in them than usual. PVC's can occur as single, isolated beats or more frequently, leading up to every other beat being a PVC. This can make you feel like you do if you have enough of them.
4) Set Points. What you gave us are the model numbers of your PM & its leads. When you see the cardio staff, ASK them for the set points - UPPER & LOWER. They may be difficult with you, but insist & get them - that will give uis insight into what your PM does for you.
Also ask them if you have PVC's or Ectopic beats.
5) You got that info - we know because they put two leads into your heart that it is a dual chamber device.
Don
call
by Tracey_E - 2013-07-29 07:07:59
How are you getting 30? Monitors aren't always accurate with us so when in doubt count manually. It's ok if it's a little under 60, but it should not be in the 30's.
symptoms
by Hope - 2013-07-29 08:07:24
Hi! Alan, You are wise to be concerned about your symptoms, and yes, your symptoms need to be evaluated. Ian, is right that some bruising from the surgery is not unusual. Please make your medical care aware today of your symptoms, and let us know how you are doing. Take care. Hopeful Heart
A few questions:
by donr - 2013-07-29 08:07:50
Alan: to really draw some conclusions, we need to know:
1) How are you measuring your HR? Device? Finger at wrist & watch? If a device, what kind?
2) Do you have any sort of a sinus (head type sinus, NOT the sinus node in your heart) infection or ear infection, They can cause headaches & dizzy causing wandering around not on a straight line.
3) Has your Dr. ever told you that you have a heart rhythm defect called a PVC or an ectopic beat?
4) What are the set points for your PM? Should be a pair of numbers like 60/120 - the 60 is the lower point that your PM will keep your heart rate at or above & the 120 is the heart rate at which your PM stops pacing you & just monitors. Your numbers may be different.
5) What KIND of PM do you have? Is it a dual chamber type? Do you know how many leads they put into your heart?
Don
You know you're wired when...
You have rhythm.
Member Quotes
I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.
ALAN UK
by alan4heidi - 2013-07-29 03:07:27
Hi, thank you for all the answers I have had , never used a forum before so will try to answer your questions.I take my heart rate with fingers on my wrist and my wife also checks this. I cannot fine to two values that the pacemaker is set at but it does say IPG 60 basic rate Medtronic en1 dro1.....ARIAL LEAD MEDTRONIC4574-53CM and VENTRICULAR LEAD MEDTRONIC 5076-58CM...I DONT HAVE ANY EAR INFECTIONS ONLY TINITUS AND DEAFNESS...I HAVE NEVER HAD PVC MENTIONED...my discharge notes say that " whilst on the ward he went a PPM insertion , the pacemaker was checked before discharge and the patient felt very well on going home " although I never said that I did.....my wife phoned the hospital the day before yesterday and got a answer machine ,but they responded today and said that they think all is ok ,but may need a tweek. ..told us to ring today to arrange for a hospital car to take me on wednesday, my wife has rung 32 times all day today but cannot get though to them.will try again tomorrow but doubt if we will be lucky enough to get a reply ...also tried to ring my local doctor 27 times but unable to get through to them either ,but this is the way our health service has gone with thousands of complaints every day and many reported unnecessary deaths being reported on tv and radio..but we do have a conservative government that have put the con in conservative and taken the great out of great Britain...but enough moaning from me and thanks again for your concern.....alan