PM implemented and on the mend

I had my Medtronics Advisa dual lead PM installed Monday morning with no complications. My cardiologist and EP were fantastic and the staff and facilities at Centennial Heart were great I came home yesterday and am have hardly any pain or problems (knock on wood...don't want to jinx myself). Starting to feel much better! I do have a couple questions that some of you may have experience with...

Yesterday when they interrogated my PM, they dropped my pacing out to allow my heart to basically function as it did before. I immediately felt horrible (much worse than I did before my PM) and broke into a full body cold sweat. I felt weird for about 45 minute after. Is this "normal" for interrigation? Was it basically as though my body felt I had a "cardiac event" it was reacting to?

Also, I am having a lot of anxiety that started last week before my surgery and still continues. I figured it had a lot to do with nerves about the procedure I was about to have done, but I continue to have issues. Did anyone else have anxiety with their PMs?

5 Comments

Anxious is normal

by Theknotguy - 2014-03-12 11:03:36

When they adjust the PM it goes into a "test" or "maintenance" mode. Sometimes you'll get a short-of-breath, heart flutters, pit of the stomach feeling, funny feelings in the arms, all sorts of stuff. The feelings don't always go away quickly after they stop adjusting the PM. That's normal. Kinda hard to accept at times, but it's normal.

My guess is the heart adjusts to the new routine and, when you make changes, it doesn't like it. Last PM interrogation took me about 24 hours to adjust to the interrogation. Since they turned on APP (Atrial Preference Pacing) it took me three to four weeks to adjust to the pacing.

When I would go into pre a-fib sessions the APP would kick in. I'd get funny heart flutters while the APP would do its stuff. That took a while to adjust to. Now I don't even feel it.

The anxiety is normal too. Outwardly I was calm as an ice cube. Inwardly I was always thinking, "Emma! It's the big one!" You'd keep thinking each twinge was the fore runner to something major.

I had read somewhere a lot of heart patients get depression. So I made appointments with a psychologist. The psychologist specialized in heart and trauma problems. The sessions with her really helped.

Others on this forum get tired of reading about the dogs, but I spent a lot of time with my son's dogs. While they aren't registered as therapy dogs, they helped too. You can't beat cold noses and warm hearts.

As everything starts to settle down and you recognize the twinges aren't major, the anxiety will start to go away. Getting help in the meantime doesn't hurt either.

Hang in there. Life does get better.

Theknotguy

GOOD FOR YOU!

by NiceNiecey - 2014-03-13 02:03:38

You sound like a real PM success story BHayes. I was told I was better than ever, could resume my hectic travel schedule, etc. But I felt HORRIBLE! There was no way I was in any shape to go anywhere or do anything for the next 6 weeks. You are way ahead of the game my friend!

My interrogations haven't made me feel ill like you describe but TheKnotGuy and others are much more experienced than I ever hope to be. It IS weird when they touch the computer screen and my heart literally flops. Thankfully, that is over (hopefully for good!).

As far as the anxiety is concerned, it is, indeed, a fact that any procedure to the heart can bring about depression (which is closely related to anxiety). I suspect that experiencing it in advance of the PM installation is perfectly normal. Many of us on this site had our PMs installed in an emergency situation so there wasn't a lot of time to give it a thought! If you continue to experience anxiety, you might consider mentioning it to your cardiologist or your PCP.

You sound like you're doing so well; keep it up!
Niecey

Anxiety to be expected

by BPM - 2014-03-13 08:03:45

Yes, you sound like you are going well, anxiety is to be expected so don't give it any more time than it takes already, just think each day will be a little better than the day before, Good Luck!

BPM

Agree with above

by KAG - 2014-03-13 11:03:05

Sounds like you have a good handle on your situation.

I think what helped me the most was getting back to my normal activities as soon as possible. Listen to your body and don't over do it, but do move as much as possible. After your body adjusts to its new little friend, you probably won't even think about it.

Kathy

Thanks all...

by BHayes - 2014-03-13 12:03:02

Thanks for the responses...I will take all of the past experiences and knowledge from you all I can get! I do feel it is remarkable how quickly the recovery for me has been...that is why In did not want to jinx myself mentioning it. I definitely do not look forward to future interrogations if what I felt was normal.
As for my anxiety, it is not as much geared toward my device as it seems due to some congestion I have in my sinuses....but I have never had this anxiety before with congestion. Just a little strange to me.
We have 3 dogs and they can help me a lot...but if I am feeling anxiety build and they are laying against me, It drives me crazy. It is just very weird to me!

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