Feeling shaky

Hello, it's been 5 weeks since I had a PM placed due to heart block. I'm 55, in good health, exercise regularly and my only issue before was high cholesterol controlled by meds.

Since the PM was installed (on my right side)I have felt like I'm not firing on all cylinders. I feel shaky, as if I haven't eaten and every so often I need to take a deep breath, it's as if I'm playing catchup. I do not have any pain, just discomfort at times on the right side of my chest.

I've been to the ER and was checked with blood work, X-rays, EKG and even medtronics came out to check the machine. Everything was fine, numbers were normal.

I'm waiting for a call back from from cardiologists office. I did have these two symptoms when I saw him on my follow up visit. He suggested maybe it was anxiety.

I just wondered if anyone else has felt this way after a PM was put in. I'm not the anxiety type but I do know I don't feel as fit as before the block.

Thank you for any feed back.

8 Comments

Feeling Shaky

by CincyGirl - 2014-07-29 10:07:00

About 2 weeks ago I was on my way to work and I kept getting "flutters". I thought that my CRT battery was going as I was coming up on 4 years since my last replacement and only got 4 years out of the first one. I thought I was going to have to pull over and call my husband to come get me or call 911. I made it to work and contacted my EP office. They had me do a download to see if there was any atrial fibrillation going on (or other issue). The reading was perfectly normal. My guess is that, with several things going on at home and work, it may have been anxiety. I am not the type to have anxiety attacks either but I think they can come on out of the blue. Goodness knows we are dealing with enough when we have to get one of these devices put in to help keep us alive. Hope this helps.

You're Still In the Early Stages

by NiceNiecey - 2014-07-29 11:07:46

Hello Mary.

Each of us with a heart device is sooo different but I suspect your issues have more to do with time than anything else. In other words, you need a few more weeks to adjust.

At five weeks, I was still recovering, even though I was initially told I should be feeling better than ever, had no restrictions, etc etc. I, too, had a few trips to the ER. At 6 weeks, I was looking back and saying, "I feel better than I did 2 weeks ago" and now, at 7 months, I am still improving and saying, "Wow, I feel one HECK of a lot better than I did 5 months ago."

Are you taking any medications that are new to you? A beta blocker or blood thinner?

Before my PM, I kept feeling like I was having a low blood sugar attack (I'm not diabetic but felt like I needed protein). Turns out, that feeling was just a symptom of my needing a PM and probably not low blood sugar at all.

Keeping asking questions and checking with your doctors. But please give yourself more time. Ask yourself what I asked myself, "Do I feel better than I did a week ago?" or a day or a month ago. The beginning of this journey is tenuous. Keep me posted.

Process

by Gotrhythm - 2014-07-30 01:07:32

Sometimes I think there ought to be a second pamphlet on pacemakers that's mailed to patients two or three weeks post-implant.

For the person just coming out of anesthesia it would probably be TMI, but later on, when the fact of the pacemaker's permanence has begun to sink in, many people would be helped by understanding what Kathy calls the "process."

For me, I "feel shaky" (yes, just like low blood sugar--weak knees, shaking hands and all) and like I need to take deep breaths when my heart is doing multiple PVCs.

I've also noticed that my body won't tolerate missed meals like it used to. There's little "grace period" between when I feel hungry and when I had better eat if I don't want to get shaky. Indeed if I wait until I'm sharply hungry, I've waited too long. Low blood sugar sets off PVCs.

All of which may or may not be helpful to you. [shrug] Hang in there. You'll figure it out and come to grips as other of us have. DO ask for the interrogation report, and don't be intimidated if you don't understand it. There are those here who can help you interpret it.

Early Days, but...

by PeteFindlay - 2014-07-30 04:07:15

There is a difference between the fact that the PM and your heart are technically working just fine according to al the traces and numbers, and whether it actually feels fine to you.

I had similar feelings initially, and was advised to wait and see if I got used to it over the first couple of weeks. I didn't, so at 3 1/2 weeks I returned to the clinic to have my settings tweaked from default (lowered minimum rate was the main thing) - instantly better!

My clinic were very helpful. Their attitude was once they've actually got your heart working, their goal is to make things as comfortable and normal as possible for you and your lifestyle.

You may also be one of the unfortunate people - like me - that can feel ventricular pacing. Some of the feelings you describe are similar to those I recognise. Again, there may be some tweaks to the settings that could alleviate things, depending on your underlying condition and your heart's natural characteristics.

It's early days for me still - less than 3 months - and you do get more accustomed to the different feelings, but there's also a lot of flexibility in the settings that can make a big difference.

Pete

Thanks

by vsmary - 2014-07-30 06:07:26

Thank you kag and got rhythm, very helpful and welcome responses. I will ask the EP if I need tweaking. Hoping it's that simple, but I'm glad that I'm having "normal" responses. I'm trying to get an earlier appointment and I'll update if that's what it is. Thanks again to all of you that helped put my mind at ease.

Thanks

by vsmary - 2014-07-30 09:07:57

Thanks Pete, I have my first check up soon, according to the medtronics tech I'm set to pace when my rate drops to 50.

I'm trying to get an earlier appointment with an EP as the cardiologist that did the initial installation doesn't take my insurance.

I'm certain hoping a tweak is all I need. Thanks again.

Suggest

by KAG - 2014-07-30 11:07:13

that when you get your check you get a copy of your PM interrogation report. It has all your device settings on it. Then if you have questions you can ask here.

It is a process and you're at the beginning. I found that understanding what and how my little buddy works was helpful to me getting to trust and accept it. I also, as well as so many, had no heart issues before the PM. All of a sudden I had 50% heart block and 3 weeks later right at the time of install I went to 100% block. It takes a while to adjust.

I wrote a post titled "It's a process" which I hope can help newbies. You can do a search in the upper right corner of this page.

If you're active you may need tweaks to your settings if you feel SOB during exercise. They normally send you out with a low upper track rate and in my case I needed it raised. It all depends on how you feel.

Remember that when they tell you that your PM is working fine that what they mean is that it is working exactly as programmed. Whether that programming is right for you is another question.

It's a process and you will get through it. Just keep asking questions.
Kathy

Thank you

by vsmary - 2014-07-30 12:07:49

Thank you for your feedback. I guess I need patience, not my best trait. :).


I'm not taking any meds, as my cardiologists said, you just blew a fuse, heart is healthy.

I'm hopeful that time will improve matters, it's just hard to explain to people how I feel. The whole process was unsettling. No warning signs just emergency surgery. Plus being told you technically flatlined is a bit of a shocker and hard to get my head around. I've never been a sickly person. Sigh....

I'll have to work back up to feeling 100%. Maybe when I get back into Pilates it'll help.

Thanks again for your feedback, very helpful and supportive.

You know you're wired when...

The meaning of personal computer is taken a step further.

Member Quotes

Sometimes a device must be tuned a few times before it is right. My cardiologist said it is like fine tuning a car.