check up today

Today I had my PM checked. I told him that I was getting short of breath climbing a flight of stairs --also getting light headed afterwards. He said that was a matter for my cardiologist. My heart has gotten stronger up ejection fraction 55% from 20% a few years ago. But I'm still short of breath in doing anything. They just look at me like---well too bad. I believe the doctors think it's all in your head since nothing shows up on any test that they run. They act like that you should be doing fine if your ejection fraction is up--and I think I should be also. But I still get very short of breath. I have cardiomyopathy, left bundle block, have had bypass surgery, and an MI. I'm trying to live up to their expectations. They act like that I may be just out of shape. I'm doing every thing I can to build up--but I can't do very much. Anyone have any suggestions? I'd appreciate it.






1 Comments

Shortness of breath on exercise

by Selwyn - 2014-12-17 01:12:53

Hi,
The big question is has anything changed? Have you been like this for some time? If there has been a sudden change in your exercise ability this should be an urgent appoint to see a physician.

Sometimes medication ( I see you had an MI) holds you back in spite of the willingness of the pacemaker to pace. This may be a good thing to stop you overdoing it. Not all breathlessness is therefore bad.

I do find that stairs are a problem in 'the short run'. The PM does not have time to rate adjust to me running up stairs and the result is breathlessness. On the other hand I do take medication and this has some effect on exercise tolerance. Specifically, I had to stop taking beta blockers as I was very short of breath exercising. I would not advise you to stop any medication until you have had a discussion with your physician.

The idea of goal setting exercise for someone with your physical problems needs to be understood. There is a balance between being fit and killing yourself with exercise. The amount of exercise taken is best discussed with a cardiac rehabilitation specialist. This I would strongly advise.

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I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.