initial reaction to pacemaker

I had a biventricular pacemaker 3leads inserted 3 weeks ago. Feeling worse now. EF was 25 and Q time gap was .194. Had hoped to feel better, but get very tired now. Abdomen stomach area feels worse with nausea but no vomiting. I feel weaker with no physical strength. Can anybody tell me if this is typical? I have not had the pacemaker settings checked yet

4 Comments

not normal

by scooter11 - 2014-12-24 07:12:39

you should go see about getting it set they supposed to have done it already before you left the hospital,i have the same pacemaker you have no problem like that

May Be Your Settings

by Many Blessings - 2014-12-24 10:12:37

Hi Berearovers,

I have a St. Jude Bi-V, 3 lead CRT-P. For the first several weeks after my procedures/PM, I did not feel well at all, and had some similar, but not exact symptoms. Some of the symptoms were from pain meds they gave me, some were from my body trying to get used to the new way things were being run by the CRT-P (I also had an AV Node Ablation), but some were caused by having the wrong settings for me.

Over the last couple of years, I have had some setting changes that made me feel awful, or at least uncomfortable. One was having my rate response on. Most feel better with it on, I do not. When they turned it off, I felt great. Another one was when they tried to turn the voltage up. I didn't feel well at all there either. Again, some feel better when their voltage is turned up, others can't tell the difference. All my settings are where they should be for me now, and I feel so much better.

If it is a setting issue, once they make the proper change(s), you will feel great too! It will blow your mind how much better you feel when the settings are set correctly for you. And, it will blow your mind when you get a bad setting change and see how horrible it can make you feel. Dizzy, tingly, nauseated, diaphragmatic pacing, out of breath, weak, lethargic, and a whole lot more. Most of us have been there at one time or another, so hang in there! Most of the time, it's as easy as your PM tech punching in a number or turning a dial to make you feel SO much better!

It could be your settings need tweaking or it could be something totally different. Please call your cardio/EP doc and/or your PM tech to see if you can come in and see what's going on.

Good luck! Let us know how you do!

thanks

by Berearovers - 2014-12-24 11:12:54

Thanks so much for your comments. I feel hopeful. Have a wonderful Christmas day

Keep Us Posted

by Many Blessings - 2014-12-27 09:12:01

Keep us posted on how you're doing once you see your doctor/PM tech. I'm hoping it's just a setting issue for you. If it is, that is such an easy fix and you will feel wonderful after it's changed to what's right for you, I promise, promise, promise you!

I don't know why so many EP docs or PM techs don't explain this to so many of us prior to our PM/CRT placements, or at least right afterwards. No one said a word to me about settings. Luckily, a lot of people on this site told me what to ask when I went in for a check up, or I would have never known.

Since your settings are probably set at the "default" settings from your implant date and probably do need tweaking, learn all you can about settings and symptoms by doing a search on this site (top right corner of the site page) or the Checkups and Settings tab (left side of the site page) so you're prepared if something doesn't feel right.

One thing to remember, each and every time you go for a PM check up/interrogation, make sure to MAKE them tell you if ANY changes were made whatsoever! That way, if you feel worse or feel better in any way after you leave the office, you can make the connection to that change. You will learn to be outspoken on this, trust me! Don't be shy, speak up before you leave the office if something doesn't feel right or feels better.

Keep posting your symptoms or concerns out on this site so others can respond, whether it's a setting issue or something totally different. Having this connection with others in our situation is the best thing in the world!

Best of luck!

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