Uncertain

Hi Jane here again.5 weeks post PM back to work 2days then 3 the following week this week 4 days . Doing a little more each day.People say I look better ie have some colour and I don't feel as though I will fall over if I stand too long . However I am still getting the same fast pulse (90/100) and that awful tight feeling in chest (sternum) and neck/throat area which makes me feel rotten and if it goes on long enough I get headaches and just need to sit down. Have got some hassle at work as they think I need more investigations, I am trying to explain that it will take time for the settings to be fine tuned and then see what is still happening. But I do think there is some arrhythmia going on so I am getting another monitor on. My question is how to explain how you feel when you know you are not right the staff are great at the hospital but I do feel a pest 'phoning up but I I have been getting more unwell for over 8 years now and I so want to get as good as I can soon as at 52 you don't know what is round the corner.

4 Comments

Thanks

by Jane S - 2015-03-23 02:03:38

Have just come back from GP as some stitching has come out of my wound and is still firmly attached. Nurse dint want to pull in case it was attached to the far end of wound. Whilst chatting to her I had a look at the correspondence between GP and Consultant. Everything I described before my PM finally made sense to them when the heart block showed up. None conducted P waves were hiding in with the T wave but with the previous ablation apparently I will be difficult to pace. I do thank people a lot as I work in the Labs and I know what it is like not being a DR or nurse it is difficult to get the balance between patience and thinking this is not getting better. I love the NHS but the is a great lack of follow up care for some conditions.
Will stay positive, thank you for your support.
Jane xx

Check with EP and see

by Theknotguy - 2015-03-23 04:03:41

Check with your EP and see if they still have the voltage set high on your PM. They had mine set high and it gave me all sorts of strange feelings. Sometimes I could feel the PM kick in just before I'd get a heavy "thump" from the resulting heartbeat. It would occasionally wake me up at night. As soon as they dropped the voltage, I started feeling a lot better.

Other than that, for some people, it does take an adjustment period. My heart was giving me fits until it accepted the fact it was under new management. I know that doesn't make any medical sense, but it took a while for me to get adjusted to the "new order" with the PM. After years of having an irregular heartbeat it felt strange to have a steady beat.

Hope everything continues to go well for you.

PM

by Seabreeze - 2015-03-23 09:03:19

HI! I think it just takes time and remember you have something foreign in your body. Your body needs to adjust and make friends with your PM. I've had mine since Oct 9th and I'm still adjusting. I have alot more good days but I get really tired. I'm 55 and I still have a ton of stuff I want to do so I'm not letting this beat me!!! I do get out of breath alot.
My cardiologist told me though that the PM doesn't make the avib go away but I won't pass out anymore. I'm still on a few meds for my avib. I hope this helps.

52 yrs also

by Janenotarzan - 2015-03-23 10:03:10

I've been lucky in my recovery from PM implant on 2/7/15. However, I have been prepared for this eventuality for 2 years and have kept myself hydrated, fit, well-rested and have kept my vitamin and mineral levels stable. I have also taken a BP med, since scar tissue from 5 ablations caused my BP to go from low normal to high normal--or above when stressed..

Two years ago I had a crisis, and even after cardiac rehab I could barely perform the duties in my job description. Rough.

I'm not a nurse or Dr, so any of my advice is only that of a layman. I believe your symptoms may be from recovery as well as a combination of medicines you currently take combined with hormonal fluctuations from pre/post/mid menopause, combined with BP stabilization issues.

My best advice? In all seriousness, play to the EP's RN, to get an issue taken seriously. Tell him/her how overwhelmingly busy you know they are & suggest they call YOu back when most convenient for them. Likely, they will tell you to go ahead now. Then or later, call them by name, state your issues briefly & clearly, thank them profusely &, quickly and you will hear back w/ answers from the EP quickly.Guaranteed.

I worked for years in customer care before switching to Medical care, then animal care. Customer care/medical care personnel appreciate those who recognize them personally and will return calls to those who are known to speak kindly and efficiently more quickly than to the rude, rambling, repetitive persons.They have time-constraints and feelings, too.

As far as co-workers go, get your capabilities/limitations listed directly from the EP. If you can't manage everything listed, go back for an appt. Or make phonecalls until you have a revised listing in writing. Your limitations are temporary & you will be back to full force soon. HANG IN THERE!
~Janenotarzan

You know you're wired when...

Your kids call you Cyborg.

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So, my advice is to go about your daily routine and forget that you have a pacemaker implanted in your body.