New Pacemaker

HI all,
I'm new here. 58 yr old female triathlete/runner. I just had a pacemaker implanted 2 days ago for sinus bradycardia. I was experiencing fainting spells. When I left the hospital yesterday the x-ray showed that everything was in the right place. Since I came home I have had chest pain on my left side and even in the lower neck area. I breath fine. Not sure if this is normal or I just slept funny. Its better today than yesterday though. What worries me is that I had another pre-fainting episode today (the pacemaker is supposed to prevent that). My low setting (no high setting) is at 50 since I am an endurance athlete with a resting HR in the low to mid 50's. I will probably call the drs office tomorrow, but am wondering about other peoples experiences. Thanks

8 Comments

Could be a couple of things

by Theknotguy - 2015-08-09 09:08:31

First, you just had the PM implanted so the body hasn't fully recovered. The chest pain on your left side could be from them stretching the flap of skin so they could shove the PM in there. Not to mention pain killers are wearing off.

I had neck pain and spasms on the left neck side as well as pain going up into the left jaw. I attribute that to my body reacting to where they pushed the leads into the vein going into the heart. Normally that area is very well protected and you don't feel anything in that area. Now you have wire(s) in there you didn't have before.

Pre fainting episodes are your body reacting to all the drugs used during your implant procedure. Also your heart may not like being "under the new management" of having the PM. You get all sorts of strange sensations until things settle down.

If the pains are not sharp, hold-your-breath type pains I wouldn't worry. I'd still call your doctor's office to discuss just in case there's something else you haven't spotted.

For the moment it sounds like things are progressing very well. Hope they continue that way.

What drugs

by Jane21 - 2015-08-09 10:08:01

Hi am just wondering if you had a different op to me?
What drugs?
I had a couple of local anaesthetics and some antibiotics and a very tiny amount of sedative, which had no effect whatsoever.
None of these were hard line or out of the ordinary and had no lasting effects whatsoever. Certainly nothing to induce fainting effects. Jx

Drugs

by jazzybiker - 2015-08-09 10:08:04

They gave me versed and phentinol (Spelling?) and an antibiotic. I used Vicadin for pain until today. Switched to ibuprofen.
I am really sensitive to medications due to Mitral Valve Prolapse and Dysautonomia.

Thanks

by jazzybiker - 2015-08-09 10:08:18

Thanks for the quick response. I am scheduled for my followup on Thurs. I will call my Dr tomorrow and remotely send my data if needed. I wrote down the time it happened.

hi jazzybiker

by knb123 - 2015-08-10 02:08:28

Welcome to our group. I had a PM implanted emergently due to sudden-onset full heart block...same meds as you during the procedure though they have told me not to take ibuprofen (acetaminophen instead).

Knotguy's advice was right-on and I would only add, get yourself a nice spiral-bound journal and begin to track your symptoms and questions. Bring it with you to all doctor visits and continue to ask questions until you gain clarity on things you don't understand.

Believe it or not, good doctors welcome patients who want to be proactive about their health and want to partner with their doctors to get and stay healthy.

An added benefit of the journal is that you'll be able to call up info you will not remember later.

Bottom line, give your body time to heal. Six to eight weeks is what it takes most people to begin to feel normal again.

BTW your PM settings may need tweaking. Not to worry, they will do that...but you need to report your symptoms so they're aware.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

definitely call the Dr

by IAN MC - 2015-08-10 03:08:44

I cannot imagine that any of the drugs used in the procedure would cause you to have pre-fainting feelings

If it happens again measure your pulse and find out if your HR is falling way below the base setting of 50 ,

As you said those are exactly the feelings which the PM should prevent .

Best of luck

Ian

dizzy sit to standing

by wjs1954 - 2015-08-13 02:08:34

i forget what the setting is, may be called drop rate. they PM rep and Cardo DR made an change with my PM, also recommened not getting up so quick : ), yes they really did.. anyway my night low is 40 day is 50 sometimes still dizzy if i get up quickly, guess i need to remember to get up slowly....
As for the pain like other said it has only been couple of days it takes the body time, things should get better...

Followup appt

by jazzybiker - 2015-08-14 06:08:10

Hi all,

Thanks for the feedback. The chest pain I was having went away. I actually called the Dr on Sun and he asked me some questions (does is hurt when laying down (no) and does your breathing catch (no)). No need to worry then, not a pleural problem. As to the prefainting feelings, the EP nurse said nothing showed up on the pacemaker check at that time. The pacemaker was working fine. I have dysautonomia as well so could have been from that. I also hadn't eaten much or drank much that day. With the MVP and dysautonomia I am supposed to drink a lot of fluids and take in a lot of salt unlike a lot of heart patients.
Got the green light to run and bike, no swimming for 8 weeks though. Each day gets better.

You know you're wired when...

Bad hair days can be blamed on your device shorting out.

Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.