what's considered normal

I truly am a newbie to the pacemaker club, 48 hours post op.; diagnosis: a fib. Although it's wonderful not to feel my heart pounding in my chest again I do need to inquire as to what I'm feeling is "norma"l... Rear shoulder pain on the left side, rubbery legs when I stand up and shakiness, I feel like I'm going to faint. Those last two symptoms remind me of what it feels like during the flu. I have a little bit of discomfort midchest when I take a deep breath. There was a scare from the surgeon he may have "nicked" my lung during the procedure but 2nd xray indicated inconclusive. I know I need to give myself permission and time to recover, I just want to make sure my new symptoms are "normal" at this very early stage.

5 Comments

Sounds about normal

by Theknotguy - 2015-11-13 04:11:19

So far sound about normal. You'll have the 4-6 weeks where you're not supposed to lift your arm above the shoulder on the PM side. Not supposed to lift over 8-10 pounds with the arm on the PM side. No jerking.

If you forget and lift your arm, don't get concerned, just don't make it a habit.

If you need to exercise, walking is a good exercise.

You may be sore for a while because of the procedure. Later on you may get the pins and needles feeling. Some people get "ant bites" - all normal.

With the afib, check with the EP to see how he wants to control it. Rhythm method or rate method. Also what medications does he suggest for the afib.

I'm on rate control for afib. That's where they can't stop the afib but they can slow the heart. They can give me medications that would stop my heart but the PM steps in and keeps it going. Slowing the heart can reduce the number and intensity of the afib sessions.

After 4-6 weeks, there may be some further deep healing of the incision site. Swelling may take a while to go down.

At the two year mark I'm at 100% plus of what I was before having the pacemaker. It's a help and not a hindrance.

Other questions, ask on the forum. We have a lot of people with a lot of experience.

Welcome to the club. Hope everything continues to go well for you.

Time and Tweeking?Tuning

by oldearthworm - 2015-11-13 04:11:45

The incision and installation will take time to heal ; I am still sensitive, and its week 15..and at 75 there are aches and pains - I live with them ..I believe that your unit does need to be better adjusted ..IMO, this should have been done in the hospital .. NOT normal, I think, is this rubberyness and shakiness ..

AFIB

by BillH - 2015-11-13 05:11:20

The PM does not "treat" AFIB. What it can do is to pace the ventricle at a lower, normal rate and not follow irregular rate of the atrial.

Did they give you an prescription for an Antiarrhythmic drug?

Many of them can have a number of side effects including triggering arrhythmia.

The "shakiness" needs to be addressed. Possibly by a PM adjustment and/or med adjustment.

And you need to get answers from the doctors about there plan of treatment, what to expect, and possible side effects.

follow up

by micfullen1 - 2015-11-13 07:11:01

I was diagnosed with AFIB, Sick sinus syndrome, bradycardia x's 3 years. They set the pace @ 70 because I was constantly @ 40-45 dropping to uppers 20's and 30s. No medication was given for the AFIB.

Pacemaker for AFIB

by Gypsie Jo - 2015-11-14 02:11:14

I too was given a pacemaker because of Afib although I have been told a few things over the years so 5 years on I am still not sure what is wrong with my heart. I too was told that I have sick sinus syndrome. I am on no medication for afib either. The top part of my heart was racing going close to 200 beats a minute and the bottom part was going around 20 beats a minute. I was after I had early collasped at home on a cardica heart monitor in the ICU when the bottom part of my heart stopped altogether and then the top part stopped causing a astoici arrest although I havent got the spelling right sorry. The next day I was given a emergency pacemaker. The funny thing is I couldnt feel anything being wrong with my heart and couldnt even feel it racing and had no pain. I was told though that my pacemaker was because of Afib and that it will stop the heart from going too fast by making the bottom part beat faster.

You know you're wired when...

You play MP3 files on your pacer.

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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.