Exhausted after standing

I am new to the site and to having a pacemaker. I received my pacemaker about ten days ago. A little background... I am 32 and  in pretty decent shape. I received a pacemaker due to sick sinus syndrome. I have had issues my whole life and a month ago I took a tilt table test and discovered that my heart stops when I pass out. Usually this is brought on by different triggers. I also had a low pulse that would dive off and on throughout the day and night. The pacemaker started working immediately and I was surprised that I have been relying on it about 35% of the day. The doc said this percentage should go down after I heal and my heart gets stronger. I know healing takes time. However if is walk or stand for more than a half hour I feel terribly tired. If I don't lay down once tired I get a little shaky and a headache comes on immediately. I even get a bit clammy. Is this all normal and part of the process?  Do I just need to rest more or should I be doing a little more each day and push myself ?  Thanks everyone for any input!

2 Comments

Tired

by Kcambridge - 2016-06-22 22:54:26

Hi there! I am 33 and in pretty decent shape, too. Just got my pacemaker about two weeks ago.

My doctors kept me in the hospital on monitors and running tests for a full week between when I was rushed into the emergency room and when I had my pacemaker installed. I don't know about you, but during much of that period I was on bed rest.

The week following my discharge, I was constantly exhausted and having trouble lasting a full work day. I brought up my exhaustion at my one week follow up appointment, and the EP nurse said that bed rest alone can really set a person back significantly. He said that a healthy 20 year old, for example, could lose something like up to 20% of their muscle mass after only three days of bed rest (citation needed) and I had been in bed twice that long. He thought the exhaustion was mostly due to bed rest and recovering from all of the other procedures and things I'd been through during my hospital stay.

I thing the EP nurse was right. I am happy to report that at two weeks out, I am feeling dramatically stronger. In fact, I just got in from a 4 mile walk, and I intend to try jogging this weekend.

I think patiently easing back into everything was key for me. I worked from home and took copious naps the first two days back. I then made myself at least sit at my desk for the full workday for the remainder of that week. Last weekend and earlier this week, I went on short distance walks with my fiancé at night after work to test how I was feeling, stopping if I got tired. And, tonight, I ventured out on my own and am finally feeling pretty strong. :)

My advice: be patient, ease in, and definitely talk to your EP Doctor/nurse to make sure that what you're experiencing is typical and not something to worry about.

Also, I should mention that I do not have SSS or any other underlying condition they have been able to discover, and so I can't exactly say that our experiences with recovery will be the same. At the same time, I hope that sharing my own experience has helped you a little.

Hang in there and feel better soon!!

Thanks!!!

by CandiPan83 - 2016-06-22 23:21:20

Thank you both for the information!  Kcambridge this sounds more of the experience I am having. I was in bed rest for over a week and just started getting around the last two days. I will take it a little at a time and just rest when I can if I get too tired. Just gotta build back up to where I was and hopefully even beyond now that I should be pumping properly!!!

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My eight year old son had a pacemaker since he was 6 months old. He does very well, plays soccer, baseball, and rides his bike. I am so glad he is not ashamed of his pacemaker. He will proudly show his "battery" to anyone.