NEW TO SITE

Hi I am Jillygirl,

Just wondered how much people have improved with their breathing since having a pacemaker fitted.

I am due to have  a pacemaker fitted , due to low pulse rate.

I have had  2 cancers and 1 heart attack all within  the past 4 years.  I am hoping the pacemaker will improve my  breathing.  

Any advice welcomed.   :) 

3 Comments

pacing

by Tracey_E - 2016-11-17 08:04:47

Wow, you've been through a lot! Hopefully it will be smooth sailing now.

The pacer will only make your heart beat faster, that's it. If you are currently short of breath or easily winded from a low heart rate, then yes, it should help. If something else pulmonary is going on, it won't have any effect. 

Breathing

by Artist - 2016-11-17 16:06:49

Many PM club members also have sleep apnea.  In my case, my heart rate dropped to the 30's  at night and a PM was implanted.  A sleep study was the next step.  It was determined that in addition to the slow HR I stopped breathing an average of 15 times every hour.  The oxygen deprivation caused by a slow heart rate and cessation of breathing can wreak havoc on many internal organs not to mention the destruction of brain cells and depriving your body of the opportunity to properly regenerate at night. I am purposely wording this in strong terms.  There is a tendency to avoid yet one more potential health challenge/problem.  But I can testify that using a CAP machine has helped me.  I just have to accept the fact that my heart and my breathing need help and because of these technological advances I am much  better off.  So I strongly encourage you to get a sleep study to see if you have sleep apnea. All of my doctors routinely ask me how compliant I am in using my CAP machine.  

New to pacemaker

by Jillygirl - 2016-11-18 07:07:58

Thanks everyone , will be in touch when I get the pacemaker fitted. Hopefully not too long to wait.  

You know you're wired when...

You run like the bionic woman.

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