Questions to ask EP

For those that have been following my woes - I went to the ER yesterday for continued weakness and sleeping 20+ hours a day since my PM was inserted 8 weeks ago.

Other than my heart rate initially being in the 40's when they hooked me up to the cardiac monitor (paced at 60-120) everything was normal - CBC, electrolytes, cardiac enzymes, urinalysis, CXR.

The ER doc said that he was sorry he could not find anything cause he knew how sick I felt, so they sent me home.  Seems the only time I can't sleep is between midnight and 4AM - last night was the same.  Have felt bad all today.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with my psychiatrist (have had a diagnosis of anxiety and depression over 40 yrs which was controlled with one antidepressant a day until this past May when all the cardiac problems started).  I know what to tell her - one Cymbalta isn't working anymore!

Thursday - I have an appt with the EP.  I can tell him how I feel, but only know a few things to ask about how I should feel with the PM and what to do.

1.  Why am I so tired?

2. Did turning off the CLR (Biotronik 2 lead) cause this tiredness

3. Does the PM have an accelerator? 

4. Should I have a cardiac ultrasound?

5. Could you please explain atrial and ventricle pacing?

6. Is it OK to take Magnesium tablets for the tiredness?

Anyone know of any questions that may be beneficial for me to ask?

Thanks

5 Comments

HR

by BillH - 2016-11-30 00:23:02

You said that your HR was 40 when you first went to the ER. Remember that date and time and ask the EP what the PM was doing at that time?

I am assuming that they did not interogate the PM in the ER. If they did get a copy of that to take to the EP.

TY

by Cajun Girl - 2016-11-30 01:55:30

No they did not interrogate in the ER.  Good question - thank you.

 

Was hoping for more input from the group!  Still consider myself a newbie!

You're Asking All the Right Questions

by NiceNiecey - 2016-11-30 23:57:02

Hi Again CG. 

I responded to your earlier post but as Topdog mentioned, have that low heart rate checked by your EP immediately. That is 100% NOT NORMAL!  Before I got my PM, I was tired all the time. You remind me of that. If your PM isn't working properly (it's not supposed to/be allowed to beat slower than the setting which you said is 60) maybe that's causing or contributing to your exhaustion. Wouldn't that be an easy fix . . .

For the record, I'm still a newbie and I've been paced for 3 years now! {;- )

 

Oops

by NiceNiecey - 2016-12-01 00:02:04

Correction: I said Topdog and meant Bill H. 

Also, working from my iPhone and couldn't get the edit function to work. 

Finally, the questions youve listed are excellent. Nothing to add. 

TY

by Cajun Girl - 2016-12-01 00:40:56

Thanks everyone for your response.  Now to see what tomorrow brings at the EP.

You know you're wired when...

Your device acts like a police scanner.

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