Swollen feet

Hello!  I have just signed up for the club and I am very new to all of this.  I had a pacemaker installed March 7 as my heart rate slowly went down to 29 and I ended up in the ER.  Turned out that I had a 3rd degree heart block and my heart wasnt pumping the 2 pumps because of no communication.  Not very technical, but the short of it.  I was so ill for 2 months, dizzy, fainting, befuddled, and so tired.  The pacemaker fixed everything!  I am so greatful for feeling better. However, a little over a week in, my feet swelled up to the point I couldnt wear shoes. They are so swollen and tight and they hurt.  Has anyone experienced this?  My Cardiologist changed around some meds 5 days ago but no change.  Doesnt seem to be a huge concern to anyone, but then again it wasnt that huge of a concern to anyone that my heart rate was so low (sarcasm intended).  Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

5 Comments

edema

by BOBJ - 2017-04-07 17:12:15

Swollen feet is called edema. It is caused by your heart not working properly.

Question for you. Did you have any swelling before the pacemaker?

The following may help

reduce sodium 

monitor your weight - too much too quick - let your doctor know

reduce water (becareful not to dehydrate)

exercise 

Edema can be serious. I have been fortunate. I have no fluid around heart or in lungs, but I do get some swelling in my legs and I flip flop back and forth on weight gain because of it.

 

 

edema

by Tracey_E - 2017-04-07 17:45:09

As Bob said, sounds like edema. Heart block or a slow heart rate does not cause that, pacing to bring your rate up faster doesn't cause it either. Some medications can cause it, however heart block doesn't require medication because the pacer makes the ventricles beat when the atria does, easy fix. Edema is caused by the heart not beating efficiently, the block is the heart not beating quickly. Two totally different problems. My husband is on amlidopine for blood pressure, his ankles are always very swollen.

The way they explained it to me when I was 5 still works pretty well- the top and bottom of my heart don't talk to each other. But here's a nice animated technical explanation from St Judes:

https://www.sjm.com/en/patients/arrhythmias/symptoms-causes-diagnosis/bradycardia-slow-heartbeat

Thanks for the replies!

by Sylvia60 - 2017-04-07 18:51:05

Thank you for the info.  I am now going early (Mon) to the pacemaker clinic to see whats going on. This does have me worried.  Bob, in answer to your question, I have never had this swelling before the pacemaker, so im sure its related.  And Tracey, Amlidopine is what they took me off of 5 days ago.  I am very worried that my heart is not working properly even after the PM.  So disappointed about my feet as I have never felt better since after the PM.  Wish me luck.

rate vs function

by Tracey_E - 2017-04-07 20:03:23

The pacer sends the message to beat, so all it does is make the heart go at a faster rate. The heart muscle responds to the pacer's signal by contracting and beating. How hard this contraction is is the function, how good your circulation will be. If your function drops, you can get swelling. That is unrelated to pacing. 

Sylvia

by IAN MC - 2017-04-08 09:58:10

Chances are that your swollen feet have been caused by the amlodipine. Amlodipine belongs to a class of drugs known as calcium channel blockers and they are notorious for causing swollen ankles.

If amlodipine has been the cause then your oedema should improve once the drug is out of your system ; this could take up to 10 days to happen.   But then your body has to clear the fluid from your ankles and this could take further time.

From what you say you don't have any other symptoms of congestive heart failure so it is probable that you have a drug-related side effect.

Best of luck

Ian

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