3 days Post OP, strange sensations and emotional roller coaster

Hi Lego

by WiredandTired - 2017-06-24 06:42:09

I'm a new pacer too.  49.  We have very similar stories.  Thought I was healthy as a horse, worked out every day (just turned 49 in april) and the next thing I knew I was on the operating table. Near syncope, brain fog, confusion, palps, 6 days in 2 hospitals, every test under the sun, - til they found the pauses in my heartbeats, and drops to 30 in heart rate while asleep, which they originally attributed to a beta blocker they were trying for a tachy episode.  Over the years, I have had skipped beats or little flutters but attributed it to caffeine or stress or whatever because they came and went in a second and life moved on.

I'm assuming every EP/Cardiologist has guidelines for deciding on whether a pacemaker is needed.  My cardiologist said they typically and loosely use pauses of at least 4 seconds before considering implanting one unless someone is very symptomatic and I'm sure, other factors.  Perhaps that's why there was some discussion over your need of one with a 2.8 second pause.

I actually DO know someone that got a pacemaker only after she wrecked her car from passing out driving, so I agree with you....scary thought.

As for symptoms - I am having all sorts of weird sensations and the people here have helped me a lot with them and most seem to be just healing.  You'll even find a couple of posts here from me about the throat thing if you do a search.  I had/have it too and it's finally easing up after a settings adjustment.  I still get it here and there but it lasts minutes now and it's slight.  Before, it was like I had a golf ball stuck in the base of my throat.  Really uncomfortable fullness and pressure.

All I can say is that you arent alone in all the weird sensations and if you are worried, ask your doctor.  They do seem to slowly work themselves out but you may need some setting adjustments when you go to your device clinic.  I told them of my extreme exhaustion and throat/chest pressure and they turned on the rate response function and upped my settings from 50/120 to 60/150 and it made a huge difference. I'm told it takes time for your heart and brain to adjust to being paced. Tomorrow I'll be 4 weeks post PM and I am, by no means, "back to normal", but I'm beginning to accept that it's a slower process (for me) than I thought it would be.  Each day gets a little better.  I walk 2 miles most days and half a mile when the exhaustion is bad.  I hope you feel better soon!  Good luck.

Pm life

by TBrous&Chip - 2017-06-24 08:10:31

The idea of one day being perfectly well and the next needing a permanent devote to assist our heart is difficult to mentally accept.  I spent 6 months of testing before receiving my pm and still had mental issues with the idea. I was and am healthy and not on any medication. I have an electrical signal problem in my heart and the pm controls the problem.

There are many older and younger than you with a pm.  Most lead normal lives unless they gave other unrelated health issues. 

This website is great for support. I am glad you found it early on.

Try to accept your pm as you would any other aide to improve your health. Everyday gets better as you go through your healing process.

processing

by Tracey_E - 2017-06-24 09:53:47

It can take a while for it to sink in! But know that you needed it. If your rate was in the 30's and your heart was pausing, you only had one safe, smart choice. 

People get caught up in depending on an device, however every time we get in cars and airplanes we are depending on computers to keep us safe. If someone has diabetes, they take insulin without thinking twice. If you break a bone, they use screws and plates to put it back together. This isn't much different. Medical science is full of miracles that give us back our lives when in the days of our grandparents, we would have either died young or gradually lost quality of life. I'll take my pacemaker, thankyouverymuch. I'm 50, btw, but I got my first pacer at 27. I've had a few more years to process it than you. You'll get there. Take time to get over the shock, to be angry, to mourn, to heal physically.Then get back to your life. There is nothing I want to do that I cannot, no one looks at me and sees a heart patient. 

Lack of oxygen absolutely will take a toll on the brain! I found my mind was a lot sharper in the weeks after getting that first pacer, like the fog lifted. My eyesight got better, some little irregularlities in my blood work went away, my energy skyrocketed. The body needs oxgyen, when it doesn't get it there is a price to pay. The pacer can fix all that.

Thank you

by Legomom - 2017-06-24 13:26:12

Thank you all. Seriously. It's one thing to have head knowledge that thiscwas needed and that it takes a while to get used to and back to normal, it is another thing to have encouragement and questions answered and shared experiences.