having a difficult time sleeping since the pacemaker

Benadryl

by Grateful Heart - 2018-06-22 21:26:56

I have found in the past, if I took Benadryl or NyQuil when sick, it worked as needed.  If I took it near the end of a cold but did not feel completely sick....it did not work but kept me up instead.  Now that your HR is more "normal" you may not need it any longer. 

So stop taking it up and see how it goes.  Just a suggestion.

Grateful Heart 

thanks

by bluevelvetcake - 2018-06-22 21:32:37

thanks, I took it last night after several sleepless nights. Before the PM it was my go-to if I need ed a sleep aid. 

thank you robin

by bluevelvetcake - 2018-06-22 23:36:09

Thank you for the feedback. yes, I don't take any sleep aids like nyquil or unisom as I always feel groggy in the morning. I asked my cardiologist about Benedryl and he said that was fine for my PM. I usually reserve for hotel stays and things like that. Not every night. I don't want yout to get the wrong impression. 

No, I am not tired when I wake up. In fact this morning, I got up at 5 am and was on on the eliptical by 530 and here I am sitting here at 1030 pm wide awake with no sleep aids. yay yay I know the screen light is bad. 

I do think you answered my question though. I hadn't thought of it before.  You said Now,  your heart is functioning properly it is within the normal range to not need as much sleep"  I guess that's true. 

Thanks

Right after you get your pacemaker

by Theknotguy - 2018-06-23 07:21:05

Right after you get your pacemaker they set the voltage higher and, of course, have increased your heart rate.  Yep, at first you feel like the energizer bunny because your brain and body isn't accustomed to all the good blood flow and oxygen.  Amazing feeling isn't it?

I'm one of those rare individuals who could feel the initial shock from the pacemaker.  So occasionally I'd feel the tickle followed by the hard thump of the heartbeat.  It would wake me up in the middle of the night.  And, of course, there was this great feeling because I could get a good breath of air.  Hadn't felt that in years.  More energy and I went back to doing things I hadn't done in a while.  

At, or about, three months they lowered the voltage so I didn't feel the tickle any more.  My body adjusted to the faster heart rate and I wasn't running around like a wild person.  Enjoy the euphoria while you can, it goes away.  

Glad to hear everything is going so well for you.  
 

Benadryl and other OTK meds

by ole bill - 2018-06-23 09:18:57

Beware of OTC drugs, especially Benadryl.  I volunteer in the ER twice a week and have seen countless folks come in by EMS in Tackycardia (200+ pulse) after taking Benadryl.  These Pts had never before had a problem with Benadryl....... just my 2-cents!!

Im one of those ER Pts......

Gravol

by El Gordo - 2018-06-23 10:58:36

I find that one gravol has me asleep within about 20 minutes.

Enjoy the energy, practice relaxation

by Gotrhythm - 2018-06-23 15:14:44

I wouldn't be too concerned about not falling asleep as easily as you did before the pacemaker.

Before, your low heart rate kept you so exhausted, you didn't need help going to sleep. You were asleep as soon as your head hit the pillow and you slept like the dead all throught the night. And if you were like me, getting up in the morning was the hardest thing you did all day.

It's possible that your old settle-down-and-go-to-sleep skills got rusty, and now you will need to learn them over again. Robin's suggestions are good, and on youtube you can find hundreds of relaxation inductions.

Based on what you said in another post, I'd be very wary of OTC meds. Many of them can have unpredictable effects on the nervous system and the heart. And at best all they really do is make you a little sleepy for a few minutes.

Get settings checked

by MaCo9 - 2018-06-23 19:36:42

my setting is at 70 during the day but at 11:00 pm, it bumps down to 50 until 7 am. Most people have lower heart rates when they sleep.  Ask your dr to tinker with the settings according to your schedule and maybe you’ll be able to sleep better. 

Settings

by AgentX86 - 2018-06-23 23:27:34

"my setting is at 70 during the day but at 11:00 pm, it bumps down to 50 until 7 am."

Very cool!  Thank you!  I didn't know this was an option.  They set mine at 80 for the first month (possibility of sudden death, AIUI) then backed it off to 70.  My EP said he'd crank it back to 60 a month later but it didn't happen and I didn't push it because 70 is a happy medium between daytime and night.  80 keeps me awake but I'm afraid 60 would make me too tired during the day (I was in the 40s to mid-50s before the PM).  A time clock would be perfect.

thanks for the amazing responses

by bluevelvetcake - 2018-06-24 11:39:31

I have NO idea that I could get my settings adjusted for different times, wow. I will definitely ask him about that next appointment. 

It is true, before I would put my  head down and be asleep within seconds and slept like a rock but I was always tired during the day despite that. I guess I never paid much attention and would always joke that I was getting old. (43)

Last night I fell alseep pretty well at 9. I've been doing so much during the day its crazy. I did wake up at 2 am because my husband went pee and then I had a restless rest of the night just snoozing instead of really sleeping. I woke up and after my cup of coffee at 6 am I was ready to go. I went jogging on the trails which I haven't done in forever by 7 am. Now my husband is tired after jogging and I'm ready to GO!! ha ha.

Good to know that the euphoria does wear off, my life is just not that exciting to fill it with as many activites and my body wants to do right now, ha ha ha!!!

ditto

by dwelch - 2018-06-25 15:21:51

Yes, same problem with my first pacer, and yes I adjusted to the higher heart rate and was able to sleep again.  There is an adjustment period, it was 30 years ago for me so i cant exactly tell you how long it took me to adjust to the new rate, but I did.  I think the doc was willing to lower my lower limit to 50 which helped, but see what your doc says.  I wouldnt rely on meds to get to sleep, just the exhaustion of being up will let nature take its course.  

Just think at least for now you can bang through a whole season of game of thrones or breaking bad or something.  Or do two days worth of work in one, while you are pumped up on this brand new nicely working heart with a new rate...