Recovery - Short of Breath

Hi All,

Just got my transvenous ICD/pacemaker for Brugada a week ago and I’m trying to gauge what’s normal in recovery. I’m 33 and otherwise healthy, and everything seems to be healing well from the surgery from what I can see. The issue is after a week of resting I’m still getting quite winded and out of breath when I am standing or doing much for more than a few minutes.

It looks like lots of people start to feel more or less back to normal around this time (except for the left arm of course). Is it normal to be getting tired like that? Anyone have any perspective to share?

5 Comments

SOB

by ROBO Pop - 2019-10-04 01:40:52

When a device is first implanted they frequently leave it at the factory settings. It may take a couple of setting changes to get the device fine tuned for your specific needs. Keep a journal of your normal daily routine as well as  how you are feeling and share it with your doctor at your next visit

Shortness of breath is a common symptom of lack of blood supply

by crustyg - 2019-10-04 05:36:56

Just to add to Robo Pop's wise words: lack of adequate blood supply to exercising muscles can often feel like shortness of breath (odd, but true).

You almost certainly need your box tuned from factory default settings to something closer to what *you* need for your level of activity and exercise.

Lots of patience, too.

by Shana - 2019-10-04 09:33:12

I remember not feeling great for a longer period of time post surgery. Short of breath and weak.

I agree with the others that optimizing the settings (which took me months) helped with shortness of breath (especially when training).

Hope you feel better soon!

 

recovery after surgery

by Selwyn - 2019-10-04 09:56:32

It is universal to feel tired after surgery. Sometimes depression sneaks in as well, especially after major surgery. I have seen hundreds of people in the recovery phase and have been there myself. It is normal to be tired.

Of course, your new device that will save your life needs to be fine tuned for your style of living. It may take a few tries to get the settings right.

After all that hype, prior to surgery, there is always a let down of tiredness, before we get back to normal. 

Anxiety itself is associated with tiredness as all the available energy gets used up in wasteful nervous energy.

Put your feet up, relax, go with the flow. Early days yet.  You need to gradually get back to activity when you feel like it. 

Thanks!

by TwoHeartedKale - 2019-10-04 16:56:02

Thanks for the reassurance and encouragement, all! Starting to have a lot more energy today though still short of breath - glad to know about the device calibration so I can look forward to that!

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