Sleep

Wow!

by AgentX86 - 2020-01-01 01:36:20

67 and you were sitting with your mom.  That's fantastic!

Extra heartbeats aren't at all unusual, particularly after your heart has been assaulted, as it was.  For the same reason, papatations aren't unusual either (palpatations are caused by the extra heartbeats).  Usually these are PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) and usually benign, unless they're something on the order of 30% of heartbeats.  They feel terrible, though.  BTDT.

Mine were bigeminy PVCs and were worse (feeling) than either Afib or Aflutter, which were bad enough. To diagnose them, I sent a remote transmission to my EP and cardiologist, while it was occuring.  They took a quick look and said not to worry.  They had me go into the device clinic, where they raised my heart rate back to 80bpm. They'd just dropped it from 80 to 70 and were planning to change it to 60 in about a week. I'm still at 80bpm during the day.  Once in a while I'll get the at night after my HR drops to 50bpm.  When they "adjusted" your pacemaker, perhaps this is what they did? A beta blocker is also perfectly normal in this situation. These extra beats will probably go away as your heart gets used to being paced.

If you're not happy with your cardiologist, EP, or any doctor, for any reason, fire them.  You're trusting your life to them.  You have a right to be comfortable with their service but it seems they're doing the right things but perhaps they aren't communicating well.  They really have to for you to have an "informed consent".  It is part of their job, however you need to learn as much as you can about your condition and pacemaker so that you can communicate effectively with them. The more you know, the better off you'll be. This is always true with medicine but even more important when it comes to pacemakers. 

Added: As far as sleep goes, yeah, some take a lot longer than others to heal.  Your stature may have something to do with it but it took me two months of sleeping in a recliner before I could get back into bed.  I'm a stomach sleeper, so it was rough for a litle while (thoug not so much as after my bypass ;-).

Sleep

by Miki - 2020-01-01 06:38:11

I'm also a stomach sleeper. So when I try to sleep in bed I struggle with pillows etc. recliner is so much more comfortable because I don't try to roll over.  I did switch cardiologists, they listened and tweaked my pacemaker setting and gave me the prescription for heart blocker.  Much better, but this has been a real shocker for me. My mother is almost 90 and going strong.  I've been really active still doing janitorial work when this all happened.  I was cutting the lawn 4 days before the first time they put in pacemaker.  I had echogram and was waiting on results because I had been out of breath so much. Hubby had back and k eye surgery so I was doing double duty.  I went in before the results available and they did EKG.  They immediately called ambulance had me chew aspirin etc. went to emergency right from doctors.  Then had to have redone two weeks later. My vertigo acted up when I came home thought it was due to pacemaker. It has been a trip.  My one wish to be able to sleep in bed again. 

sleep

by Radar - 2020-01-01 23:50:32

I had my PM implanted 12/11/2019. Sleep has been getting better since then. Initially , the swelling around the PM incision bothered me and was sensitive which made getting to sleep difficult. I havent tried sleep on my PM side, but I am finding that its getting easier to get comfortable enough to be able to fall asleep. I have had at least 2 nights where I didnt sleep much at all. Ive had anxiety about the leads also which seems like other people have experienced too. Its good to be your own advocate. Some doctors, not just cardiologists, dont listen enough and dont keep an open mind. Hope your sleep improves-give yourself some time.