Symptom Question-Am I crazy?

Like some of you this is all new to me also. I would like to know if anyone else deals with the same issues. The past two years they thought I was having seizures because of an abnormal EEG and I could not wake up in the mornings. After a 7 day sleep deprived EEG they found that my heart rate and blood pressure drops to low and explained that the communication between my brain and my heart doesn't work at times. The EP Doctor said I need a pace maker. I failed the Echo Stress Test but the Heart Cath was good so I have no blockage. That's the details...now everyday life...

I have different degrees of tightness and different degrees of of pain. Sometimes it feels like a baby kicking in my chest. I have discovered myself that when my BP or Heart Rate starts jumping up and down that is when I hurt or feel really bad. I am exhausted most of the time. I do a little bit and rest a while. Even talking on the phone very long wears me out. I am still working thank God.

On the days I can't wake up sometimes it can take up to 3 hours for me to finally wake up. And then I am exhausted again for a couple of days.

Am I crazy? Does anyone experience anything simular?

Angela from Hot Springs

4 Comments

Question

by SMITTY - 2007-04-15 11:04:03

Angela,

No, I don’t think you are crazy

I am a not a doctor and I don’t know all of your symptoms, not that it would do any good if I did. But, based what you tell us I will venture a guess that a pacemaker could help you in many ways. Starting with, it should provide you with a regular and faster heat beat during sleep so you should be able to awaken easier and more alert each morning. Solve that problem and some of the others may go away or at least be easier for your doctor to determine the treatment needed. Like you said it is good that you have no blockage as I can speak from experience when I say that is a real pain in the rear. Also having no blockage means the benefit from a pacemaker should be more readily visible. Such as some, if not all, of your exhaustion should be history with a pacemaker.

I say follow your doctors, or the EPs, advice. Just remember for some it takes a few days to a few weeks for the full benefit of a pacemaker to be known so don’t expect overnight relief. But the relief will come.

Good luck ad I hope you can let us know how things go.

Smitty

angela

by jessie - 2007-04-16 04:04:23

i remeber the feeling of total and complete exhaustion. also i remember not being able to walk a step hardly without exhaustion and feeling awful. so my hope is for you to feel better again. i too have no blockages so i am blessed. the electrical system failed and we can only guess why. like i said before both me and my two year younger brother had rheumatic fever during the war the 2nd world war and he had been a preemie and ended up with heart surgery at 15 to repair a valve. we both have pacemakers at 65 and 63 and he was told he would not live until his 21st birthday. so doctors do not know everything for sure. somehow the big doctor becomes involved. so i will pray for you. take care jessie

Thanks Smitty

by angelarhodes - 2007-04-16 12:04:40

They said when they put the PM in I will feel 100% better. So I am REALLY looking forward to being active again. I HATE not being able to do stuff. I even can't wait to buy groceries by myself!! HA!

Thanks for your reply.

Angie

Not crazy

by valbob89 - 2007-04-22 03:04:12

Angie:

You proved you're not crazy by seeing a doctor and getting the views of others. This is a frightening time, but knowing that so many of us have seen our problems fade within days of getting a pacemaker, we hope, will give you hope too.

It sounds like this has been with you for a while, so you probably aren't being rushed into surgery. It gives you time to get more input, as you're doing from us. Most people will tell you to ask another doctor; that's what I'm suggesting. You can even ask your dentist or dermatologist or alergy doctor for referrals if you don't feel comfortable asking the EP for a referral. You might even come across someone who has a pacemaker in her family!

When you decide, here's some additional info:
-- The surgery leaves a scar that'll be sore for a while, then maybe itchy. The pacemaker will probably leave a slight bulge after swelling subsides. The devices are about the size of two half-dollars stacked up. You'll need to see your EP a few times to get the pacemaker programmed to work best with your situation. The batteries can last from five to almost 10 years, based on how hard they work in your unique situation. Some members here have been through decades of happy, active lives with occasional necessary replacements.

Having one doesn't create roadblocks to activity, lovemaking, sports -- it can make all of them more enjoyable. Almost everyone here who had a choice (as, technically, you seem to) is very glad they said yes. Some of the members had to get a pacemaker, right away. I'm pretty sure they're REALLY glad to have a pacemaker.

Best Wishes,

Bob

You know you're wired when...

Your heart beats like a teenager in love.

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