Bradycardia

You will get better

by Gemita - 2020-08-17 08:21:09

Hello DDOERR,

Your pacemaker history is very brief and 5 days is still the time most of us are coming to terms with our new friend and it will be a friend if you give it time.  I would say healing could take several weeks and up to 6 weeks before you will begin to get back to normal activities.

Some of us will be more sensitive to our devices than others.  I could not get comfortable at night without placing an extra pillow on my side to sleep.  I couldn’t stretch my left arm without feeling a pulling discomfort, I got lots of palpitations and felt more miserable than ever but then one day when my mind was fully occupied in the garden I managed (after six weeks) to stretch both arms upwards to prune without any restriction.  My palpitations took a little longer to settle but they are well under control now and I haven’t looked back.

It is hard I understand at first when we have so many doubts that our pacemakers will really help us to have a better quality of life but give yourself time to really heal and get used to pacing.  If you are really struggling have a word with your general doctor, or a close family member or friend, or keep coming back to us.  It always helps to talk

yes, it gets better

by Tracey_E - 2020-08-17 09:22:22

This is temporary! We all heal at different rates but things should start to improve quickly in the next day or two. Are you icing? I found icing helped more than pain meds. I also found it helpful to sleep hugging a small pillow, kept me from rolling onto my sore side. 

Better now!

by akgypsy - 2020-08-19 01:30:39

I have only had my pacemaker since July 24. It's now just a little over 3 weeks, and I am only now beginning to feel like maybe I'll be my usual self again. I was depressed and fearful and anxious with no logical reason other than I just had my core of myself invaded by alien objects! Of course I was a bit emotional! But physically I had palpitations and dizziness and couldn't get comfortable, especially couldn't lie on my side (either side) in bed. My physical discomfort is now pretty much gone, except for some tenderness over the site, and my emotions seem to have evened out. I haven't had any dizziness for a week or more, and much fewer palpitations. I was told this might be the case, but I am not accustomed to feeing fragile or worried about cutting myself or falling (I'm taking Eliquis, too), or fearful of having something go wrong. So it's taken some adjustment. My heart rate is a bit more easily elevated with exertion but I think that may be normal. I'm used to a heart rate of between 39 and 45, so even having it set at 50 and then sometimes going up into the 70s and 80s is disconcerting, and feels like anxiety. I don't know if this helps but I suspect yours will settle down and you will begin to feel better soon.

Try a recliner to sleep

by El Gordo - 2020-08-19 19:25:05

Hi

I'd try sleeping in a recliner. (also good for hernia repairs)

Gravol might help get you to sleep too.

When I first got mine, sometimes I could feel when I was being paced. I found it sort of reassuring; now I very seldom feel it.

It will get better...I got mine 2 years ago, and now I forget it's even there for days at a time. I find that if I dive into water my pacemaker can speed up for a few seconds and it does feel like anxiety, but now that I know, it's no big deal.  Once you get more used to it, you will start to trust it. Then you'll start to forget you have it.

It's a blessing!