Symptoms before PM

Yes

by Persephone - 2022-05-06 18:20:20

All of those and then some. Similar trajectory - it took a while for the issue(s) to be diagnosed. Best wishes for feeling better soon, Michelle. Please stay in touch with us here. Also, using the search box to find comments regarding a particular area of concern was very helpful to me in the early days when I didn't understand what was going on and the lingering brain fog from blood O2 deprivation hung around for a while. Take care - give yourself some space and time to recover.

Oh yeah!

by Gotrhythm - 2022-05-07 12:09:09

All the symptoms you describe are pretty typical. The cause for all of them is that the brain and other organs aren't getting enough fresh, oxygenated blood to function well when your pulse is less than half what it should be.

I was so bothered by the brain fog I worried that I had early dementia. And yes, it took almost two years to be diagnosed. Doctors kept telling me I was depressed and/or having panic attacks. I think it's so hard because us arrhythmia patients sometimes no heart disease. In my case the bradycardia was only happening some of the time, so even EKG's were normal.

Me Too

by Marybird - 2022-05-07 14:33:00

Though I didn't have heart block, I had sick sinus syndrome ( tachy-brady). The bradycardia came on over about a two year period, with the exhaustion, irritableness and confusion corresponding to the low heart rates ( though the tachycardia didn't help this either) increasing over time. It got to where we were cancelling social engagements and events because I just couldn't................., either physically or mentally.. I had friends and family telling me I really needed to get a pacemaker, but I spent much of that time in denial- thinking if I just did things right it would get better.

I think the worst thing for me during those times that I really believed I might be sliding down the rabbit hole into dementia, when  what people describe as "brain fog" came over me. Got so bad I just dragged my feet a little bit when the EP said it was time for a pacemaker.

But with the pacemaker, that all changed. I can't even begin to describe how much better things are with my little titanium friend, "Millie". These days "she" paces my atrium at a rate of around 94%, the rate response setting works well, and I can take enough heart rate controlling medication to keep the tachycardia ( now it's afib, they tell me) under control, and I feel so much better.

Hopefully you will feel much better too after you get your pacemaker.

Me Too

by Good Dog - 2022-05-08 15:22:08

I had a 1st degree AV Block that suddenly worsened to a 3rd degree (complete) block. I can identify exactly with what you are experiencing. The good news is that you are going to feel like a whole new person. The bad news: there isn't any bad news! It is all good. I have had my pacemaker for over 35 years and honestly, it has been all good!

Welcome to the club! There is a lot of support here from people that can identify with what you may be experiencing. So hang-around! There are some people that post here from time to time that may have some problems or issues. It is important for you to know that they are in the minority. The vast majority of PM patients have no issues at all and as a result, rarely post anything. So don't be mislead by some of the issues you might read about here. 

Sincerely,

Dave

I had minimal symptoms.

by PacedNRunning - 2022-05-22 03:04:02

I had minimal symptoms. I will say doctors can never really predict how much you'll pace. Mine thought I would barely pace. Started at 50%. Now 100%. Even at 50 % he was surprised. If they suspect your going to pace 100% you should already have one. You can't sustain 30 bpm all day without eventually having significant symptoms. You may already have your PM.