Update and a reminder

Today I am fully recovered from the bout of diverticulitus and feeling the best I've felt in months--really since I don't know when. Happily, the improvement in mental clarity is keeping pace with the physical, and it seems reasonable to hope, i.e. within the realm of possibility, that more improvement is coming.

Let this be a reminder to us all, that yes, you have a heart condition, and yes, you have a pacemaker, but not everything that happens is being caused by the heart or the pacemaker--yes, even "heart" symptoms.

Just a few days of antibiotics and the heart symptoms were reduced 95%.

Blessings to you all. Thanks again for the kind words and caring you expressed. You are precious to me.

6 Comments

Thank you for the timely lesson

by Gemita - 2023-12-06 14:53:13

Dear Gotrhythm,

Are you really back with us and in good health?  That is wonderful news and I am so pleased that your heart rhythms appear almost normal again.  Just imagine if you had started changing all your settings instead, I wonder where you would be today?

Yes it is important not to assume that our heart condition is always the cause for our worsening chest pain, palpitations and other symptoms.  I always know for example when I have an infection, or another active health problem because my heart rhythm is usually disturbed.  Treat the infection or other health condition and the heart can often be treated as well.

I hope your diverticulitus can be kept under control and that you can slowly eat what you most enjoy, even a few treats over the Christmas period.

So good to have you back xx

Great News

by Penguin - 2023-12-06 15:51:24

So pleased to hear that you feel better.  Yes, I agree with you and Gemita that ailments can throw up new cardiac symptoms or cause new ones that the pacemaker isn’t set up to deal with. I too have had cardiac symptoms from gastric ailments which I treated too aggressively with OTC medications.  Knocked me for six ! Fortunately cause and effect was very obvious in my case.

 It’s a shame that you didn’t mention the gastric symptoms in your first post, but also understandable.  Maybe the best lesson is that if you post cardiac symptoms on a pacemaker forum you will end up with replies that suggest a pacing related cause particularly against a history of settings related issues 🙁

Welcome back 🌸💕

by Lavender - 2023-12-06 17:01:52

What a great post!! Always love reading your input! 😉

Wise Words

by SeenBetterDays - 2023-12-06 18:06:40

Gotrhythm, I'm so pleased to hear you have recovered from your diverticulitis. You are a precious member of the club and I always value and appreciate your comments and advice. You are much missed when you are not here. Your post is very timely for me, I have gastric problems at the moment and have noticed arrhythmias kicking in. This always makes me a little anxious but it seems that the gut and the heart are intrinsically linked so we shouldn't be surprised that the two are correlated. I do tend to jump to the conclusion that my heart is the problem and, as you so rightly said, it could well be that resolving another health issue could also resolve any newly evolving cardiac symptoms. I hope you have a lovely Christmas Gotrhythm and that your health continues to improve. We all need your brain cells to be working as they are too valuable to do without!

Great news, and agree: wise words

by LondonAndy - 2023-12-06 19:27:14

I learnt this lesson myself, after becoming an insulin dependent diabetic. It's easy to think whatever else "goes wrong" is down to the thing we know about!

Happy to hear you are better

by PacedNRunning - 2023-12-15 15:07:03

You are right! We quickly blame things on our heart or anything recent that changed in our life. I'm glad you are better!!!!!! 

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