Worried Daughter

facial numbness

by Selwyn - 2024-09-23 11:56:21

Facial numbness is not associated with having a pacemeker. The facial nerve is a cranial nerve (7)  and as such comes out from the skull. Pacemakers are implanted below the neck.

Some form of anxiety after receiving a pacemaker is almost universal. If that is interfereing with life it is worth seeking professional help. There is low mood, almost universal with pacemaker receipt, and then depression, where life is dominated by symptoms. Again, if this was gone on for 4 weeks or more, professional help is required. Foggy heads/thinking goes hand in hand with anxiety/depression. 

Perhaps you Mother would see a nurse practitioner? 

Here in the UK we have cardiac nurses connected to the hospital cardiology departments. It is always worth having a chat to the cardiology nurse who specialises in these scenarios.

Worried

by piglet22 - 2024-09-23 12:39:51

Hello

A lot of things get more difficult as we age. Things can dwell on your mind and bring your mood down.

It's important to have things to look forward to. It can be a meal, going somewhere nice for the day.

I find hobbies a great help. Making something, being creative. Maybe resurrect the things that interested your mum when she was younger.

She doesn't have to be physically unwell to see a GP. Just some reassurance can lift a weight of her mind.

Some sort of exercise always helps, gets you out of the house, fresh air.

Maybe an achievable target, distance walked, steps taken 

The pacemaker should be helping her symptoms. Only rarely does a pacemaker cause problems, maybe an infection for instance.

Hope things work out.

A new chapter?

by Gemita - 2024-09-23 14:11:39

My message is one of hope, hope that the pacemaker will make your Mother feel better when she has recovered from the procedure.  You don’t tell us why your Mother needed a pacemaker, but I suspect that her heart condition leading up to the need for a pacemaker has contributed to her health problems she is suffering today, particularly the depression and anxiety issues and the fogginess.  I do not believe the pacemaker has done her harm but of course the reason for the pacemaker and the fear of what might happen in the future is causing your Mother a great deal of stress, stress that she needs relief from.  

I wouldn’t add to your mother’s distress by getting worried yourself.  She needs a strong, optimistic daughter around her to encourage her and to reassure her that this is not the end of her life, but the start of a new chapter.  A pacemaker will help your Mother to live without the fear that her heart may not be able to keep up with her activities.  When she has recovered from the shock and fear of needing a pacemaker, she will be able to steadily do more each day.  She will certainly need 6 weeks to recover and she may well feel uncomfortable for a while, but once healing has taken place, 6-12 weeks (at least this was my experience) she should slowly be able to do more and to feel less anxious about the future.  

Encourage her to talk about her fears with a medical professional if you feel she is sliding into depression. Releasing our fears will help to relieve anxiety and depression.  

If your mother suffered from heart block or sinus node disease, two common reasons for a pacemaker, a pacemaker will effectively treat these conditions.  But of course there are other reasons for a pacemaker.  Whatever the reason for your Mother’s pacemaker, a pacemaker should improve her quality of life and help her to do the things she loves.

Good luck to both of you.  There is life after a pacemaker and a good life.   Please help your mother to find it.

Facial numbness

by Rch - 2024-09-24 16:22:59

Hi

As others have stated, I strongly doubt her symptoms are related to the PM implantation other than just a slow recovery from the surgical 'trauma'. As to her facial numbness however, are they subjective or objective ? Does she feel when you touch her face? Is it on both sides or only one side? Is she able to smile or move all her facial muscles? While I strongly doubt it is anything other than just her subjective feelings, please have these answers ready when you call for appointment or advice. It will certainly relieve your mind just talking to her PCP. In my own case, when I had Covid in 12/2020 ( a month before the vaccines), I was very sick for several weeks, and as I recovered over the ensuing months, one of the symptoms that persisted for almost a year, was facial tightness and numbess on both sides, and it was only subjective! It gradually improved without any intervention.So, I believe your mother's symptoms are transient. Other than that, please make sure she eats well and drinks plenty of fluids. I wish you both well!!

Brain Fog / Sleep

by Geezer55 - 2024-09-26 16:23:55

I also experienced dramatically increased brain fog and sleepiness immediately after my pacemaker was implanted.  It's now been a month and although it's slightly better, I still feel significantly more drained and constantly drowsy compared to before the procedure.
 

I'm 69 in good health, an active lifestyle, a calm, care-free personality and no other health conditions. I take no medications.  The only thing that's changed was the pacemaker.  The doctor has no explanation. 

The only reason I got the pacemaker was due to a low heart rate.   I wish I had not agreed to the procedure,  All I can do now is hope that with time I can at least get back to how I felt before the pacemaker. 
 

I welcome any other suggestions.