Does anyone else ever get this?

OK, I have to quit being so neurotic, but something happened to me tonight that scared the heck out of me. I'm the new PM Girl (just put in on Monday of this week). I thought I was doing pretty well especially with the help of all your kind words. But, right after eating dinner tonight, I stood up to feed my cat and Whammo, my heart started to skip all over the place-felt like in the old days when I would get multiple runs of PAC's and thought I was dying-the only difference is that this time when I took my pulse, it didn't plummet like it used to(guess that means all wires are still in place?) Well, I kinda panicked and called the Cardio On-call. He was very kind and explained that just because there is a pacemaker doesn't mean you still can't have all the other stuff that I had before goes with a nervous heart. He told me to increase my tenormin tonight and of course go to ER if I feel I need to...sure don't want to do that. So, I thought I'd post and just see if any of you out there have also experienced similar scenarios, anyway, thanks to all who read this and care to respond. Carol P.S. thanks to all you girls who responded to my Bra strap question, great suggestions.

7 Comments

Yup!

by ela-girl - 2007-10-05 10:10:38

Hi again, Carol! I hope you're not sick of hearing from me yet!

I replied to rsample's (Rob's) question about dizziness just the other day which kind of goes with your question. I have my pm for a number of different reasons, but my EP reminded me after surgery that even though I have my pm, I can still have all the symptoms of what caused me to have the pm in the first place. I only have had one really bad episode (3 days worth) back in March where I started to have these 'spells' of mine and blackout. Of course, I had a lot of other things going on at the same time (sinus infection, migraine, my period) that didn't help matters. Just too much stress on my system. Overall, in the year I've had my pm I've only had a few moments of having any old symptoms.

So, hang in there! I'm glad you weren't afraid to call the doc, though. Sometimes you need to for peace of mind etc. If your pulse didn't drop, I would assume you are ok and that your pacer is doing it's job (but I'm no doctor mind you!).

Keep in touch!
ela-girl

Gotta stop the Panic Mode!

by Carol - 2007-10-05 11:10:59

Thanks ela-girl for the quick response. I don't think I will ever tire of hearing of others' experiences who are veterans at this..it really does help, so again thanks. I don't know why I thought the PAC/PVC thing shouldn't happen anymore, and I'm a Nurse no less! I probably would have reassured my own patient, but you know, when its happening to me, well, some of that good sense just goes out the window! I guess it'll just take time to stop firing into "panic mode". I really didn't expect I'd ever have to have a pacemaker, but I know that there are certainly alot worse things in this world and I see it everyday in my line of work. I need to be greatful that PM's even exist, huh?! For now, everything has settled down again and I'm hoping for a quiet night. One of the toughest hurdles for me is to just trust my body and quit complicating things with the over reacting mind. Well, goodnight all until next time. Carol

Pull the Plug

by gldoble - 2007-10-06 03:10:44

Carol,

When you have a chance take deep breath and stop
panicing. Give it some time and things will be better.
We all heal at different rates and don't you recall that both Doctors and Nurses make the worst patients ;).

Check in the docs agin and if you have either a Costco or CVS pharmacy close by. Buy yourself either a wrist cuff or pulse monitor. USE IT. Its sort of like bio-feedback and you will be able to track what your heart is doing.

Hang in there kiddo, it'll get better.

Greg

Still happens

by hotform - 2007-10-06 08:10:02

Carol,
I am not on here to comment as much as I should be. That said, I still have those nasty little PAC blips 2 and a half years after my PM implant. I had them much more in the beginning. It seemed like after a few tuning sessions with Medtronics they were fewer and farther between. I have also noticed that I get more of them in the summer months of June and July for some reason. I have never figured out why, but I am sure there is an explaination.
Like last Friday for example. I was suppose to go with my wife to her class reunion. I got ready to go and suddenly I was in afib. I haven't been in afib since I got my pacer, so I was concerned and stayed home. I back tracked to what may have caused it. This is what I came up with.
First week on a new job = more stress.
2 hours late taking my medication - in fact I only remembered after the afib started.
Ate a fish fry for dinner from a local store that was entirely too salty.
So to avoid all this I probably should have gone for the run I intended to go for after work which in turn would have relieved a lot of my first week stress and lowered my blood pressure. Then I should have taken my meds on time which would have given me the Rythmol my body needs. And last I should have avoided the salty meal which took my pressure way too high and contributed to an afib episode.
So, stop, relax, lay down if you have to and review what your day has been like, what you have been eating and what meds you have taken. Chance are there is some kind of a little pattern there that maybe you are not noticing.
I know I am never eating another one of those fish frys again. Rick

PM functioning

by BABlocker - 2007-10-06 08:10:07

Carol,
A pacemaker will: prevent your heart rate from dropping below a certain level, and set a ceiling on how high your heart rate can go before it will put the brakes on.

If your heart has PACs, PVCs, Atrial Fib/Flutter, or Vtach, you will still have these things unless you undergo surgical interventions such as an ablation; the purpose of such procedures, is a cure, and then you may have cessation of the arrythmias. I have been told that it is very difficult to ablate PACs or PVCs unless they are produced in only one area of the heart.

These premature atrial and ventricular beats feel terrible, I know. Hopefully the meds that you take will help to decrease them when they happen.

It took some time for me to trust my PM to not just stop working for me, but is has been over two years now, and with adjustments made by the techs and EP, my heart is functioning well.

Keep reaching out for support and answers to your questions. You are on a learning curve right now that will hopefull not seem as steep to you as time passes.

Hi, Carol,

by Gellia2 - 2007-10-07 07:10:26

I have to agree with what all have said. I, too, got very upset when I started to feel alot of strange sensations that I had never felt before. Pre pacemaker I just had a slow heart rate, never anything else that I was aware. After the pacemaker, I felt PVC's and atrial fib. The PVC's were the worst. They would leave me feeling one step from blackout. The only thing that helped when I felt like I was going to pass out was to take a deep breath, or get up and walk around. I have no idea if this stopped them or not, but it always made me feel better. You may want to try this when you first feel a strange sensation. I've done alot of walking around in the 32 years I've had a pacemaker and taken alot of deep breaths but after awhile it all became second nature as I learned to trust the pacer more.
Anything like this requires the body to make a terrific adjustment. The only thing you can do to try and make it easier is to find the biofeedback that works for you. Try the deep breath first. For me, that worked best. If it didn't....I was up and walking around the house until the feeling went away. I guess I figured if I was moving my heart had to still be beating.
Good luck to you. This site has wonderful and caring people that are always here to lend a hand or an ear. If we can help, let us.
Best to you,
Gellia.

You guys are Awesome

by Carol - 2007-10-07 08:10:16

I can't wait for the day I can say, I've had my PM for 32 years...well, maybe I can -that would make me 86 yrs old!!! But really, I do look forward to embracing this medical marvel and being the one to offer emotional support to others just as you all have done for me in this first week of becoming a "Pacee". Thanks again to all who took the time to calm my nerves! Sincerely, Carol

You know you're wired when...

Your ICD has a better memory than you.

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I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.