Pacemaker Problems or valve Problems

Hello my name is Doreen and I had surgery for a valve replacement on Sept 11 th and then I had to have a pacemaker put in a week later after the surgery . Has anyone had this happen to them ?? After the surgery and the heart rate was very low they told my family that I may need a pacemaker if my rate does not go up . So after a week they implanted it , I wasn't very happy having to go back in the operating room again to say the least , but I have not felt good , I thought after the surgery I would feel like a new person but that has not happened , as a matter of fact I think I feel worse . I don't know if it's from the valve or the pacemaker but if anyone has any input regarding the pacemaker I would love to hear from you . I sometimes feel like all of a sudden my heart is racing and I shake and egt all sweaty and I have to take a metopropalol to stop the feeeling .Also at imes I have shortness of breath. I tried to climb some steps( about 20 ) the other day and I couldn't make it. I just want to know if this is normal for the pacemaker 2.5 months out . If anyone else has experienced having to have a pacemaker after a valve replacement please write back , because this was a complete surprise to me , not one thing was ever said to me about htis before surgery , and not one article that I read mentioned it or any of the research that I did said anything about it. Thanks for listening.
Doreen

4 Comments

it takes time

by sgrozinski - 2008-01-02 07:01:45

Doreen, I had a PM implanted in June 2007. Twice I had to have adjustments made to the PM settings. I'm still not 100% but I think that I will be soon. I don't know anything about a valve replacement but I'm sure that someone who has had a similar problem. I have received good information from others in this support group. Hang in there .
Steve





Maybe??

by Vicki - 2008-01-02 08:01:43

Hi Doreen, I want to share something I read on another site about why you may have needed the Pace Maker. The person who posted said this:

One possible effect of the valve surgery is that the heart's natural pacemaker can be damaged; usually it takes about 4 days post-surgery to ensure that all is OK.

Maybe that is what happened to you. As for you feeling so poorly, I think you should call your doctor tomorrow and have your PM checked out. They may need to adjust the settings. I have learned from this site that for many people the factory settings are not adequate.

Take care,
Vicki

DOREEN

by Missy - 2008-01-02 11:01:39

HI DOREEN,,,,,,,I WENT FOR A HEART EVALUATION AND WOKE UP TWO DAYS LATER HAVING HAD A MITRAL VALVE REPLACEMENT,,,,,,THEY DID TELL ME WHY I CAN ONLY GUESS THEY DIDN'T WANT ME TO WORRY IS THE ONLY THING I CAN FIGURE THE REASON THEY JUST DID IT,,,,,,AFTER A FEW MONTHS I WAS FELLING AWFUL AND IT WAS DECIDED I HAVE A PACEMAKER PUT IN,,,,THAT WAS A ONE NIGHTS STAY AND NO PAIN AND FOR THE MOST PART I HAVE TO SAY IT'S WORKING OK....BUT THEN THERE ARE TIMES MY HEART FOR NO REASON STARTES TO PALPATATE AND I DON'T LIKE THAT AT ALL,....ALL OF THIS I GUESS IS GETTING USED TO THE PM,,,,EVERY THREE MONTHS THE PACER IS CHECKED BY A TECHNICIAN WHO WORKS FOR THE CARDIOLOGIST AND THE PACEMAKER COMPANY METRANICS AND THAT IS A COMFORT,,,,,I HAVE ASKED FOR AND AM GETTING THE EQUIPTMENT YOU USE TO CHECK THE PACER OVER THE PHONE,,,,,I THINK FOR PEACE OF MIND THAT IS A WONDERFUL THING TO HAVE,,,,,EVERYTHING TAKES TIME SO BE PATIENT AND BE POSITIVE ABOUT YOUR RECOVERY,,,,BEST OF LUCK TO YOU DOREEN,,,,,,,IRENE

Post Pacemaker

by stable - 2008-01-02 11:01:47

One of the comments I heard regularly before my pacemaker implantation was that I would feel a lot better.

Although the symptoms of snycopy, double vision and general weakness have been addressed I cannot say I feel much better.

From time to time my heart beat feels irregular and the pacemaker is uncomfortable. It is now 8 months since implantation and the problems seem to be diminishing.

So unless you are experiencing severe problems, my recommendation is give it time.

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Member Quotes

Yesterday I moved to a new place in my mind and realized how bad I felt 'before' and the difference my pacemaker has made.