Battery Life & Other Issues

I have recently been seeing a pulmonologist and my cardiologist over the last two months because I have been running low on physical energy and can walk very long without having to sit down and rest. I now fall asleep sitting straight up and without warning. I had a lung strength test done and also a cardio catheterization done, and I told I had low blood oxygen transfer which is making me weak. I also have sarcoidosis, and I am scheduled tomorrow morning for a CAT scan because I had dark spots and scar tissue on my lungs. I am also approaching five years on my pacemaker implant. Help.

3 Comments

Are You on Amiodarone or a drug ending in rone?

by Fruit First - 2012-01-15 09:01:23

The Amiodarone drug type has been killing people with Lung problems. Go to post below!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/stopamiodarone/
It gave me pneumonia like problems in 8 days and the Pulmonary Dr. took me off the drug right away. That was 6 years ago and I still have problems I didn't have before.

Hello...

by Suzzy123 - 2012-01-15 09:01:42

When I was first introduced to having a pacemaker - one of my biggest fears was that the thing would just die whether it was a malfunction or the battery just gave up. I was assured many times over by all professionals involved that this would not happen. I have had a pacemaker going on 12 years, and had to have it replaced once due to re-call. No concerns overall, and more often then not I forget that I even have one.

Sarcoid

by Greg in ME - 2012-01-16 03:01:47

Your reference to sarcoidosis makes it sound like you were diagnosed with that first. If so did you have any other breathing tests? The oxygen transfer test, called a diffusion capacity or DLCO, should’ve been one of the tests a pulmonologist would’ve ordered when trying to establish a diagnosis of sarcoid. If you’ve had other breathing tests it would be helpful to compare the tests to see if there has been a decrease over time. A decreased diffusion capacity can certainly cause fatigue because your lungs aren’t transferring oxygen and carbon dioxide as efficiently as they should, especially with activity. I tell people all the time that breathing is something no one appreciates until they can’t do it. It affects everything. I’d be surprised if you’re on amiodarone (as mentioned in the previous post) if you’ve been diagnosed with sarcoid. If you are taking amiodarone, and it hasn’t been discussed with your pulmonologist you should bring it up today. It’s been my experience that cardiologists and pulmonologists sometimes don’t communicate as well as we might hope…

As far as your battery goes, if you’re getting regular PM checks they should know well in advance of your needing a new battery.

Good luck with your CT. Hopefully this information helped.

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