Pacemaker Questions

Hi,

I am wondering if it is normal to feel extremely tired after getting a pacemaker. On November 28th I passed out while driving my car. When I got to the hospital my heart rate was around 40. The doctors really couldn't find out why my heart rate was so low, so after a day in the hospital they sent me home. On December 12th, I passed out again--this time while laying in bed talking on the telephone. When the paramedics got to my house my heart rate was 32. I was taken to a different hospital and was given a pacemaker on December 14th. After getting home from the hospital, I started getting really fast heart beats, which felt horrible. I went back to the cardiologist and he put me on Toprol XL to control the fast heart beats. Now I'm wondering if the medicine is making me tired or if it's just normal to feel like this after getting the pacemaker. I thought I was going to be able to go back to work next week, but the doctor said he wants me out of work for three more weeks. It seems like all I do is sleep (and worry). Before this I was a high energy person and I'm so worried that my life will never be the same. I was also recently diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who's been through this.

Thanks for your time in reading my message.

Judy

4 Comments

A Little of Both

by Carol - 2007-12-29 07:12:14

Hi Judy,
My guess is that you're feeling tired as a result of both your surgery and the Toprol XL (Beta Blocker I believe)
I've been on Beta Blocker drugs for many years for high BP, but after I got my PM I also started to get tachycardia along with some "skipped" beats. The Doc increased my medication, and I went through a period of time adjusting to the added dose and that included a great deal of fatigue, sluggishness, etc. I'm OK now.
The surgery itself also is a stressor, even if the Doc's say "no big deal" - your body is still recuperating. So, give yourself time to heal, take it easy, and you'll feel better.
P.S. If you sift through past posts you'll also find that some folks just don't adjust to Beta Blockers, but you usually have to allow at least a few weeks to see how your own body does.
Hope this helps, Happy New Year, Carol

PM Questions

by SMITTY - 2007-12-29 09:12:45

Hello Judy,

I can see at least four things in your message, any one of which could account for your feeing tired.

I am not trying to list them in any particular order. but I’ll start with the fact that your surgery is only two weeks old. Surgery can really sap the strength of some of us and just because so and so was out chasing rabbits the next day after their surgery does not mean everyone is so lucky. As Carol said give yourself some time.

Next, with a heart rate all over the map, I know for a fact how that can play heck with our ability to do things we think we should be able to do. Give your doctor time to get your erratic heart rhythm under control.

Then there is the Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. As you probably know, this disease keeps our thyroid from producing as much thyroid hormone as we need and a lack of this hormone can cause an erratic heart rate, a slow heart rate, and about the worse case of lethargy anyone ever wants. If you are already being treated for a low thyroid I woudl guess you will be soon.

Then there is the Toprol XL. Again, as Carol said, that is a beta blocker. I’m one of those that cannot take any beta blocker if I want to continue to be mobile. I have often described my reaction to beta blockers as feeling as if I’m trying to walk through ankle deep mud all the time.

So, add it all up and I think you have good reason to not feel up to par. Give yourself and your doctor a little time, I sure he can provide help the help you need.

Good luck,

Smitty

Toprol XL

by nccoda - 2007-12-30 05:12:20

Seems like we kind of in the same boat – I passed out while driving on August 1, 2007 and was taken to one hospital and they could not figure out what was wrong and they sent me to Duke Hospital and they figured out that I had an Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia as well as Long QT syndrome. My husband and I noticed that my heart rate was erratic – arythimia – and on the telemetry machine that my heart rate got as low as 37 and we told the doctor and he decreased my Toprol XL to 10 mg from 25 mg. I was implanted with a defibrillator.

I agree with what everyone has said so far. There are a lot of possibilites that can cause your symptoms but I will focus on one that I noticed you stating.

You stated that "It seems like all I do is sleep (and worry)." I was on Toprol XL 10 mg. from August till three weeks ago when I become so down - granted the holidays can cause people to get down but I was REALLY down!!! I went to my GP doc and she was concerned and wanted to put me on anit-depressants but she had to get approval from my EP because of my Long QT syndrome - I just started on the anit-depressants last Friday so I have been on them one week now - just went into my GP doc's office to have an EKG done and it looks good so no problems with the QT - anyway, I just wanted to "warn" you that my GP said that one of the side effects of Toprol is depression – I did look on line and checked it out and all of the beta blockers are similar with their side effects but Toprol which is the only one that has depression as a side effect. Just wanted you to be aware – I wasn’t – my EP did not tell me and I was wondering why I felt down – not normal – even after being implanted – I had a crying fit and my husband was very concerned – so don’t think this was just a recent occurance – I just did not feel normal like you said – I was always energetic and always on the go – now I am more sedentary. But be on the look out for signs of depression and don’t be afraid to talk to your doctor. Good luck.

Jo Ann Miller-Kinsey

Double check

by The Bunny - 2007-12-30 06:12:03

Did they double check to make sure that the lead wires are connected and that the PM is working properly. It doesn't seem that a PM would allow you to get so low if they have the setting correct and if the PM is working properly. I would have them double check and double check again if they haven't done that.

Wishing you the BEST!

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I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.