Recovery & Setting(s) Questions...

Hello everyone,

I am now on day 61 since receiving my pacemaker. My arm is much better and I can move and lift it over my head now. I can finally sleep fairly well at night and have "graduated" from sleeping only on my back. Trying to sleep on my left side is still not very comfy.

I have had some difficulty adjusting to this pacemaker at many levels... but the main thing is how I generally feel. Now that the incision is much better, I am sleeping better, the rest has not improved. I generally feel fatiqued, I have a queasy stomach, and lightheaded and spacey. I went to my regular physician and he checked me out and ran a bunch of tests and couldn't find anything to worry about. My blood pressure/pulse is fine and apparently no distinguishable arrythmia's... I called the EP's office and the nurse told me in no uncertain terms that my problems were not from the PM. Now, that is the only thing left to check on! I don't have another interrogation for about 5+ weeks... but I don't think the EP's office will "do anything" until then, as the nurse said they don't like to make adjustments until 3 months is past from the surgery because they feel at that time the leads are firmly in place.

My question is this... it seems to me others have commented on similar problems with the feelings (physical) I have. And I know many of you have been stonewalled by the EP's. I guess I am trying to decide whether to "bug" them, or just try and wait it out until my scheduled time. Generally, I feel just as bad now as I did prior to receiving my PM. My symptoms haven't changed much...

I can "function" and get up and prepare meals and go to the market, etc. But I feel wiped out all the time and I had hoped to feel better by now. My family doctor said we could explore anti-depressants as many of my symptoms are also symptoms of depression. Geez, I take enough pills... I am not sure I want to try to increase my pharmaceutical spending...

Anyone been in the "same boat"? Have you found a solution? Do I need to be a squeeky weel? I know I will have copies of the interrogation requested, I have downloaded the medtronic manuals from the medtronic site so I can learn about the technical aspects and settings more... Just tired of feeling poorly ~ wondering if I got sold a "bill of goods" about the pacemaker making me feel better. Still hoping it may improve.

Thanks for *listening* I guess venting is mostly what I've done...

Swedeheart

5 Comments

Hey

by Pete K - 2008-04-25 06:04:36

Although Im not having any major troubles, I too have had the problem with the Cardiac Doctors office telling me that I can't see the doctor for 3 months since I left the hospital from having the pacer put in. Took a decongestant that ran my bp way up and had to go back to emergency room (wasn't sure it was the decongestant). Only way I've gotten to see doctor and an EP from medtronics before the 3 months. It's got me thinking about changing doctors and I have no idea yet who my EP is until then. LOL, not like we need to know anything about these pacers in us, huh?

Hang in There

by creativecooking - 2008-04-26 01:04:26

Hi Swedeheart,

I don't know the reason that you received your pacemaker or your age, but I can share my experiences with you.
When I had my pacemaker implanted 3 years ago on my 40th birthday (that's right, I had my birthday in the hospital) for sick sinus syndrome, I had no idea what to expect. I went through many of the same symptoms that it sounds you are having. I also felt fatigued, had a queasy stomach, felt lightheaded and spacey, not to mention just the emotional roller coaster of the realization that there was a pacemaker in my body controlling my heart. I called the cardiologist and my family doctor alot asking if perhaps something wasn't set just right and every time they reassured me that I was ok and everything was the set properly. Against my better judgement, my family doctor suggested that I try an anti-anxiety/depression medication short term....just to get me over the hump. It was the best decision I made. I can tell you that with time all of the various symptoms slowly subsided and the episodes that seemed so familiar to pre-pacemaker became fewer and farther between. I am not saying that these were easy times, but I am saying that they could be perfectly normal. Pre-pacemaker, I had passed out driving down the highway in the middle of the afternoon with my kids in the car and I had some difficulty comfortably getting back behind the wheel.
I can honestly say, 3 years later....most of the time I forget that I even have a pacemaker.
I strongly encourage you to do your very best to force yourself to RELAX and let some time takes it's course and know it is OK to deal with some post-traumatic symptoms.
Again, I do not know why your have a PM or other factors and you must be comfortable and confident with your physicians.
Feel free to email me anytime!
Sheralyn
creativecooking@nc.rr.com

Getting past the nurse

by ElectricFrank - 2008-04-26 02:04:12

It is unfortunate, but sometimes you need to be "creatively obnoxious" to get what you need. All the early adjustments I have mentioned here before weren't because the cardiologists office was enthusiastic about them. Just realize that the doc is usually paid a flat fee for implanting and followup. The less time spent with you the more time he has to make money off other patients.
Now, the way I handled the nurse early on when I got a response similar to yours was to ask her to spell her name so you I can write it down. I very officially repeated it back to her and then ask if she was licensed to diagnose my situation over the phone. I was ready to ask her to send me a written diagnosis if she claimed to be relaying the doctors opinion, but I didn't have to. she set up an appointment and after the Medronic rep found that I did need a change in settings, she never tried that one again.

I realize it is rough when you don't feel well to handle them, but that is when you need it most.

good luck,

frank

Tricia

by Tricia - 2008-04-26 05:04:44

For me it took six months before I was able to sleep flat and with some comfort with my pacemaker. And it was the one year mark before I was able to truly say that at times I can forget that I have a pacemaker and really sleep comfortably. What medications are you taking? I was on digitalis and they took me off of that due to it causing a lot of problems of me not feeling good, poor vision, and no desire to eat. And I do think for some people we need to pace ourselves a bit for the first six months. I found I had to do this and by six months after the pacemaker I was feeling very normal.

Thanks everyone!

by Swedeheart - 2008-04-27 01:04:47

Thank you all for your comments. Really helps! The good news is, 2 of the last 4 days have been pretty "good" days! The first good days since before my PM! Hopefully things will continue to improve.

If I still feel the same symptoms next week I will call the EP's office... otherwise if I have more "good days" I will just be thankful and wait for my next checkup!

I have heart block and the only medications for my heart that I am on is toprol xl. (high blood pressure) I also take the toprol for a slightly rapid heartbeat. Then heart block kicks in and woops, I am down to 30 beats a min. So... I have my little pacemaker. Since the PM I haven't fainted, but sometimes I feel pretty woozy...

Thanks to all of you again for your kind support. I truly appreciate it!

Swedeheart

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I, too, am feeling tons better since my implant.