Exhaustion

I received my ICD/pacemaker on July 22nd. The 1st week I felt pretty good, just a little discomfort at incision. As time goes on I feel more tired and draggy and am wondering at what point do I call the doctor and tell him about this. I have started walking 3 or 4 times a week for 30 minutes and am wondering if maybe I should back off some. In order to get my walk in I'm getting up a half hour earlier than I normally did but I'm also falling into bed earlier so I don't think it's a lack of sleep issue. I haven't seen the doctor since I left the hospital but will probably have an appt. in the next couple of weeks. Do I wait or call? This is all so new to me, I don't know what to expect. TIA!

Gonnie

10 Comments

New Pacemaker

by SMITTY - 2008-08-14 09:08:10

Hello Gonnie,

I say call your doctor now. While a pacemaker may not make a person feel better, they certainly should never maker a person feel worse. That is not to say that there is anything wrong with your pacemaker. It does sometimes take a few adjustments to get the right setting for an individual for the pacemaker to do what is best for them. While I certainly would never say back off, or stop any exercise you are dong unless it hurt you physically, I do think it would be a good idea to check with your doctor before pushing the exercise routine too far.

My guess, and it can only be a guess form me, is that all you need is a tune up on the pacemaker. I might add that it sometimes two or three tries to get the best settings, so don't be upset if you have to go back a time or two. In my case it took about a half-dozen trips.

As for what to expect, well I say you shoud not expect any great things from the pacemaker as some people never notice any improvement in the way they feel. I'm one of those people and I've had mine eight years. During those eight years the pacemaker has gone from helping my heart maintain a good rhythm about 5% of the time to helping about 60%+ of the time. With it helping me that much I'm sure I would feel like the devil if I didn't have it, but truthfully all I can for it is I feel what I think is normal for me. Now if you had a heart rate that was in the 20s to 30s when you got your PM and it is now 60 or above, well in that case you should definitely feel better. This is one of those things your doctor is best qualified to answer for you as he knows the reason he you got one and what he was trying to correct, or improve.

Good luck,

Smitty

Exhaustion

by TMG48 - 2008-08-14 09:08:11

You and I got our PM's within 5 days of each other. I find I am sleeping more/better, but I also am finding I have a high level of energy. My 2 cents: I think I would follow-up with Dr. Terry

Hi Gonnie

by sis - 2008-08-14 09:08:20

I got my ICD in April of this year and I felt tired too. They put me on a low dose of Zebeta and with my already low bp it was even lower. So I wondered if your meds changed at all because that could be a thought. I was taken off the Zebeta and feel much better now!! I'm sure someone around here will answer this soon cuz Im just a rookie at all of this stuff I'm learning as much as I can around here:) good luck and welcome to the bionic world~Sis

Gonnie

by cthiggin - 2008-08-14 09:08:57

I've had my pm for six weeks now and it's doing better each week. Go in two weeks for a "tune-up".
My problem was low heart rate 45-49 - My pm is set for 60. The day "after" I had my pm put in, I felt like a million dollars, excluding the incision pain. Haven't felt that good, alert, just like I was 40 again. However, headaches started two days later - For the first time in my life, my bpressure was up. So the Dr. put me on a beta-blocker, Atenolol, which has a side effect of fatigue - SO, this great new 40 again feeling was subdued by 50%. WELL, I'm used to the beta-blocker now and the pm is doing well. BP is 110/76 and pulse running at 78-82 - SO far, I'm very happy. From all I read and understand, it takes "tuning" of the pm based on each individuals needs - but it only gets better with time.
Good luck

PS Call the Doctor - My pm was a total of 42,000. For that amount, you should have a doctor living with you.

cthiggin

Sleep Apnea

by Rogeroz - 2008-08-15 08:08:33

Hi Gonnie,
I've had an ICD since 14th July. I'm feeling better each day and doing a lot of walking (1hr + most days) I'm looking forward to going back to gym. I take beta blocker (Atenolol) in the morning but I'm very tired at night. Just before I had cardiac arrest, I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and I'm currently waiting on treatment with a CPAP machine. I was in denial about snoring for years (my poor wife!) but I'm told by others who have CPAP machines that you rediscover a truly restful night's sleep almost immediately. Is sleep apnea a possibility for you?
All the best

Thanks for the replies

by Gonnie - 2008-08-15 09:08:50

Sleep apnea huh? My family says I snore like a freight train so could be. My orig. problem was heart failure so I'm currently taking Lisinopril & Carvetilol even tho I've never had high blood pressure. Sometimes I think it's gotten too low and that's why I'm draggy.Do you all have blood pressure monitors? Should I get one? I have so much to learn about this but with everyone's help, I'm figuring things out! Thanks so much! By the way - who's Dr. Terry?

Pills Pills Pills

by ElectricFrank - 2008-08-15 12:08:09

There is no reason to start treating BP 2 days after an implant unless it is real high (like maybe systolic in the 200's). The headache and elevated BP aren't at all unusual after surgery of any kind, especially if you were under full anesthesia. The other factor is your system getting used to the pacer.

The docs get their training from the drug company reps who like to sell their pills.

Just my billboard tonight!

frank

BP Monitor

by ElectricFrank - 2008-08-16 02:08:30

Anyone who is thinking of taking meds for hypertension needs to get a home BP monitor. BP can vary widely throughout the day and under various emotional situations. As an example on my first visit to a new doc a couple of weeks ago my BP was 180/98 when the nurse took it. The doc comes into the office and wouldn't even talk to me about my sore knee he was so upset about the BP. Then he was furious when I told him to put the prescription pad away. He was basing the whole thing on one measurement and was ready to treat based on it.
Actually, just before leaving home for the appointment my BP was 110/65. A while ago before I came into my computer room I was stretched out in the recliner listening to some music and it was 95/52.
The bottom line is I could have started taking his meds which would have made my low relaxed BP even lower causing light headedness when I got out of the chair. Then another pill for that.

So "doc" franks suggestion is to get a BP monitor, take your BP at least 3 times a day under different conditions, and compute an average. Also take it when you feel fatigued. Then slowly start cutting back on the BP meds to see if you really need them. Be prepared to catch heck from the doc though.

frank

Saw Doc yesterday

by Gonnie - 2008-08-16 11:08:54

He determined that it was the Carvedilol that was probably making me feel so tired. Yesterday I took my meds about 7:15 am and by 8:15 I was feeling shaky & sort of quivery inside. I had my blood pressure taken and it was high (for me) 149/99 and my pulse was 100. When I went for my appt., of course my BP was 110/80 and my pulse was down to 84. After a good EKG and good blood work, he wanted me to lay off the Carvetilol over the weekend & see if I felt better. I've got to say that I have felt the best today that I've felt all week so am inclined to agree with him on the med. He told me that if that drug works for you, it works very well. And in some people it can make you feel like hell. Guess I was one of those. We'll see ...

Great!

by ElectricFrank - 2008-08-17 01:08:29

Sounds like you are on the way to feeling better.

frank

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