Recovery

Thank you all so much for your comments. This has helped a lot. I let my Dad read them and hopefully it will make him feel better. In answer to some of your questions:

To TraceyE - My Dad first had a heart cath and only had 80% blockage and they will treat with medicine. The Dr. sent him to a blood and cancer specialist because his plateletes were low and also mentioned the pacemaker. All tests came out okay with the exception he was low on iron. They set up an appt. for him to receive iron through an IV. My Dad was getting dizzy and they found that when examined with a stethoscope on one side of his neck his heart stopped every 3.5 sec. and on the other side of the neck it was every 4.5 sec., so they determined a PM was needed. You ask how he is not feeling well and he is just extremely tired.

To Boatman - thank you for your comments. He is walking some, but can't walk far. He just feels really tired, but from your experience, it sounds like this is normal. Thanks for the good luck wishes and the same to you.

To Cabg Patch - His lead did fall down and that is the reason for the 2nd operation. I think he feels he should be feeling a lot better than he does, I guess patience is not one of his virtues. My parents do not have a computer, so I joined this club on his behalf. I am printing off these comments so he can read them.

To Smitty - Dad received the PM because of his irregular heartbeat. He is on new heart medications as a result from his heart cath, so you are right, this is another thing he is not used to is the new meds. I have stressed to him that he needs to tell the Dr. how he feels. I think my Mom will make sure he does that. See more details of my Dad's condition in my comments to TraceyE. Also, my Dad is a smoker and he is trying to quit. He has cut back quite a bit, but not totally quit. Also, yesterday my Dad went to the Dr. for a check up on his platelets and the doc said they were holding their own but not where he wants it to be, but Dr. said going through 2 surgeries and the loss of some blood could account for this, his BP was good, he weighs 174 lbs. Thank you Mr. Smitty for all your comments and I wish you the best too.


1 Comments

being tired

by Tracey_E - 2008-10-09 09:10:31

I can see why he is still tired! The pm will help with the pauses and irregular beats but it can't help with the blockage. So the heart is pumping now compliments of the pm, but it's still not too efficient due to the blockage. Also, many heart meds have the side effect of making you tired, and low iron/platelets will definitely wipe you out. Quitting smoking will help, as will getting his platelets up again. Did the doctor talk to him about diet? His body has been through the ringer, it won't heal overnight no matter how hard we want it to.

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Member Quotes

I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.