Pacemaker Club: No Energy

No Energy

by ppt
2008-12-17 06:12:22
Coping
1531 views
3 comments

Am a new recipient - implanted day after Thanksgiving - so a little more than 2 weeks ago - and I just find I get so tired - will I ever get my energy back?

3 Comments

Thanks

by ppt - 2008-12-17 08:12:02

Thanks to Magster and TraceyE for your support. I had Cardiolite Stress Test today and am just exhausted! I wonder how much is anxiety as it was one heck of an experience - Complete Heart Block out of the blue. Passing out - external pm (a bit rugged), then temporary one in the neck and then the permanent implant in the chest. All within 36 hours - then discharged with little info. Rate is 30 without the pm. Am a type A personality - in business for myself. Just frustrated. Thx for listening.

probably!

by Tracey_E - 2008-12-17 08:12:09

How quickly you get your energy back depends on why you needed the pm to start with, your overall health, and how long you needed the pm before you got it. Your body's been through a shock, give it time to heal! You should be feeling pretty good by 4-6 weeks, but some take less or more. Some people dont' see an increase in their quality of life, but the length of their life is longer. There's no one answer, we're all different!

As Magster said, it's also possible that you need your settings adjusted. If you've healed and you're off the pain meds (they will wipe you out!), then I'd call and ask for an interrogation. It's very common to need something different from the standard settings they send us home with. I had mine redone several times the first few months until I was feeling good again.

chill a bit ;o)

by Tracey_E - 2008-12-17 09:12:17

You just described me! Type A business owner, and a low hr due to CHB.

CHB is one of the best things to have in the pm world. Seriously! it's just short circuit in the heart, the pm fills in the gap and more or less cures us. Your body has been deprived of oxygen most likely for a while now, add in the procedures, stress from hospitalization, and you just need down time to heal. You should start feeling more your old self- or more energetic than your old self- in the next 2-3 weeks.

If you notice you get tired on exertion, you may need your upper limit raised. Your atrial rate, i.e. your natural pacemaker, is likely perfectly normal. The pm is just there to get the message to the ventricle, but only to a set limit, probably 120 or 130, and may of us who are active need it higher than that.