Week 2 post implant - napping

Hi everyone,

It's now 12 days post PM implant for my Dad (68) and I just wonder if anyone has advice on this.

Late evening (between 9 and 11 pm) when TV is on, a wave of tiredness will hit him and he has to put down his newspaper and nap for 5/10 mins. (His symptoms pre PM were episodes of fainting/collapsing). It's normal sleeping but it seems to hit him quite quickly.

Is this because the PM is having to kick in and he's only functioning at his resting HR (60). Or could this just be normal tiredness (he's sleeping relatively well but waking early). He has had a pattern of sleeping in front of the TV for a number of months, but we wondered if this was related to his HR and that the PM might fix it. Otherwise his energy levels seem good and he is just a bit restless and anxious from not being able to drive for 3 more weeks etc. and I think from the overall shock of having a new guardian angel.

Thanks,
Soozie

5 Comments

still a little tired

by renee14150 - 2009-03-23 08:03:20

Hi I had my PM implanted 2/10/09 and I am still a little tired by 9 at night. I too seem to have to just sit down and relax for a few minutes. I am 31 and getting less and less tired everyday. I think alot of it has to due with just the recovery. Maybe even some of the new meds I am on.
Renee

sleepy

by gniwgniw - 2009-03-23 08:03:40

I seem to also get sleeping during the early evening after dinner. The way my dr explained was we r not used to using up our energy as quickly as before. Now we are burning energy even when sitting still.
I also had the low Heart rate with fainting spells. I got my pacer on 1/7/09 and even after 2 months I sometimes need to let my body rest. My sleeping is wonderful but I also wake up very early which I never did before.
His body will adjust to his new energy and schedule. It all takes time.
I was also told by my dr that my pacer has a sleep mode. When my body starts going into the lowest heart rate, the pacer will keep it steady at the lower HR for up to 6 hours. This could explain waking early. His dr can explain the exact functions of his model.

Wave of Sleepiness

by bobad - 2009-03-23 09:03:57

Sorry, I don't know the answer.

I'm 9 years younger than your dad.

Before my pacemaker, I would occasionally drift into a little nap while watching TV. After receiving the PM, I would often get a wave of extreme sleepiness as though I took 2 Ambien, and suddenly nod out for 5-10 minutes. It could be any time of day, as long as I was sitting quietly. I had the PM removed, now it doesn't happen any more. My PM kicked in at 50 BPM, so it wasn't Bradycardia doing it.

I read about someone else having the same feeling on another forum a few months back. Maybe there is some kind of sudden stupor syndrome. :)

Good luck to you and your dad.

Extreme sleepiness

by soozie - 2009-03-23 10:03:24

Thank you all for the assistance. I will keep an eye on Dad to see if this continues.

My only concern is that so far it seems to be like what bobad describes - a wave of extreme sleepiness - rather than a gradual tiredness. Of course it could be TV boredom too :). But he feels it coming on so I'm hopeful it's not something that could knock him out while driving/walking around etc in the way the fainting spells could have.

Bobad - without probing too deep - you mention you had the PM removed. Were your symptoms in any way similar to my Dad's and/or have you needed some other treatment instead?

Thanks again everyone,
Soozie

Sudden sleepiness

by ElectricFrank - 2009-03-24 12:03:02

I have the same thing. I've found that at those times my BP has dropped in to a low range. Before I came into my computer room I was dozing and checked mine. It was 90/48. All I have to do is get up and going and I'm wide awake. By the way I am coming up on 79.

The low BP reduces the oxygen level in the brain and we get tired. Its actually part of the process of going to sleep. The problem with deciding to go to bed is that getting up and around for bed usually bring the BP back up then we are wide awake.

I suspect for some of us getting the pacer reduces our stress so we relax easier.

frank

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You have a maintenance schedule just like your car.

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