Pacemaker blues!!

[Simone_1974]

It's been a few weeks since my last post and have had a pacemaker check since the last one.

I'm 9 months since I had my pacemaker. Like most people who have them it has taken a while to mentally and physically recover but I was left feeling still not quite right since it had been fitted.

At my last PM check I explained this to the technician who checked my readings and changed my settings.........i sound like a piece of electrical equipment 😁😁.

I have never felt so well in as long as I can remember and what I thought was me feeling 'unwell' turns out to be my pacemaker not being set quite right.

I guess sometimes they just need a bit of 'tweeking' to suit your bodies needs.

Basically, all those people with a new pacemaker and your not feeling quite as well as expected, mention it to the cardiology team at your PM check. It's definitely worth a mention. 👍👍

[skid112 Heart Star]

Thanks Simone for the update, glad to hear all going good

[Hidden]

You're absolutely right - always have it checked! We can always tweak settings, after all we want you to feel better after a pacemaker and get back to a normal life

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

Good advice! I had my pacemaker tweaked while having an echocardiogram a few months after it was fitted. Honestly, it felt like I'd had all my nuts and bolts tightened! The six months after that were the only time since diagnosis that there's been any improvement in my heart function, my heart even shrank a bit. I keep suggesting they might like to repeat the process since my heart has physically changed since that first time, but apparently they only do it once. Booooo! I do get the leads, battery etc checked every six months, of course, but I what I really want is the full bolt-tightening experience

[Spatz76]

Hi Simone_1974

If you don't mind me asking, what kind of things were you feeling to make mention it to the technicians?

The only reason I ask is that some times I feel a bit tight chested when walking and I wasn't sure whether it was something to do with the pacemaker bpm setting of my icd. It kicks in when my heart rate would drop below 50 but sometimes I wonder if putting that rate up a bit higher might help the oxygen flow in my body.

Many thanks

Spatz76

[Simone_1974 in reply to Spatz76]

Hi,

I was also feeling a little tight chested and also breathless. I'd find the slightest exercise was a mammoth effort and all you really want to do after having a pacemaker is to get back to a normal level of fitness. I'm now getting to the point where I'm considering returning to a daily morning jog, something I wouldn't have even considered a few weeks ago.

I'd mention it to the technicians or your gp if your appointment isn't due.

Good luck

Simone. 😁

[Spatz76 in reply to Simone_1974]

Thanks Simone that's been really helpful. Its definitely something I will discuss at my next appointment. I thought it was a little strange that from time to time I was struggling when walking short distances which I do everyday. Because it comes and goes I thought it might my hayfever that was affecting my asthma even though that's not happened before. It might be on those occasions my heart rate is particularly low.

Thanks for posting your advice its been very helpful

Stephx

[Spatz76]

Hi Simone_1974

I just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks for posting the above and the advice given. It came in really handy this week. As mentioned above I'd been struggling with shortness of breath for a while but three weeks ago I started been taking beta blockers and my breathlessness while just walking was increasingly worse. It was horrible. Earlier this week I'd had enough and rang the pacemaker clinic to talk about my settings and explain my symptoms. They asked me to come in yesterday and they added something called rate response to my settings. This apparently kicks in when I exercise or on exertion. This morning walking from the car park into work (half a mile) I felt I was turbo powered! I was walking three times faster than i have been for months and wasn't out of breath. It was like a miracle! Moral of the story, if it doesn't feel right, speak up because the pacemaker technicians can help.

Spatz x

[Simone_1974]

That's fantastic news!!! I'm so pleased your feeling better and they've sorted the settings. Hopefully you'll go from strength to strength!!

I never listened to my body before I collapsed but your so right in what you say......if it doesn't feel right it's usually not 😁😁😁.

Xxxx

[Spatz76 in reply to Simone_1974]

😀😀😀