Hi i'm sam295

[sam295]

I have a pacemaker fitted 14 days ago and seem to be healing well. My left arm was sore for about a week but that too is getting better I think. I am abit worried as I still feel a bit dizzy on occasion and have all these posts saying how great people feel. I feel kind of the same tired and occasionally dizzy ? I wonder is it just early days.

[wiltsgirl]

Hi Sam295, I am sure its just early days, speak to your GP if you are worried. Are you taking any meds for blood pressure. I ask because my BP is quite low 100/60 but I am on meds for lowering my BP after having a triple heart bypass. Seeing my consultant this week so will ask about this. Have had a couple of dizzy spells, GP says it probably is meds. Just get up slowly. good luck with your recovery x

[Fredders]

Hi Sam

I had a pacemaker fitted after I developed complete heart block following AVR surgery last November. I had dizzy spells and got very breathless, but thought that it might be related to my heart surgery. I did mention it at my pacemaker check up but they didn’t seem too concerned. I continued to have occasional dizzy spells and was breathlessness whenever I had to walk up a slope until I had my second pacemaker check up last week. I mentioned it to them and they said they weren’t surprised because my maximum heart rate had been set very low, so as soon as I did anything that raised my heart rate my heart got out of synch, one chamber was beating at a faster rate than the pacemaker, causing the breathlessness and the dizziness. He increased my maximum rate and I already feel so much better and haven’t had any dizzy spells.

I assume you will be having your follow up check up soon, it’s usually about four weeks after you get the pacemaker, so definitely mention it to them. If your dizzy spells get worse or more frequent before then or you want to put your mind at rest, give the pacemaker clinic a ring, they may bring your appointment forward.

Wendy

[sam295 in reply to Fredders]

yes , I tried to do too much today and passed out briefly on a bus. I have to go back tomorrow to the PM clinic.

Thanks for your reply

[Fredders in reply to sam295]

Hope you get it sorted.

[sam295 in reply to Fredders]

very disappointing they more or less just told me my pacemaker was working and there was nothing wrong with it. I need to see a cardiologist asap.

[Fredders in reply to sam295]

That’s a shame, get on the phone to your cardiology department and get an appointment asap.

[sam295 in reply to Fredders]

Have persuaded GP to refer me to cardiologist to investigate passing out

[Maisie23]

Hi Sam

I had a pacemaker fitted in August 2017, and at first I was very disappointed. I continued to have many symptoms and wondered if the pacemaker made any difference.

I have to say that for me, it took about 3-4 months to feel much better. I think it just took time to settle. It depends why you had it fitted. For me I have sick sinus syndrome (tachy/Brady). So although the pacemaker stops some of the symptoms related to this, I continue to have palpitations, tachycardia, and occasional light headidness. But these are so much better than they used to be, and on the whole I feel much better.

Hopefully, in time you too will feel the improvement in your symptoms. I think the settling in period is quite common.

Take care, but any worries contact your pacing clinic.

[sam295 in reply to Maisie23]

yes I have sick sinus syndrome as well, am back tomorrow to clinic as passed out today, maybe my PM needs adjusted

[Maisie23 in reply to sam295]

Hopefully they can check all is ok. I had similar thing a week after surgery, but probably was due to my low BP

[sam295 in reply to Maisie23]

can they not do anything about the low Bp as i suspect that was my problem today

[Maisie23 in reply to sam295]

Nothing medically for low BP, I just am more aware of taking things a bit steadier. I also make sure I drink plenty of fluids, particularly after exercising and have adequate salt in my diet. On average my BP 90/50-60.

[sam295 in reply to Maisie23]

Thanks I got no joy at clinic they just said Pm was working I need to see a cardiologist as soon as possible.

[Kimkat]

Hi Sam

I too am 14 days post op and have to say that my dizzy spells are better but still get the odd fuzzy feeling. The tiredness is to be expected at first, I was told to not expect to immediately feel normal as it can take time to adjust and not to worry about anything unless I feel worse, then obviously contact your clinic or GP. How is your scar site? The reason I ask is that mine is still very raised and extremely tender and lumpy, I also feel that my shoulder muscle has taken a bashing, as it aches most of the time. It’s good to be able to ask someone in the same position in the same time span.

[sam295 in reply to Kimkat]

A bit lumpy on scar side but not bad at all. I have to go back tomorrow as I passed out today trying to do too much

Thanks for your reply

[Kimkat in reply to sam295]

The clinic should have told you to take it easy for the first few weeks. I wasn’t able to do too much as I had a pneumothorax, which does happen, so I had pain in both sides due to the trapped air, very painful. My scars really tender this evening and I have a burning feeling in my armpit, I suppose it’s all relevant to the surgery. My first appointment isn’t for another month, so I’m feeling a bit anxious. So glad for this site.

[Alwyn247 in reply to Kimkat]

Hi had mine fitted mid March. Really bad shoulder for about 4 weeks. Much better now but still some soreness there and around the area of scar.

[Kimkat in reply to Alwyn247]

Hi Alwyn, is your scar particularly raised and lumpy? I expected soreness but after seeing other folk who have had pacemakers, theirs seem very flat compared to mine and they can’t remember it ever being so swollen after two weeks.

[Alwyn247 in reply to Kimkat]

Not really it’s pretty flat

[sam295 in reply to Alwyn247]

My scar is still a bit sore and a bit lumpy but healing well I think

Get well soon and keep going back would be my thinking

[Alwyn247]

Hi Sam. Had mine fitted about 6 wks ago. I'm 57. It's taken this long to start feeling much better. Had bad pain in left shoulder and arm which took about a month to go away apart from twinges. Hang in there and all the best.

[sam295 in reply to Alwyn247]

Thanks I have to go back tomorrow as passed out again

[sam295 in reply to Alwyn247]

yes I had some nerve damage which made my arm sore but that is fading thank goodness

[sam295 in reply to Alwyn247]

back from PM checkup which just told me Pm was working and nothing else. I have spent most of afternoon trying to get a referral from GP to cardiologist to investigate further passing out incident. I have also persuaded GP to let me have some CBT sessions for anxiety.

[sam295 in reply to Alwyn247]

I think I am starting to feel better slowly is about 3-4 weeks now