Pace maker implant for heart block. Expectations?

[JP1146]

I have suffered with increasing breathlessness when exercising for the past two years or so. Diagnosed with a 2nd degree heart block in July 19 fitted with a pace maker in September with the hope this would be the answer to my problems.

This has stopped the episodes I was having. However I am still getting extreme breathlessness when walking, any hills involved I can barely get my breath. This leaves me feeling very ill for about an hour afterwards. It’s got to a point that I can’t now walk to the shops without being out of breath and feeling ill.

I’ve always been very active less than a year ago I walked up Snowdonia twice in a weekend cycling 100 miles a week. Etc etc.

So as you can imagine I am finding this all very difficult.

Am I expecting to much to soon. Any advice or experiences. ?

[JP1146]

Thank you

Your comments are so helpful.

Just to add something.

I went for a walk yesterday involving a steep hill. ( I was wearing a heart rate monitor)

My heart rate went to 115 but didn’t go higher This coincided with my breathlessness kicking and get worse. ?

[JP1146]

Again thank you.

Agree completely with your last comment.

[Fredders]

Sounds like you’re settings are too low. I had my pacemaker fitted following my AVR op as I developed complete heart block. At my first check up I was told my breathlessness was due to me still recovering from my heart surgery. At my second check up, which was at a different hospital, I told the technician that I was still getting very breathless and when he checked my settings he said he wasn’t surprised as my pacing was set very low, resulting in the breathlessness and dizzy spells. He increased the maximum and the difference was noticeable from just walking back through the hospital.

Make a note of when you get symptoms and your activity at the time, take these with you to your check up and they will be able to adjust your settings. I’m assuming you’re check up is fairly soon, if not it might be worth ringing the pacemaker clinic and explaining the position to them, they may want to get you n earlier.

Wendy

[JP1146 in reply to Fredders]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Very helpful, shame they don’t tell you these things.

[Petermck1]

Hi and welcome to the club. I had my pacer fitted 10 years ago and have just had a new one fitted. I was 47 when I first had it and like some of the advice you have received the settings were to low for me. Mine was set at 120 I called up the cardio dept and they told me to come in for a check and increased it ( it was eventually set at 150).

I felt better almost immediately. I think the pacers are set to an average (which none of us are) and then adjustments made. I’m sure age and your condition are taken into account.

Couple of things for me:

How great the physiologists are.

I know the symptoms if it’s not working as well as it could.

It now has no impact on my life I do everything I want and forget most of the time I have a pacer.

Hopefully it will be sorted for you but give them a call my dept were and are fantastic.

[JP1146]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Great advice. I’ve found it hard to get any face time with a doctor. So I’ve paid for a private consultation this afternoon., in order to discuss things with him I have a pace maker check appointment next Thursday. Hopefully after this afternoon I’ll be fully informed to get the best out of that appointment.