Pacemaker

[Bonnie58]

Is there a specific pacemaker group please ?

[bantam12]

Not that I'm aware of but there are quite a few of us around the various heart forums. Do you have specific concerns with your pacemaker ?

[Bonnie58 in reply to bantam12]

Thank you for your reply.I had a pacemaker in beginning of Oct 2020 for bradycardia. I have tachy brady syndrome and had cardioversion for AF in March last yrar.

The pm was adjusted at the 6wk check to accomodate excercise, namely walking. This worked well for a while, then I gradually found I experienced increased effort with the walks, leg tiredness and excessive sweating.

I went back for further adjustment to the settings just before Christmas, and again this was great for a while but I am finding it a struggle again. I wondered if this is normal, and does the heart get used to new settings after a while ?

I am 62, overweight, but I feel the exercise is harder than it was before the pacemaker. I work as a professional gardener and am trying to get match fit for the spring !!

[Gnash67 in reply to Bonnie58]

Hi Bonnie, I had to run after my first post (not literally!😉) but just to say I too had my pacemaker (May 2020) for tachy brady syndrome. I had 3 cardioversion before I had it and an ablation 5 days after. Like you, I went back for a couple of adjustments. For me the improvement was instant but I also worsened again over a few months. The thing is, I'm much, much better than before, but not as great as I'd like, but it's not debilitating in anyway, I'm just more knackered than I used to be! I think it's a case of getting used to a new state of health, while being mindful of what feels right and what doesn't and taking it from there. Good luck.

[Bonnie58 in reply to Gnash67]

Many thanks for your reply, I think there probably is an element of getting used to a new normal.

[Gnash67]

If you have Facebook, there's a group there called Pacemaker UK which offers support and advice from fellow pacemaker users.

[Bonnie58 in reply to Gnash67]

Thank you I will check it out.

[EMBoy]

There is an on-line forum called The Pacemaker Club and it is very similar to this one, but is specifically for people with pacemakers. It has been a great help to me since my pacemaker insertion 18 months ago, Just Google it and it is free to join.

[Bonnie58 in reply to EMBoy]

Thank you so much EMBoy, that is really helpful.