Is my pacing off?

• by spinnerlady
• 2009-04-04 12:04:23
• Checkups & Settings
• 2179 views
• 3 comments

Hi all...
So glad to find someone to talk to about the issues that come with having a PM running my heart!
I am a 48 y/o female who has managed to lose 90 lbs over 3 years simply by determination, exercise, sweat & tears. I am an avid spinner, spinning a minimum of 4 days a week and doing cardio/strength on off day. I was diagnosed with AF in 2000 and have undergone 3 ablations; the last being in 12/08 with a successful flutter elimination. I felt GREAT! . While being cleared to have the tummy tuck to remove the excess skin; my cadio MD placed me on a Lifewatch 7 day monitor. Within one hour of having it activiated, they called to ask if I was alright. I was fine - working diligently at my desk! That was followed by two more calls during the day...then 3 calls waking me from a sound sleep in the middle of the night. A day later the MD called, I needed a PM "asap" as my resting HR was 38-40; my sleep; low 30's with 4 second lapses in beats.
I could not understand it..I felt great - I had NONE of the symptoms of brachycardia! I had enough energy to accomplish a 12 hour day without fatigue..I had no problem raising my HR to 155 during spin class and having it return to 90 w/in minutes.
After much questioning of both the MD and the EP; they convinced me I needed a PM. I was the receipent of a St Jude Zephyr dual chamber on 3/25.
While waiting in the cath lab, I think the stress of it all brought on a bout of AF (which I had not had at all since the abalation); the EP placed the PM anyway figuring I would convert back to sinus. Well, I didn't and spent all of the day of surgery and the following day in AF with my heart doing more jumps than I do in class; going from 66-190 simply by walking around the hospital floor. The next day I was taken for a TE (?) test to rule out clotting in the heart (I had not been on warfarin for 1 week at that point). Once I was cleared, I was cardioverted back to normal sinus....but unfortunately, the AF activity in the heart caused the atrial lead to displace. Needless to say, the following day I was back in OR having the lead fixed. After 5 days in the hospital; I came home on Sunday feeling tired & sore - but otherwise OK.
I had my follow up with the device clinic on Thursday. I went home an grabbed the dog to take my 3 mile walk (which I had done Mon/Tues/Weds with no issue). During the walk, I didn't feel quite the same. I felt a little dizzy or anxious on several occassions. I attributed it to needing more rest and went home. Felt pretty good yesterday, went to the gym and walked my 3 miles but noticed I was in a "cold sweat" while walking. Odd for me; especially since the highest my HR got was 110 during the walk.
This morning I woke, drank my decaf and after reading the paper; got up to let the dog out. I took a few steps and got very lightheaded/faint feeling. I sat down and gained my composure and figured it was from not eating. I ate my usual healthy breakfast and felt ok. I went to the gym for my walk this morning....and noticed again; the highest my HR got was 110, but I was in a cold sweat.
I don't think I am pushing the exercise restrictions simply by walking but know I MUST get back to the active life I lead prior to the PM. They all assured me I would feel "even better" after it was in - hard to believe as I felt tremendous prior to having it!
Is is possible that the person (?MD) who did the pacing on Thursday changed something from the settings done in the hospital? She was not a rep from St. Jude (in fact she had 4 different pacer machines in the office) and I am just wondering if something is wrong with my pacing to be giving me these lightheaded & cold sweat spells? Will the proper pacing rid me of these issues and eventually allow me to return to my active lifestyle?

Any info or light that you can shed on this is appreciated. I went from feeling like a million bucks prior to the PM to feeling like a worn dollar bill! Thank you!