Tired still.

I had my pacemaker installed about 2 weeks ago after a sudden onset of bradycardia (pulse at 40). Strange, because I'd recently had a stress test that was just fine, and my pulse over the years has always been in the 60s. I was told that my severe fatigue was probably due to my low heartrate and the pacemaker would relieve this. However, I'm still very very tired and have to take naps several times during the day. I do have other issues, such as chronic nerve pain due to malpractice 15 years ago when the sural nerve in my lower leg was cut, resulting in a neuroma. I have been on pain medication since then (run the gamut and finally settled on methadone). However, I was hoping the pacemaker would at least give me a little more energy. I understand the pain medication I take slows down my system. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same. Also, the sudden onset of bradycardia was accompanied by a sudden onset of heartburn and abdominal ache that I'd never had before. That is still with me. Going for more tests to determine what that's all about. Has anyone in The Club had a sudden onset like that? If so, what did you find out? Thanks for any information. George.

4 Comments

Hmmmm

by ReneeV2.0 - 2012-02-27 07:02:21

I'm not a doctor, and hell I don't even have a pacemaker yet, but maybe you have celiacs desease. Not as scary as it sounds, just means your body has trouble processing glutens. It can causes stomach issues, fatigue and other random issues. I believe you can get a blood test to confirm it or rule it out.

It may just be your body adjusting.... But i just happened to have found out my uncle has celiacs. He did have chronic fatigue he feels 1000 times better now that he eats gluten free. I know its random, I thought I would atleast throw it out there.

I forgot to ask....

by Pookie - 2012-02-27 11:02:16

how long have you been on the methadone ? as I was thinking if its relatively new then perhaps that is what is wreaking havoc on your stomach...and those types of drugs lower your oxygen saturation so that may be the culprit.

Just guessing.

Pookie

I'll Hmmmm in too:)

by Pookie - 2012-02-27 11:02:55

I'm not a doctor either, but it sounds like you should be seen by a Gastroentrologist.

I developed Lymphocytic Colitis a few yrs after receiving my pacemaker. I lost 50 pounds in less than 3 months. It was horrible. What saved me? = I went to a Naturopathic Doctor. I'm fine now and have been for the past few years but I'm religious at taking my Probiotic pills every day.

Hope you get this figured out. Please keep us posted.

Pookie

One more thing......

by Pookie - 2012-02-28 12:02:07

A lot of us - for whatever reason(s) - are very tired after our pacemakers and since you are only 2 weeks with your new friend, perhaps it's your body adjusting.

However, if this fatigue continues, really push your doctor.

I was tired for years and it boiled down to a myriad of things: the narcotic I'm taking for another medical issue, my not eating correctly!!! and now I'm back having B12 shots - there are a lot of little things one can do to help improve their fatigue: walking, eating the recommended amount of protein per day (for me as per my Naturopathic doctor - 60 grams/day), and keeping hydrated helps.

I was bounced around from doctor to doctor for years. What helped me (or who helped me) the most was a General Internist (I live in Canada so I don't know if this type of doctor exists where you live - he's a doctor who knows a little about a lot - if that makes sense) and my Naturopathic doctor. She (the Naturopath) claims that when the ranges for any of our blood work was etched in stone it was made in the day when people "ate off the land" (not from cans or through drive-thrus) and according to her, for example, if my B12 is showing at the low range, then I'm REALLY low based on the ranges have never been re-visited/re-vamped in many many years. Another thing I've been told is if you are male, your testosterone (did I just misspell that) may be low if you are "elderly".

I guess a complete blood panel wouldn't hurt....other than the needle:)

I too am just throwing things out there based on issues I've had in the past or problems that seem (emphasis on seem) to be very similar to elderly men that I know.

Good luck and push push push your doctors for an answer. Don't allow them to always give you the answer of "let's just wait and see and/or it can't possibly be the pacemaker as it's working just fine)...another thought!!! - you just had your pacemaker and when we get them they come with default settings - just the basic settings for the average person, so until you get your first interrogation - you may still feel tired. When/if you have your settings adjusted (and make sure you tell them how you've been feeling) make sure that they only adjust one setting per visit because if they do a bunch at once and you still feel crappy then you won't know which setting to re-adjust.

Hope this helps a bit.

Pookie

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Member Quotes

I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.