Weak legs

I had pacemaker implant about 5 weeks ago because of low heart rate. Ever since then I have had extreme weakness in both legs every day while standing or walking. My quality of life has only gone downhill since then because of this problem. Has anyone else experienced this problem after pm implant.


6 Comments

Just a thought

by IAN MC - 2018-05-29 19:01:19

Are you taking statins by any chance ?  These cholesterol-reducing drugs can cause the symptoms which you describe.

Ian

Weak

by AgentX86 - 2018-05-29 19:59:06

Is your pacemaker rate-responsive, by chance?  It may be that you need it adjusted.  I too find it somewhat difficult to stand for long periods but have no problem walking miles at a time.  I have a tune-up scheduled for Friday.  I have a bunch of these sorts of issues that I want to talk to them about.

Weal legs

by MissFitts - 2018-05-30 06:48:15

These  comments on being able  to walk but  finding standing very difficult  are most interesting. I am feeling the same. 

Check up permitting, we are heading  long-haul to an airport with which we are very familiar and has notoriously long queues  for  immigration etc. and I was seriously worried about potential standing. I have asked the airline for extra assistance, hoping I will be provided with a wheel chair.  

I feel a bit of a fraud though, because I know once we are at our resort I will      be walking around quite happily, 

JCDILLON, I hope your legs  improve,  the  problem you are having puts my far more trivial one  into perspective.

 

Weak muscle

by The real Patch - 2018-05-30 12:27:56

I hear yah. Shortly after my implant I realized I developed erectile dysfunction and knew it had to be my defibrillator...turned out it wasn't.

Yes, I'm being a smart a$$, in hopes it will get you to realize that all negative things are not caused by your pacemaker implant. Weak legs is no more a side effect of pacemakers than erectile dysfunction.

As Ian and Robin said, the first plsce to look is your medications, but there are far too many possibilities for us to guess. See your doctor

And would somebody please tell Maxwell Smart not all things are caused by rate response settings.

Weak

by AgentX86 - 2018-05-30 15:06:40

I hear yah. Shortly after my implant I realized I developed erectile dysfunction and knew it had to be my defibrillator...turned out it wasn't.

Yes, I'm being a smart a$$, in hopes it will get you to realize that all negative things are not caused by your pacemaker implant. Weak legs is no more a side effect of pacemakers than erectile dysfunction.

Except, in my case, it's the only thing that has changed.

As Ian and Robin said, the first plsce to look is your medications, but there are far too many possibilities for us to guess. See your doctor

And would somebody please tell Maxwell Smart not all things are caused by rate response settings

Sorry for stepping on your toes but it's normal to associate things that change.  In my case, pain when standing is new.  I can tell my rate immediately resets back to "rest" (70bpm) as soon as I stand still.  My PM doesn't know if I'm standing or sleeping (a problem, IMO).  My heart rate is normally 90-105 when walking and I have no problems walking several miles (do 4mi each morning before work and 6.5-7.25mi at the gym each night, on the way home.  Walking isn't the problem.  Standing is and that has changed.

Some thoughts about legs and lines

by Gotrhythm - 2018-05-31 12:39:23

I too had a severe problem with "weak" legs. I don't take any heart meds at all. However, testing at Duke indicated I had untreated asthma although I had no wheezing and no coughing--okay, I didn't think I coughed much. Others disagreed. Once the asthma was under control, the weak leg problem was much alleviated. As others have said, "weak legs" has many causes not related to the pacemaker.

Standing still for a long time can still be difficult. I have found I do better if I keep moving in place--possibly insuring that the pacemaker's rate response stays activated.

When it comes to long lines at airports, playing the pacemaker card will frequently get one into a shorter line at securtity check points. When faced with other lines, I have no problem saying I need a wheelchair. It's none of their business that I'm getting it just because I need a place to sit, not because I can't walk.

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