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What Causes Fatigue And Insomnia While Having A Pacemaker In Heart?
Question: I have a bi ventricular/icd pacemaker for 3 months now. I am having trouble with energy, sleepy all the time. I also was diagnosed this week with GERD that made my larynx swollen, so I was given Protonix and now sleep with a wedge pillow. I have insomnia, maybe from the GERD. I work full time, but cannot do any more than that. I was having more energy a few weeks ago and maybe overdid activity, then I fell into my hole of exhaustion 4weeks ago and have been slowly crawling out. I have so much to do and I am limited. I have had the PM checked and the voltage put up to 3. I had my blood checked and I am not anemic and my thyroid is fine. My EF before the PM was 20-25. I am hoping my heart is beating stronger, it was to correct my LBBB and synchronize my ventricles. Ant thoughts on this fatigue that I have and what more I can do?
Brief Answer:
Body needs time to get adapted to pacemaker...
Detailed Answer:
Hi there my dear,
First, my compliments for your being good-looking at your age. In fact, you do not look as 62 yrs old at all:)
I am also happy to know that you are still active although the problems with your heart. With regards to being tired all the time, it is related to your heart and pacemaker. It is normal to feel fatigued when going through arrhythmic problems. Thankfully, yours will be over with pacemaker.
However, I always advise my patients to gradually go for their daily activities. You can come back to your normal life you had before, but, you need time. Your body needs time to get adapted to the pacemaker providing the energy you need.
Hopefully, your problems are not related to any metabolic issues such as thyroid or anemia. By the way, have your checked your blood sugar levels and blood pressure? Usually, being hypoglycemic or hypotension can also cause feeling fatigued.
At this point, I advise to:
- run moderate daily activities until you reach your energy
- have your meals regularly, do not skip them
- drink more water
- do physical activities as per your cardiologist's advice
Hope it was of help! Let me know if you have further queries!
Dr.Albana
Body needs time to get adapted to pacemaker...
Detailed Answer:
Hi there my dear,
First, my compliments for your being good-looking at your age. In fact, you do not look as 62 yrs old at all:)
I am also happy to know that you are still active although the problems with your heart. With regards to being tired all the time, it is related to your heart and pacemaker. It is normal to feel fatigued when going through arrhythmic problems. Thankfully, yours will be over with pacemaker.
However, I always advise my patients to gradually go for their daily activities. You can come back to your normal life you had before, but, you need time. Your body needs time to get adapted to the pacemaker providing the energy you need.
Hopefully, your problems are not related to any metabolic issues such as thyroid or anemia. By the way, have your checked your blood sugar levels and blood pressure? Usually, being hypoglycemic or hypotension can also cause feeling fatigued.
At this point, I advise to:
- run moderate daily activities until you reach your energy
- have your meals regularly, do not skip them
- drink more water
- do physical activities as per your cardiologist's advice
Hope it was of help! Let me know if you have further queries!
Dr.Albana
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear, Dr Albana, thank you so much for your answer and advice. I do keep track of my BP and is reasonably controlled with Carvedelol, Lisinopril and spironolactone, it can go up when stressed. My blood sugar is ok, too. I try so hard to eat right. I do need to lose some weight, but I need to be able to move more to do that. I am very active and this is frustrating to not be able to do all that I want to do. I just went to ENT for my airway because I had some episodes of shortness of breath, but now I know it is Gerd. My next plan is to see GI to find out why I have GERD. My PCP believes I had a viral infection of my heart which gave me the cardiomyopathy, and I am thinking to see ID dr to investigate this. I am having my first echo in XXXXXXX since the pacemaker and I hope the numbers improve. I feel more secure with your opinion this is my heart, I will work on moderate activity and allow rest breaks and not stress about it, but roll with the flow. Thanks for the compliment of my picture, I thought I looked pretty bad because I felt so lousy. I am very young inside and have so much living to do, this has been very hard for me, but I feel reassured that I am going just fine! Again, thank you for helping me. I did know about this service until today. Have a nice day, XXXX
Brief Answer:
Glad to know I was of help!
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear XXXX,
I am happy to be assisting you.
I am also happy to know that you have a strong willing and determined to understand what is going on with your body. That's the wisest thing everybody should do.
It is great that you are following up with GI for your GERD. Perhaps, he/she will run upper endoscopy to see the upper GI tract structures to understand why you are having GERD.
Please bare in mind that the drugs you are taking for high blood pressure might also irritate your stomach, aggravating/causing GERD. You can discuss this with your GI.
You are reporting to be using spironolactone as diuretic. I always advise my patients to keep controlling their electrolytes levels every 3 or 6 months while using diuretics. Blood electrolytes imbalances might also cause persistent feeling fatigued.
With regards to cardiomyopathy, commonly viruses are accused as possible causative factors, especially, those passed during childhood. These viruses might debilitate the heart.
By passing of time, such damages become irreversible, causing heart problems that might lead to pacemakers as in your case. Please follow up with your cardiologist regularly.
Hope you will be always vivid as you are feeling now during our conversation!
Dr.Albana
If you are satisfied with my answer, kindly give your feedback while closing this thread. If you have further queries, I'll welcome them!
Glad to know I was of help!
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear XXXX,
I am happy to be assisting you.
I am also happy to know that you have a strong willing and determined to understand what is going on with your body. That's the wisest thing everybody should do.
It is great that you are following up with GI for your GERD. Perhaps, he/she will run upper endoscopy to see the upper GI tract structures to understand why you are having GERD.
Please bare in mind that the drugs you are taking for high blood pressure might also irritate your stomach, aggravating/causing GERD. You can discuss this with your GI.
You are reporting to be using spironolactone as diuretic. I always advise my patients to keep controlling their electrolytes levels every 3 or 6 months while using diuretics. Blood electrolytes imbalances might also cause persistent feeling fatigued.
With regards to cardiomyopathy, commonly viruses are accused as possible causative factors, especially, those passed during childhood. These viruses might debilitate the heart.
By passing of time, such damages become irreversible, causing heart problems that might lead to pacemakers as in your case. Please follow up with your cardiologist regularly.
Hope you will be always vivid as you are feeling now during our conversation!
Dr.Albana
If you are satisfied with my answer, kindly give your feedback while closing this thread. If you have further queries, I'll welcome them!
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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