How Am I Supposed To Feel?

I had my pacemaker put in December 28th and 29th (one lead moved out of position). The reason was for a slow (upper 30's to low 40's) heartbeat only. Bradycardia runs in my family.
I am stll having pain at the site (I did rub a bunched up sweatshirt down across it hard on Sunday) and I sometimes have a dull ache in the heart area. I also can feel what I describe as strong heart beats that are noticable when I arise and remain vertical - they do go away and come back. I never had those feelings before the surgery unless I exerted myself.
Is this something I have to get used to or should the PM be tweaked a bit. I do not have PM check until March 2nd. They wanted to wait 6 to 8 weeks after the surgery. Also, should I still be having a lot of pain yet after three weeks? Any help with these question would be appreciated. I do not want to make an appointment if these are normal occurances. Thanks.

3 Comments

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by mick2203 - 2010-01-20 04:01:18

I am hoping for and looking forward to seeing the log term’s PM’s responses to your post.

I to had my pacemaker fitted about same time as you 16th, 17th and 21st Dec (lead problem also). Also bradycardia, but with pre-syncopal episodes. I am experiencing the same symptoms as you describe (timberhitch) exactly including the pain at the implant site, ache in the heart area and what feels like random strong beats almost like its rocking my heart.. I also have an area of my upper arm and shoulder that is completely without feeling since the surgery. So am looking forward to see if there are others with similar experience and what they had to do to find ease from this.

I have had a few settings turned off such as the rate response, which helped, but yet I still get the problems as you describe. I was also given an 8 week review timescale, however, things were so bad that I rang the technicians department and asked them to see me, which they did but only briefly not a full check. They just checked the leads were ok, adjusted my low rate to 70 and turned off the rate response. My review is scheduled for 8th Feb so if I learn anything I will pass it on to you.

But maybe it would be worth you putting a call in to those who fitted it and set it up for you before your review to tell them what you are experiencing.

I take ronaldo’s point, which is encouraging, maybe it gets better with time..

Mick

To timberhitch...

by Pookie - 2010-01-20 05:01:21

when in doubt..get it checked. seriously. for safety and peace of mind.

pain is the body's only way of telling you something is not right.

yes, we all tolerate pain differently, but one never knows what this pain could be trying to tell you.

I too was in pain after my initial implant and thank gawd I called 911 when I did or I wouldn't be writing to you. A lead poked a hole in my heart, filling the heart sac with blood, drowning my heart; it stopped...I died twice, but somehow I came back and am still here after 5 surgeries.

I am not trying to scare you, but please...go have yourself checked out, even if it means going to the dreaded ER.

It's only my opinion, but you should not be in pain. If you described it as being rather uncomfortable, I wouldn't have posted.

And personally, I think 6-8 weeks is a rather long wait to be checked out.

Just go and put your mind to rest.

If you end up in the ER ~ ask for a chest Xray to see if the leads are still in the right place (ask them to compare it to the original Xray) and ask them for an ultrasound of your heart!!!!!!!!

Good luck,
Pookie

Similar experiences

by Hot Heart - 2010-01-24 02:01:20

Hi there, I had the pain etc for about 4 months, I got it bad after my first interrogation, then realised later on that this was the weight of the magnet, I lie further down now. The beats you mention, after we get the pm, we become for a while much more in tune with our hearts, this fades in time, I hardly ever think about mine now. HH

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