Testing of Pacemaker

I go for testing of my PM every 6 months and every time they test it I feel a knot in my throat and experience fatigue and I am dizzy, is this normal. This last time it was worse and now I have to go back every 3 months. What is going on. Any comments.

5 Comments

testing

by Tracey_E - 2013-10-13 10:10:11

When they test it, they do all sorts of crazy things! They turn it up, turn it down and I don't know what else but it can feel funky. You should feel fine as soon as they're done.

I've always had mine tested every 3 months, every month when it's down to the last 6 months of battery life.

good to know!

by judyblue - 2013-10-14 01:10:12

I get mine checked next month by the medtronic rep for the first time since hospital. I am so glad to hear what might happen. I will insist on knowing what they are doing.
thanks for the post and the comments!

Chest pain

by Ravenflight - 2013-10-14 03:10:21

The first time they tested my PM my cardiologist said he was testing one side then the other and making my heart beat irregular- that is a very strange unpleasant sensation. After that I had pretty severe chest pain for most of the day (Not enough for me to want to return for more tests though!). You definitely do not want to return to work right after that appointment- I didn't even feel up to driving home. The second time it was a different doctor and she didn't run the test nearly as long and the reaction was not as bad. Last time I went in they didn't even test, they just pulled monitoring data.

jelly legs

by Bluefey - 2013-10-14 12:10:22

I just had my check up last week... after they finished I had jelly legs for about 30 minutes -- I felt really weird and it actually scared me a little.....

They definitely do some weird things with the pm when they are checking it out

Yep!

by Many Blessings - 2013-10-14 12:10:23

Hi BigApple15

I get checked every 3 months as well. Most of us have had the "pleasure" of feeling the feelings you're describing. Like AshBash mentioned, I notice it when they test my escape rhythm/rate. It's an icky feeling, and sometimes they keep it there for a bit.

The first couple of times they did it, it took a little while for me to feel normal again. Any time they do it now, I start feeling better as soon as they turn it back up. Luckily, my PM tech warns me when she's doing anything that may cause unpleasant feelings. For whatever reason, it's only when they check the escape rhythm/rate that I feel like that (thank God!)

And, like TraceyE said, they do so many things when they're testing things, it could be one or more things making you feel that way. Hopefully, you'll get used to it soon.

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker receives radio frequencies.

Member Quotes

The pacer systems are really very reliable. The main problem is the incompetent programming of them. If yours is working well for you, get on with life and enjoy it. You probably are more at risk of problems with a valve job than the pacer.