Flutter feelings in chest

I have had my pacemaker about 5 years.It was put in for complete heart block. During that time I was using it once or twice during the year. Last year it was 6%. The past couple of weeks I have felt like a fluttering in my chest and an uncomfortable feeling.I went to emergency and on the ecg my heart was being paced 100%. I am not sure what this means, but am having an echo and bloodwork on Friday.

2 Comments

Questions

by NiceNiecey - 2014-11-13 02:11:58

Hello Mary.

I am only 11 months into my PM journey and I have a LOT to learn. That said, I thought that if a patient had complete heart block, they were paced 100% because virtually none of the signals are getting through between the heart's chambers.

Since "fluttering" is dangerous, you were right to get yourself into the ER.

As for the pacing, I hope someone with more knowledge and experience weighs in to help you.

Nice Niecey

Fluttering feeling

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-13 10:11:06

Based upon your description it's really hard to tell what could be causing the "fluttering" feeling. Your best bet is as you have done and scheduled yourself for tests.

I have afib. I'm also am one of those very rare people who can feel my afib sessions. I can tell you when they start, when they stop, if they're what I call benign, or if they're dangerous.

I'm very fortunate because my EP turned on Medtronics APP (Atrial Preference Pacing) which has reduced the number of afib sessions I have. Before I had APP turned on, I'd get "fluttery" feelings which were short afib sessions which never went into full blown afib sessions. I saw the blips on my last PM report. You may be having similar sessions.

As for pacing 100% - it's really disconcerting when you first see it. When I was in cardio rehab the nurses there said they had seen patients who had increased usage of their PM because the heart no longer had to deal with the problem of keeping regular beating. There was this nice metronome that was doing the job and the heart was willing to take the path of least resistance.

Hope they find nothing of concern when you complete your tests.

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