12 days with pacemaker

I just had my staples removed 12 days after my surgery. My cardiologist checked me out with the Bos. Scien. equiptment. He lowered my minimum pulse to 55 ppm.
After having lowered the output voltage on my PM I'm still having some minor diaphragm stimulation from the ventricular lead. He talked to the Bos. Scien. rep and was slightly concerned about the diaphragm thing because in what he's only seen about 3 times, sometimes the leads are screwed in too far and actually go through the heart muscle.
He is ordering an x ray and another echo just to be sure.thanks for listening. Eric

3 Comments

Diaphramatic Pacing

by Many Blessings - 2012-09-14 12:09:29

Hi Eric,

I had a similar problem when I first got my PM. The PM tech at the hospital was able to fix the diaphramatic pacing to where I can't feel it unless I'm in certain positions, but it took a couple of tries to do so.

During that time, they did tell me that "sometimes", this can't be fixed, but most of the time it can be fixed all the way or at least improved. Keep your hopes high.

In my case, the lead did not go through the heart muscle, but was placed in a location that wasn't the best for that particular lead. My surgeon did the best he could under the circumstances (lots of scarring from past heart surgeries/valve replacements) but it wasn't the "perfect" placement. The lead was placed a little lower than it should be. It also "moved" after the surgery before it healed into place. Not a horrible thing, just not the best. All is well though.

Please stay positive that this is the case in your situation too.

Hopefully, this will put your mind at ease until you can get your tests done. Please keep us posted.

Take care

Lead Stimulation

by ElectricFrank - 2012-09-14 12:09:45

It sounds like there is something wrong with the leads which causes the pacer to switch to unipolar pacing mode. This causes the pacing current to return from the heart to the pacer via body tissue. Of course the diaphragm is right in the pathway. It can be caused by not having the lead connection to the pacemaker properly screwed in.

I would stay after them to get it fixed. There is a tendency for the cardio to come up with ways to put off having to do surgery at this point in time. It's considered a "warranty" job and they aren't paid for it. If they can put you off until the time runs out it can a paid job. I'm not saying that they are doing this, but it's worth staying alert.

frank

Intercostal muscles

by goguryo - 2012-09-16 11:09:42

I got my pm in four days ago and have been having trouble with "feeling" the stimuli. The doctor told me that no one else can feel the PM shocks in the heart, but i was feeling it, getting up and going to the nurses station, where when we looked at the EKG it had obviously started pacing (i have an intermittent AV block).
I could feel the shock coming out through my chest (particularly when lying down), and am now beginning to think it is related to the issues you are having with your ventricular leads... now, every time i try to lie down, the thumping in my intercostal muscles starts. interestingly, it stops when i take in a deep breath, turn on my side or get up. any advice on how to deal with this?

You know you're wired when...

You have a little piece of high-tech in your chest.

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