Pacemaker

About 2 1/2 weeks ago I received a pacemaker. I have atrial fibrallation and bradycardia.... I was short of breath, so tired and felt like I was going to pass out, this might happen several times a day. My pulse was quite low. Since the pacemaker, I do not feel better. When I am sitting down, it isn't too bad. When I stand up I am very light headed, short of breath and weak at times. No energy.

Also, on the top of the pacemaker there is a hard protruding lump, and from time to time it starts paining. I know this hasn't been very long, but I am wondering if that is normal. Maybe the lump on top is the wires?

Can any of you tell me if you have a lump on top of the pacemaker?

Thanks,

Ernestine

4 Comments

Hi Ernestine

by TalkinCardio - 2012-09-06 01:09:51

While you are at the doctors office, be sure to let them know you are very light headed, SOB, and weak. Sounds like you may need some settings changed too. I also agree with Richard that you should have that lump checked out.

Take care, Cathy

Agree: settings need tweaking

by SaraTB - 2012-09-06 04:09:52

Hi Ernestine, and welcome to the PM Club. When you receive your first pacemaker, they program it with approximate settings - basically, the factory defaults - until they can see exactly how you are 'using' it. I had similar feelings of light-headedness and weakness when I first received mine, because the settings weren't suited to my needs. At my first follow-up appointment, several adjustments were made, which improved things a lot, but it took several visits over a few months to get things set up ideally.
So, it's my suspicion that it's the settings: make sure you tell them at your follow-up appointment (or ask for it to be brought forward, to get things adjusted as soon as possible) and don't give up until you're happy with it.

The wires are connected at the top of the pacemaker, and this may be what you're feeling - mine is a bit odd at that spot. I got a bit of nerve-ending pain in the area for a while, as things healed up, but make sure to mention this at your follow-up to ensure all is well.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Not wires

by PacerRep - 2012-09-06 07:09:34

If the lump is actually "on top" of the pacemaker, it should not be the wires. The wires are generally coiled behind the pacemaker, this way during a battery change the doctor does not cut the wire with the scalpel. As far as how yoru feeling I hope they can program around it, have them try raising the Base Rate to try and increase your cardiac output (blood flow). I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but with A-fib, many patients still feel crummy. Your atrium contributes about 1/3 of your cardiac output, when in A-fib most of that is lost and the pacemaker cannot make the Atria squeeze. Some people with A-fib notice a difference others do not. I hope you are the latter

Lump on top of the pacemaker

by Richard F - 2012-09-06 10:09:04

Ernestine, I had a defibillator/pacemaker combination implanted on August 1st and have had no problem with it or with the healing process, other than the first couple of weeks of having soreness in my left shoulder and upper arm, which I was told that that was normal. The incision area has healed beautifully and you can hardly see where the incision was made. The lump is barely noticeable considering the short time since the surgery. I would recommend that your surgeon look at your incision and explain to you why the lump exists. That lump could just be the muscle where they inserted the device has not healed. I hope that you get feeling better soon. I know, I have so much more energy now.

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