Please Please Help

Hi all, its me again. I just had my pacemaker downloaded last Tuesday, everything ok. Tonight I was laying on my side and felt like my heart is quivering. As soon as I sat up it stopped doing that. My neck was tickling, I got shaky, hot and not SOB. I called EP and he said he thinks its palpatations and not to worry because I have PVCs. I am WORRIED. I am trying not to run to the ER but I am almost ready to go there. I am trying to break myself of going to the ER but its so hard to sit here and think I am in afib or vfib or something. I don't know how much more I can do of this. Thanks all ahead of time.

Tina

5 Comments

Same for me

by Theknotguy - 2013-11-20 09:11:40

Everyone is different so I can't give you a definite answer. I'm not a doctor so this isn't a medical answer. I've had my PM for seven weeks now. I still can't lay on my left side as it feels like the PM is being shoved into my chest. From my personal experience I'll give you the following:

I have had a lot of a-fib and I'm one of the lucky ones who can feel it. So my a-fib has a fluttery feeling, I get SOB, and dizzy. I have two kinds of a-fib. The first is a fluttery feeling and will cause chest pain as it goes on. The other kind of a-fib causes my heart rate to go up - 120 BPM to 140 BPM. Believe me you don't want the increased heart rate. The a-fib sessions last for a while (4 hours to 24 hours) and won't stop if I change position. So if your palpitations stop after you change position, chances are you aren't having a-fib.

The way I described it my body was ringing like a bell for about a month after the trauma that caused me to get a PM. So I was sensitive to every little thing.

Because of me stressing out over blood pressure I talked myself back into the ER. I got stressed about the blood pressure, so it went higher, so I got stressed out more, etc. They gave me morphine in the ER to calm me down and the blood pressure went to normal.

I'm guessing after you had the download you're a little more sensitive to everything and concerned about things going bad. That's a normal feeling. Question is if you have a medical person with whom you can talk. My health insurance offers a consulting nurse free of charge. I can ask her medical questions and get answers. They also suggested I talk with a psychologist because having a PM can cause you to become depressed. Funny what the mind will do to you. Perhaps you can get help that way?

Hope this helps.

Theknotguy

When they downloaded my PM I had SOB and a funny feeling in my chest. I was told later it was because the PM goes into a test mode while reading.

normal anxiety

by bottle - 2013-11-21 02:11:14

ive had pacemaker for over a year it is very normal to feel anxious it is a major change in your life but i guess we are safer now than before the pacemaker time helps us to adjust but if you are worried about your health dont be afraid to seek medical help only we know our own bodies and it takes tome to physically and mentally accept but it will get easier and this forum can help a lot good luck

PVCs and help

by philip.thecyclist - 2013-11-21 07:11:21

Hello Tina.

I hope what I say here gives you some comfort. I go through periods of PVCs, or ectopic beats as they are also known, quite regularly. It can be alarming, but I have had no ill-effects from them. They often occur after some brief excercise, such as climbing stairs, or getting into bed, but settle down after time. They are not noticable during excercise itself. During my last PM upgrade in May, my heart rate was monitored and indicated by bleeps. PVCs were ocurring prior to the procedure, but the medics showed no concern. However, if you find you experience dizzy spells, faintness, or long periods of very high heart rates, it would be as well to get things checked.

Philip

thank you everyone

by TinaH - 2013-11-21 08:11:42

Thank you everyone for your help. I have had my pacemaker for 10 months now. When I lay on my right side is when I am getting the weird feeling. I cannot even lay on my left side. I do need to do cardiac rehab but cannot afford it. My doctor said I am having fast heart rates off and on but they don't last long. He wants me to start on Multag.

I hope you all are well. I really appreciate the support I get on here :)

New Normal

by Grateful Heart - 2013-11-21 12:11:59

Tina, we've talked before. I've had my ICD for almost 5 years. I still can not lay on my left side. When I do the skin around the device feels like it gets pinched and squeezed and I strongly feel my heart beating/ quivering into the mattress. So I don't lay on that side....at least not for very long because all of those factors remind me to turn over. When I turn over or sit up, like you it stops.

This is part of my "New Normal". It is not always going to be the way it was in every aspect of our lives. Indeed there are some changes.....some for the better and some may be limiting. Acceptance is a big part of recovery.

Tina, if your device was checked and the Doctor is not concerned maybe an adjustment to your device is needed.

I see you work in the medical field. Maybe you can talk to someone there. I still think Cardiac Rehab will help you greatly. Talk to your Doctor about it. You have to take that first step.

Theknotguy: When they interrogate my device I always feel it too. I'm told some people do not feel it.

Grateful Heart

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I am just now 40 but have had these blackouts all my life. I am thrilled with the pacer and would do it all over again.