Heart pain w/pacemaker

I'e had a Boston Scientific pacemaker for 4 1/2 years with no negative effects. In fact I've felt completely normal I'm 69 and recently have begun having random chest pain (feels like heart pain to me) which has been occuring more and more frequently. In the last year my heart has increased it's reliance on the pacemaker from 30% to 100%. I had a completely normal echocardiogram just a few weeks ago. My cardiologist doesn't seem to be too worried about this "atypical" pain, but it's a little scary to me. Ideas?? Thank you!

4 Comments

chest pain

by Tracey_E - 2013-08-30 09:08:16

Chest pain should always be taken seriously and investigated. A normal echo means your heart is structurally normal and your output (ejection fraction, EF) is normal. It doesn't say anything about arteries, the only way to tell if you have blockages is with a cath. That is considerably more invasive to check out.

Did he say why he thinks you are pacing so much more? It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it is curious. Why did you get the pm?

I, too, have had random chest pain. My dr did an echo, listened to my heart in various positions, and had me do a stress test. All was normal so we didn't bother with a cath. He thinks it was muscular. I'm very active so that made sense to me. With no other symptoms, I did not ask to pursue it further.

Leween

by Leween - 2013-08-30 10:08:06

Thanks, Tracey! Yes, I do exercise, but have been lazy recently. I'm just beginning a routine at the gym again. In the past few days I've noticed the pain I experience goes away during and after exercise, but shows up again later.

Leween

by Leween - 2013-08-30 10:08:28

Thank you for your response!I have a Type II AV Block. The doc tells me, and other comments on this site seem to concur, that hearts typically rely more and more on the pm as time goes on. I'm scheduling a cat scan to look at coronary arteries very soon. Aside from the chest pain, I feel great. Do wonder if this could be anxiety induced, as I am that type. I take Lexapro regularly and Xanax on occasion.

av b lock

by Tracey_E - 2013-08-30 10:08:42

It's very common for 2nd degree to progress to 3rd degree. It has nothing to do with the pm being there, it would happen with or without it. The pm always gives the heart a chance to beat on its own. Every time the atria beats, it watches to see if the ventricles stay in sync. If it does, the pm just sits back and watches. If it doesn't beat, it generates a signal that causes a beat. It reacts only, it never takes the lead.

Anxiety can most definitely cause chest pain and a long list of other annoying symptoms.

Do you exercise? I find that is the best thing ever for stress relief.

You know you're wired when...

You have a high-tech ticker.

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A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.