pauses after pacemaker placement

Hello, I'm new to this site but have a lot of unanswered questions about things I feel after my pacemaker was put in. I had inappropriate sinustachycardia and had an ablation done on January 15, 2013 after my ablation my pulse rate rarely got over 40 even when I was up doing things. My ep dr left me at that low of a pulse rate until april 2 when we had no other choice than to put in a Boston Scientific pacemaker. I never had pauses before my ablation but after I had 6 to 7 seconds pauses constantly until my pacemaker was put in. I'm now noticing that I'm having some pauses occasionaly never very long at all and it has me worried. I have been checked out by 7 cardiologist and they all say everything is fine and the main issue was corrected. I'm now 28 and worried ab these pauses. Does anyone else have this symptom and if so what plan of action did your Dr put in place for it?

6 Comments

Thank you

by kacy - 2013-09-18 01:09:07

Thank you Jerry, I see my ep dr next thursday but she never really told me what to expect after pacemaker placement except I will always have palps and pauses. The pauses just recently started again which caused a little concern in me. My ep dr said that she does not foresee me needing a defibulator but the pauses still scare me. You gave me some peace of mind. Being 28 with a pacemaker is scary for me and I have been diagnoised with severe anxiety as well which has only gotten worse since the pacemaker placement. The anxiety stemed from finding my mother dead when I was 15 of a massive heart attack. I now have two little boys 8 and 9 and I'm so afraid they will walk into something like I did when I was 15. Thanks again for the information!

PVS's

by gleesue - 2013-09-18 01:09:51

If they are short and just a little blip you are probably experiencing PVC's. No big deal, most are benign and probably almost everyone in this forum has them.

Jerry

Thank you

by kacy - 2013-09-18 02:09:00

Thank you Duke, all my Dr's tell me I'm picture perfect health and should live a very long healthy life but I still worry. Its very reassuring to hear I'm not the only one who has these pauses and I really appreciate your comment. I felt alone in this for along time then my psychiatrist told me about this club and I'm so thankful for that. I have actually learned more from others on here than my Ep Dr. Its nice to be able to have someone relate to what I'm going through. Thank you again!

It's OK

by Duke999 - 2013-09-18 02:09:35

Hi Kacy,
I think the pauses you're experiencing after PM put in, will gradually subside. I had them also after I had my PM, and now it still happens but much less. So, I think you should relax and give it some time. You will be OK.

I'm sorry to hear about your experience with losing your mom at such an early age. I wish you good health and wonderful new journey with the PM.
Have a nice day.

Duke

We understand

by ohiolaura - 2013-09-18 09:09:17

I can relate to some of your issues,sorry about your Mom,that had and has to be a really tough thing to live thru and with.
I am just over 1 yr from PM,1st timer,and I sometimes can feel off beats.Now,with that being said,I being a Mom of 2, 20 something girls,worry a lot.
But,I do my best to stay focused and positive,and it helps a lot.I am very sensitive to things,I notice every change with myself,always have,but now I know I am more intune with my health.
I can feel when I go a little out of sync,and I take my pulse,and can feel a pause or a missed beat.I can also feel I think when my BP goes up some,as its always has been low,I don't know if this has anything to do with going thru the PM surgery and change in my body or not,maybe does,who knows?
This site has been a life saver for me,as I didn't have any info either,and had so many questions and concerns,being here got me informed and I felt at ease with things,its a blessing.
I worry some,as I don't think you cant,being a parent,its part of the job.Now,its more complicated,as you feel you are mortal,I understand that,I know my job here isn't done,and I will be here for a long time,as you will be.
Try to relax,trust in yourself,instincts,and ask questions here when you need to,and if you have to,ask the Dr what you have to!
You'll get there,I did!
Laura

Second PVC thread in one night

by donr - 2013-09-19 01:09:58

Kacy: PVC's can be common as grass for some folks. Unless you have MASSIVE RUNS of PVC's, they are a "Not to worry " thing.

As long as your PM is functioning correctly, you will NEVER skip a beat. That little dumb box of rocks will NOT let you skip a beat. As said, you are most likely feeling PVC's, where a Ventricular contraction comes sooner than it is supposed to. Premature - pretty neat, huh? That contraction is wimpy because the ventricles are not full of blood. Next contraction is heavier because the ventricles get fuller & they go THUMP to get rid of it. Then you feel a slight pause while everything figures out what happened & gets back in sync. You feel that pause because you probably did not feel the wimpy beat , but surely did feel the heavy one that followed.

You want evidence that PVC's are essentially benign? You are reading it. I have them by the hundreds of thousands each month - & I'm still here to write! I just don't have many in RUNS - a bunch of PVC's that come in succession. Those can lead to V-Tach & V-Fib, so are frowned upon in good cardio company. I figure that I have 3 PVC's out of every 2 minutes. Considering the number of minutes in a month, that's a WHOLE bunch in a month.

Relax - they won't kill you.

Now - as to finding your mother dead from a massive heart attack: Unless it occurred to her because of "Bad genes," you have no fear of that happening to your kids. Your Mom had a plumbing problem - you have an electrical problem. They are NOT the same. Your Mom died from physically clogged arteries. Your arteries are probably nice & clear - you have a control system problem. That is well taken care of by tour PM.

Relax & enjoy your kids.

Don

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