little shocks in chest

Hello,

I had my first pacemaker implanted about a week and half ago. I had my first check-up today. Since I have had the device I have been feeling very very tiny "shocks" in my left pectoral muscle. Almost like someone was gently tapping it from the inside. It alarmed me so I brought it up with my doc.

It turns out that they just had to tune the voltage down a little bit for the shocks. I was getting paced at 5 volts in the Ventricular and they lowered it to 3 volts. They can still lower it further if needed. The shocks went away. Turns out it was harmless and normal.

I know this isn't everyone's situation, but I just wanted to share so this information would be out there for anyone new to the PM lifestyle who was having little taps and getting alarmed.

3 Comments

Thanks

by Theknotguy - 2013-12-31 09:12:44

Thanks for letting everyone know. Will keep it in my memory for long term retrieval.

Hope everything else goes well.

Theknotguy

Me too

by Colleen - 2014-01-02 09:01:56

I feel them too. Initially, it happened regularly and now I hardly notice them. My EP said it's nothing to worry about, and said that he preferred to keep my settings as is for now. It was a little scary, but now just part of the day. I can live with it...just keep my heart beating.

RE: Little Shocks in Chest

by golden0072 - 2014-01-06 09:01:41

Thanks for the information. I had a similar experience. The voltage was turned down on my ventricular pacing too, but I still feel them occasionally. Like you, the mystery was solved in the pacemaker clinic during the interrogation It was determined that the "shocks" or "twitches" I felt was actually the ventricular pacing.

Anyway, it is good to have this info out there, to reassure other newbies who may experience the same thing.

You and I both had our implants during the same month, and I know that with anything else new, there is a learning curve and adjustments to make. Hope you are feeling better and adjusting to life with your pacemaker. I definitely have seen an improvement in my exercise tolerance, and I don't became fatigued as easily. :-)

You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

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In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.