Extra beats?

I had my PM fitted 3 weeks ago and I am still in pain, especially at night. Had to have a further dose of antibiotics which helped apart from the HEAVY feeling and pain in my left armpit, my fingers are swollen every morning too. I make a real effort to relax my muscles when the pain is too much. Part of me thinks that I think about it too much, part thinks it is my age (67) but I am getting quite depressed about the recovery period. BTW does anyone else have increased heart rate whilst travelling in a car. Is my pacemaker responding to being bounced around?

3 Comments

Possibly..

by Duke999 - 2014-02-22 04:02:18

Hi Mojo, I tend to agree with Kathy (KAG) about the Rate Response feature. This is a nightmare feature IF you don't need it. Per your symptoms, as you describe it, while driving, you get your episode or increased heart rate. This is the classic case due to Rate Response. When I first got my PM, this used to cause me so much problem and didn't know what was going on. Anyway, talk to your EP about turning this feature off IF you don't need it.
I assure you it will solve your problem.

I wish you well.

Duke

you may want

by KAG - 2014-02-22 11:02:28

to get the swelling checked to make sure you don't have a blood clot.

Ice usually helps during the initial healing time. When they make the pocket for your device they can cause all sorts of bruising too. I was surprised that my left breast and arm pit were very bruised. It took a while for the area to get back to normal.

Is your Rate Response turned On? If it is then the PM could be sensing vibrations while riding in a car. There are sensitivity settings which can be adjusted if you need to.

My RR is Off but I remember that when I first started driving again, about 1 week, I noticed that my HR was elevated. I think it was just anxiety and my body adjusting to my little buddy, as after a while things calmed down.

Give yourself time to heal.
Kathy

extra beats?not such a daft question

by mojo - 2014-02-23 08:02:26

Thank you to everyone who answered. I shall certainly raise that with the technician at my first pacemaker check next Wednesday. If that can be solved so easily I am glad I asked. I did have an infection caused by extra bleeding during the op. My INR was only 1.2 but I bled profusely. PS I had not heard of RR so knowledge is power.

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