Weird feeling

Hello everyone!
I have to tell you that I am been feeling much better, I am in 3 weeks since I got my PM third degree block.
Everything is starting to feel normal except for a very annoying feeling at night.
When I am asleep, it feels like the air is forced into my lungs and I wakes me up, normally my HR is fine, is just that extra breathing sometimes is only two short ones but sometimes is Long kind of painful.. Has anyone experience something similar to this?
Other than that.. no complains..Don any ideas?
thanks!!
Pilar

7 Comments

Higher voltage on PM

by Theknotguy - 2014-03-05 04:03:38

What you could be feeling is your heart reaction to a higher voltage setting on your PM. They kept the voltage on my PM at a higher rate for the first 90 days.

The higher voltage setting made for a heavier "thump" while sleeping and it used to wake me up. I'm wondering if you have something similar?

Theknotguy

Voltage

by pilarnusa - 2014-03-05 05:03:50

I thought about it theknotguy, because I also read it somewhere else on this website, how high is high? I don't know much how to read my report, but I do have it is like chinesse to me lol.
thanks

Hmmm

by KAG - 2014-03-05 08:03:47

Like Don said, maybe sleep apnea.

What you describe on your breathing when waking up might be that. You're sound asleep, breathing stops, the brain sends out a panic signal that O2 is low, adrenaline kicks in to get the lungs to quickly / deeply gulp in some air, and you wake up at this point wondering what's going on.

Perhaps worth a sleep study. There are a large number of people with heart problems who also have sleep apnea.

Just a thought
Kathy

Thanks guys

by pilarnusa - 2014-03-05 09:03:41

Thanks a lot for your comments I think as usual we will have more clarity after a few studies, I have never experienced anything similar to sleep apnea but I guess everything is possible. and kind of make sense.
I will let you guys know and will check my report as well.
Another night wondering when things are truly going to get better but we have to learn how to live with this right?

Thanks to all!

best

Pilar

Voltage - How High is High?

by donr - 2014-03-05 09:03:53

High is an individual thing & varies significantly from person to person.

What the PM does (& the Cardio when doing a diagnostic check) is measure the voltage necessary to make the chambers contract. Then he/she throws in a safety factor of about 2 (usually) & sets your pacing voltage there.

Perhaps you do not need such a high safety factor - this is something you have to talk to your Cardio about.

I have a Medtronic PM, so my printout may well be different from yours for a Boston.

Mine shows a parameter called "Measured Threshold," which is the lowest voltage the PM can determine that it takes to make chambers contract when applied by the PM. For my Atria, it is .625 Volts.

It then lists "Programed Output," which is the Voltage that the PM actually uses, & includes the safety factor. That is 1.5 Volts. Note that it has a safety factor greater than 2.

Next it says that the "Capture," or the voltage that the PM will actually use to cause pacing is "Adaptive," meaning that the PM itself has an Algorithm to vary the pacing voltage.

The PM does nothing to cause your breathing to be affected - at least not intentionally.

Try looking at your printout & see if there is anything like I gave you above.

Donr

Lots of idseas, but none of them...

by donr - 2014-03-05 11:03:19

...but none of them seem to be useful.

What you describe is not anything I have experienced, nor have I read of anything similar in here.

This sounds like a breathing problem, perhaps like sleep apnea. I get the impression that it wakes you up & is disturbing, in that you are sort of panicked by it & find your heart is racing when you awaken & perhaps breathing hard because of it.

Have I interpreted what you described correctly?

Donr

not sure

by pilarnusa - 2014-03-05 11:03:45

Not sure Don, everytime this feeling wakes me up I check my HR and is always fine, I thought could be something related to the settings of PM pushing air when no needed...? I will have a chest xray done tomorrow and take it back to doctor...:(

You know you're wired when...

You have a new body part.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker was installed in 1998 and I have not felt better. The mental part is the toughest.