IT HAS A NAME!

Thank you to everyone (Angry Sparrow, Grateful Heart, Ellen, Donr, PJinSC, Sunny; hope I didn't forget anyone) who helped me with my recent problem of getting jolted by my PM even though I don't have a defibrillator!

Some of you suggested a diagnosis but I actually have a name for it: DIAPHRAGMATIC STIMULATION. As you thought, it is, indeed, a lead touching the diaphragm. There is no need to worry about it occurring while sitting up, just while horizontal. It is happening to me now when I lay on my side (esp left side) as well as flat on my stomach.

How did I find out? I called my best friend in another state (should have called her first). She's a nurse and teacher, has a daughter that is a cardiac unit nurse as well as a daughter that is an NP in a cardiology practice and specializes in EP stuff. When I described the symptoms, the NP immediately said to her mother, "It's Diaphragmatic Stimulation; why didn't anyone tell her that?" My response was, "Because nobody knew!"

So there you have it. Thanks again for all your help, PM Friends. Your input is always insightful and valuable.

4 Comments

Niecey: It could have been worse...

by donr - 2015-04-13 11:04:26

...it's name could have been Fred!

Glad you found out. Just knowing that such occurrences have names is often a relief.

Donr

NiceNiecey

by IAN MC - 2015-04-14 01:04:12

To be strictly accurate, the lead cannot possibly touch the diaphragm. The diaphragm is well below and outside the heart . What happens is that the pacemaker lead irritates or stimulates one of the phrenic nerves. These run between the lungs and the wall of the heart.

When your phrenic nerve is stimulated by the lead it passes an electrical signal down to the diaphragm telling it to contract. This will cause you to have a sudden short gasp of breath or a hiccup sensation; it may feel like a jolt.

It is often referred to as Diaphragmatic Pacing and can usually be cured by changing the PM settings.

Glad it is no longer nameless

Ian

But...

by Grateful Heart - 2015-04-14 09:04:43

Niecey...How did your Doctor handle it? Is it still jolting you?

Are you sleeping standing up? So many questions. :-)

I had a lead problem about 4 years ago. It wasn't "capturing" so they had to turn up the voltage. The higher voltage caused my phrenic nerve to jump fiercely and the lead had to be replaced.

Grateful Heart

Great Followup

by PJinSC - 2015-04-15 11:04:22

Glad we could help. Great to hear that we now have a name for it. I suppose that you could fill in any organ or area in place of "diaphragmatic" since there are nerves that go everywhere, like when I get a tweak in the implant site and an accompanying needle shot on the opposite side of my chest. This usually happens when I turn on my left side, but also sometimes when I do a lot of lifting and arm/shoulder movement. I also get an occasional muscle twitch in my diaphragm, but it doesn't hurt. I stopped worrying about it.

Good Luck and Good Life, PJ.

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