Shock Sensation

Hello all!

I am a new member and was just inducted to life with a pacemaker. Sick Sinus Syndrome and a-fib. Ticker was 28-30 bpm at rest. I am a runner-backpacker & cyclist and had my pacer installed for three weeks today. I started hiking every other day last Tuesday for exercise - slow - to avoid pulling leads or messing something up but I have noticed a definite shock sensation in what feels internal just at the left side right in the sternum area when walking downhill. No issues hiking uphill but the sensation when it happens is a bit disconcerting. Makes my imagination go to places I would prefer to avoid.

Has anybody in this forum felt anything similar and have feedback that they would share? I apologize for my inability to articulate this better but this is all new to me and very ignorant of this new world I just woke up in.

Any feedback is appreciated and welcome. Ya'll have a good night.

Gdub

4 Comments

Give it Time

by NiceNiecey - 2014-04-05 02:04:43

Welcome GDub.
Since I see that you're quite new to the PM Club, I suggest that you give it a few weeks. After I got through week 6, things improved a lot. Eight weeks post PM, I have improved dramatically.

Don't apologize for not giving a good description; you did! We know what you mean!

You seem to have a wonderful attitude and are use to exercising. Keep it up! Just give it a few more weeks!
Niecey

Give yourself some time

by Theknotguy - 2014-04-05 10:04:59

I agree with Nice, give yourself some time to heal. At two weeks everything is pretty raw and you're pushing it. Our bodies aren't McDonalds or Wendys. You gotta give yourself some time. Kudos on the exercise though.

Another thing to consider, they kept the voltage on my PM high for the first 90 days. Don't know the setting but I could feel the PM when it would kick off a heart beat. I'd sometimes go into coughing fits because I'd get a heart beat when I didn't expect it. You get used to the wrong heart beat pattern and when you get a good one, you're surprised. Anyway... At 90 days they dropped the voltage on my PM and I don't feel it kick off my heart beat any more.

So you may be feeling your PM kick off a heart beat. Nothing more and no to worry. Isn't it great to know your PM is keeping you alive??

Work on light trails for the first 4-6 weeks. You'll feel like doing more but you have to give your body time to incorporate the leads.

Of course, since you live in California, it's probably the electromagnetic disturbance from the San Andreas fault. Now you're an earthquake predictor!

Theknotguy

I have the time

by GDub - 2014-04-05 11:04:08

Thank you Nice and KnotGuy,

I do have time, but a severe lack of patience, I guess. I do know that I'll not be running marathons anytime soon, but just don't want to lose my prime. The only time that I have detected the "electrical shock" sensation is going downhill, so perhaps it may be the heavier impact of a downhill footfall? I have a pretty light foot, but I guess it is enough to cause the sensation?

This a pretty light trail for me, it is 3.8-miles and 1,500 total gain/loss, but I am taking it easy. I keep my pace and resist the urge to run.

I do appreciate the pacer lease on life, but still in the process of reconciliation with this new reality and my new little buddy.

We have had much seismic activity here in CA these past couple of months, so you might be on to something there!

Anyway, it is very nice to be able to chat with people that get it. It helps...allot!

Thank you!

Gdub

Felt like I was being shocked

by dhung - 2014-04-13 11:04:37

For about a year after having my pacer installed I would get a shocking sensation just left of my Sternum about midline with my heart. I went to my Cardiologist for about the first 4 months and even got rushed to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack. During my trip to the ER and the joined 2 day stay at a hospital that was not even in my home town, it was fond that I was suffering from sternal inflammation. There was a argument over should I be put on steroids or not for the inflammation. My Cardiologist decided not to put me on the steroids, from her point of view I have two wires running through my ribs that I did not have before, as they move they are bound to cause some sort of sensation when they move past the rib, that sensation radiates to the nearest place we have sensory nerves. It is going on 4 years now and I don't get the shocking sensation as much as I use to. maybe twice since the first of the year, and always when I am tired now. My pacer is checked every 3 months and everything is normal. I am not a doctor, but I would say if it is happening only when you walk down hill, it is positional, it is a movement that you are doing only during that activity.

You know you're wired when...

Jerry & The Pacemakers is your favorite band.

Member Quotes

But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.