Feeling pacemaker beats

I had my St Jude single lead pacemaker put in 2 weeks ago tomorrow. From the beginning I have been able to feel when it goes off or it is manipulated. I could feel two taps. Now I only feel one. Actually woke me up this morning. The cardiologist wanted the minimum at 50 but think the pacemaker Dr put it at 60. I'll admit I've not been the best not lifting less than 5 lbs. My hubby is disabled with back injury and I have no help. Today I go for 2 week check and I'm hoping he does not say I have a detached lead. Does anyone else feel when your device goes off? Will that ever stop being noticeable? Pretty sure they will adjust minimum today too. Thanks!

3 Comments

Feel beats

by Theknotguy - 2014-12-05 02:12:03

I could feel when my PM initiated a beat right after it was implanted. They increased the voltage on the PM for about the first 12 weeks. I could feel it initiate a beat and then felt the thump as my heart followed through. It would sometimes wake me up at night.

They dropped my voltage at about the three month period. No big deal was sitting in the chair watching the tech when he did it. As soon as the voltage was dropped I only feel my PM initiate beats occasionally.

If it really bothers you, you can talk to your EP and see if they can decrease the voltage a little before the 3 month period. In the meantime, enjoy the good heartbeat.

Sometimes

by Tinkergirl - 2014-12-05 09:12:14

Sometimes I can feel when the lead in my Atrium pluses, it feels like two little taps against my breast. I can usually feel it if my body is in a ceratin position. So the two taps you feel may be from the same lead. When my lead in my Ventracle paces it actually is a hard throb that feels like it is in my esophogus. I do not feel the ventracle much anymore after they adjusted my settings last month.

I think the reason I feel the top lead more is it is pacing 95% of the time to keep my HR at 60, as mine likes to beat in the 30's normally. My bottom lead only paces 4.4% of the time and this is when my AV block likes to happen.

I hope this answers your question. I think over time we get used to what the PM is doing so we will not feel it as much, as we will not focus on the PM as much as we do right now.

Let us know how your appointment goes today!!

Thanks!

by madscad - 2014-12-05 09:12:52

Thanks, I think I'm just anxious about the first checkup. I'm ready to get my energy back. I'll update y'all later!

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