Heart palpitations after PM replacement

I just had a replacement of my pacemaker a week ago after 7 years. Now I am told I am completely pacemaker dependent. I had to have a temporary pacemaker inserted from the femoral vein during the surgery. Since the surgery I have been having many episodes each day of 4 to 8 hard pounding heart beats in a row, then 2 normal, and then 2 more hard ones. I have more of these episodes soon after going to bed continuing for at least an hour. I don't have any SOB with them but they are not comfortable. I wonder if they are a result of the temporary pacemaker. I went in and saw the NP 2 days after surgery with BP of 188/98, Haven't been able to see the doctor yet. The NP ran a pacer check but she isn't a technition so didn't do everything they do. She said it looked good. I wonder if anyone has had a similar experience.

3 Comments

Me, too

by barnet38 - 2014-11-26 10:11:36

I was having frequent palpitations throughout the day about a year ago. It went on for quite a few months. Nothing was showing up on my pacemaker checks, EKGs, or ultrasounds. My cardiologist had me wear an event monitor for a month. The event monitor was very small and could be removed for showering. I had to press a button on the event monitor whenever I felt palpitations, and it recorded my heart beats for a minute or so.

The results didn't show anything abnormal with my heart, so my cardiologist recommended that I cut out caffeine (I was only drinking a couple of cups of coffee or tea a day), get more rest, and try to cut back on stress.

The palpitations eventually went away, although I feel one every once and a while.

Yeah, I get them too.

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-26 10:11:47

Just had a similar discussion with my EP. I get the pounding heart - usually a night. Anywhere from when I get in bed to right after a wacko dream. My EP and I got into a discussion about it. He said not heart problem related which frustrates the hell out of me. Got to see other doctors as to what triggers it. Possibly a vasovagal response but since it is intermittent is really hard to prove. Could be a left over from when I ran my van into the cement freeway divider at 55MPH - who knows?

He indicated you can get heart palpitations due to dreams. Something in your dreaming kicks off your adrenaline and your heart starts pounding in response. Can't eat the pizza with everything on it plus the little minnies just before going to bed anymore. Not supposed to eat it anyway but you just gotta do it sometimes....

For me one possible problem may be sleep apnea. There may be others - another suggestion was to see a pulmonologist. Hate going for another round of doctors.

Then, to really add insult to injury, the nightly heart pounding sessions stopped. Was going through a bout with a mild bug going around - not quite a cold - not quite a flu. Got it, heart started pounding, got over it, heart stopped pounding. Go figure. So now how do I go to the doctor and say I've got a problem? Cuss and swear. Just grateful it isn't permanent.

My thoughts go a several different directions.

1) They just messed around with your heart. New PM, new heart stimulation. Heart doesn't like it so it's going to give you palpitations for a while. It may go away.

2) Record what, when, where. If there is a pattern your EP will see it and may be able to offer suggestions. But, and I mean BUT - Don't talk yourself into the hospital by recording the events. If you start thinking you're going to have these episodes every time you lay down - you will. Talked myself into the hospital because of blood pressure readings. Don't take blood pressure readings anymore. The reading looked bad. M y BP went up. Next reading looked worse - you get the picture.

3) The cause of palpitations my be due to undergoing the new PM implant. Cause may be due to a mild flu/cold bug. Cause may be due to mild infection like a sinus problem. Whatever. An external cause is triggering the event and it will go away when the external cause goes away.

Be aware but don't over react. Hope things change for the better soon.

Heart race w/dreams

by NormaLou - 2014-11-27 11:11:25

I too have experienced waking up from a frightening dream with my heart racing and/or pounding, and sometimes sweating. I suppose this is normal, but it is disconcerting when it happens. I'm glad to hear that it happens to others as well.

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

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