electrical impulses

I had my 3rd dual chamber pacemaker placed in January along with a lead revision because my ventricular lead was broken. Immediately after discharge I started feeling electrical impulses approximately 2 inches from my sternum. The nurse practitioner traced it to my new lead. She turned the voltage down from 3.5 volts to 2 volts and she told me she would turn me down more later, that I needed to form scar tissue so hopefully I wouldn't feel it. "See if I can tolerate it." Well the electrical impulses turned into stabbing pains. The Dr went back in 2 weeks ago did a lead extraction with the lead he had placed, and placed a new lead. I ended up with a pericardial effusion and pericarditis, spent 5 days in the CCU. The electrical impulses have started again and I don't know what to do. I get zapped with every heartbeat every time I bend over, lean to the left, lay on my left shoulder, lean forward or put pressure on my left shoulder. Has anyone experienced this? I'm at my witz end with getting zapped and don't know what to do. I have another Dr.s appointment Wednesday.

4 Comments

Hi staals

by IAN MC - 2016-02-26 02:02:39

You must be really fed up .You are on your 3rd so you will know that It is unusual to encounter so many problems . I hope that a further reduction in the voltage will solve the problem.

It is possible that you are suffering from " diaphragmatic pacing " caused by the lead irritating the phrenic nerve.

This would make an electrical impulse tell your diaphragm to contract with every paced heartbeat. If it is this, a setting change will probably fix it (or you may need the lead re-positioning AGAIN ! )

If you have further problems i would consider getting a different EP; their skills at implanting PMs do vary !

Best of luck Wednesday and let us know how you get on.

Ian

Thank you!

by staals - 2016-02-26 08:02:57

Thank you so much for responding. I will look into diaphragmatic pacing. I will keep you updated. I have been considering getting a second opinion.

Diaphragmatic Pacing

by Grateful Heart - 2016-02-26 10:02:43


In my case they tried playing with the voltage first. That didn't work so I needed a lead revision. My leads were embedded by that time so they had to add another lead.

Since your lead is newly placed, they may want to start over yet again. Hopefully the setting adjustment will work for you.

Good luck on Wednesday, I hope the news is easy.

Grateful Heart

Diaphragmatic pacing

by staals - 2016-02-26 10:02:55

Thank you very much for your reply. In January they tried turning it down and then ended up doing a lead revision in February. I really am hoping they can make adjustments because I do not want to go through this again. Thank you again.

Kate Staalesen

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