New PM in wife

Hi everyone. I found this club which looks amazing. Especially as the husband of a 39 year old wife who was in ICU this last week due to some major heart complications. Her sinus node was starting to weekend and her heart rate was very slow. She had one surgery with one wire then realized after the fact that her bottom part of her heart I think ventricle was not pumping in line with the top part. I think they called it at a two-to-one block. Unfortunately she needed to go in for a second surgery for a second wire. The question I have in the concern that we both are having. Last night was her first night home and she is feeling kind of a pulsing sensation between her chest and stomach area. Kind of like her muscle is flinching in line with her pulse. Sometimes it's just uncomfortable but throughout the night it was kind of painful at times. Her threshold might be a little low for pain I'm not too sure. But definitely something. We're thinking about contacting the doctor but being Sunday and her husband and trying to find a little peace of mind. Any thoughts from anybody? Thank you so much in advance! 

4 Comments

Best wishes to your wife

by IAN MC - 2018-01-28 12:57:05

Why do these things always happen on a Sunday ?   It very much sounds as though the second lead is accidentally  stimulating a nerve, possibly the phrenic nerve which runs between the lungs and the wall of the heart.  This would be uncomfortable rather than dangerous.

If this is the cause then a minor adjustment to the PM settings ( e.g. a reduction in the voltage or a change in the direction of the current) could be an easy fix for the problem. It certainly worked for me.  I would contact the cardiology dept tomorrow

Best of luck

Ian

What IAN MC said...

by Zoë - 2018-01-28 15:34:29

Same thing happened to me and I found the sensation very unpleasent.  I too had my settings adjusted and they reduced the voltage of my ventricle lead from 3v to 2.9v which made a big difference.  I still feel it pace but it's not like I'm getting a snap off an electrical fense anymore!

however, Robin's advice is crucial...its vital you seek immediate reassurance from a specialist Electrophysiologist who, by anyone's standards on this forum, is the only person qualified/experienced enough to say exactly what is going on with your wife.

kindest regards.

New PM in wife thanks

by Pjames123 - 2018-01-28 16:08:00

Thank you all so incredibly much. Great great great advice it helps quite a bit. Quick question her hand over her head and it's the day after. We know she's supposed to keep it down when she's got an arm strap to help with that because it's a habit to use her arm. We can check with the doctors as well but just initially hell concerned should we be as this happened with anyone? It was a real bad and it wasn't too long she just put a hair tie in her hair. And then suddenly realize you probably should not have did that. Thanks again

arm movement

by Tracey_E - 2018-01-28 17:40:47

We all do it by accident, no big deal. After  the first 48 hours it's just precaution. Do not tie the arm down! Other than not raising it high or lifting anything heavy, it's importantn to use the arm normally so the shoulder doesn't freeze. 

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