Feel it ‘going off’

Hi alL,

Im a newbie to the site and to having a pacemaker. I had mine implanted just last Tuesday, 27th Feb.  I’m yet to be seen at my first post op appointment at pacing clinic which is this Friday but I wonder if this is a ‘normal’ thing to happen.  I will paste my notes below from what I’m keeping for when I see the cardiologist. 

A fair few times now, I have felt the pacemaker ‘going off’ for 3 minutes at a time, it kind of feels like tiny palpitations, I felt the same whilst on the operating table and mentioned it to the surgeon who was adjusting something or other to which he replied it was the PM and it was extra beats being produced by the device. 

Now, the random thing I’ve noticed about it going off, is that it’s been happening at 44 minutes past the hour and ends at 47 minutes. 

So, for example, the latest happened just a short while ago at 21:44 and ended at 21:47. When it goes off, it doesn’t matter what I’m doing, I could be out walking the dog or sitting playing a game on the Xbox or just resting. There’s no specific time other than the minutes of the hour. 

Could this be be a coincidence? I don’t know, there’s been too many occurrences IMO for it to be such? Anyway, here’s the unformated ‘table’ which I’ve been keeping tabs on. 

Heart symptoms

 

Date

Time start 

Time end

Description

28/2/18

14:44

14:47

Like Palpitations feeling but slow speed, kind of like the ‘tickling’ sensation when on operating table activity =none, sitting playing Xbox

02/03/18

08:44

08:47

Tingle palpitations activity none, sitting. Have just come back from 30 min walk been resting about 15 mins

04/03/18

23:44

23:47

As above resting for past 3hrs. Sat on sofa using laptop

05/03/18

00:44

00:47

As above

05/03/17

20:44

20:47

Just got in from a 20 minute dog walk, done some washing dishes when it started. 

05/03/18

21:44

21:47

Sat reading websites

 

 

 

2 Comments

Odd little beats

by Gotrhythm - 2018-03-06 15:59:42

While most people don't feel their pacemaker kicking in, some do. I'm sure you're feeling something, but I can think of no reason for your pacer to pace for exactly three minutes at random times, with hours in between. My guess is that you are feeling palpitations, odd little beats your heart throws in every now and then, that really have nothing to do with the pacemaker--except that some people start noticing palpitations for the first time after they are paced.

Since you have a record of the times, when you go for your first pacemaker check, ask the pacemaker tech to see if your pacemaker records any activity at those times. The tech can also tell you the percentage of time you are paced, both atrial and ventrical. If you are being paced only at the times you feel it, the percentage will be very low. 

Palpitations aware

by APR77 - 2018-03-06 16:30:23

Hi,

Thank you for the response. I’ve had palpitations in the past which was a main reason for me to have ab Holter monitor, but these are in what I can only describe like a ticking clock, ‘tick, tock, tick, tock’ kind of pace. My pacemaker is supposed to be for my SSS whereby there have been pauses in my heartbeat for several seconds, whilst sleeping. Could it be that these pauses are more frequent than first thought? But then again, at 44 past the hour. 

Ive had a few more instances since I posted this thread. I guess I’ll find out in just a few days. 

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