Pacemaker Club: Light Socket

Light Socket

by chdhsk5
2018-04-10 14:27:09
General Posting
1006 views
3 comments

Hi. I had my PM implanted in 2010. I have a Medtronic EnRhythm none ICD pacemaker. The last couple years I have had these really random annoying "shocks". Not like a shock from an ICD but like "I've stuck my finger in a light socket" type of shock. Sometimes the "shock" is more powerful then others but it always hurts and gives me goose pimples. I've mentioned it once or twice in my very frequent visits to both of my Cardiologists. They said it's most likely a lead (which was checked and is fine) or it's just my body doing something weird and not related to the pacemaker. My doctors are incredibly smart and caring but I am not sure it's "nothing" or not related to my pacemaker. The shock always comes from the area around the battery and radiates from there every single time. I read a few posts about this but I don't want to confuse it with a ICD shock. It's not that. Any ideas? Thanks for reading!

3 Comments

Light socket shocks

by LondonAndy - 2018-04-10 15:30:47

I can't particularly help with your query, but just wanted to say for the benefit of most other countries who might be alarmed at the comparison with sticking your fingers in a light socket: you are in the US where mains voltage is only 120V, but in the majority of countries voltage is 220 to 240V :)

shocking

by The real Patch - 2018-04-10 18:45:38

Could be nerve pain (x-ray) or even a damaged lead on your device that is causing electrical stimuli in that area (X-ray and/or lead imepedance check). Then again it could be nothing.

Shocks

by Jimmy Dinfla - 2018-04-10 22:38:39

When you go to the cardiologists, do they interrogate your device and download its history? Does your device have a home monitoring capability? The data obtained from these sources may be useful to help understand the reasons you are getting shocked. Keep track of the date and time of shocks and report that immediately to the doctors to research further.