Right side neck pain / difficulty breathing post PM

Hi all. Im 49 and just had a. PM placed 10 days ago as a result of syncope.  The PM site is now healing well in spite of a nasty staph infection post surgery. For about the past 5 days,I’ve been having right side neck pain every evening that remains throughout the night. The pain doesn’t worsen with movement and comes with severe difficulty in getting a full breath (almost like when you have to yawn but can’t). Weird I know but this has only been since the PM was placed. No other pain or issues - just a feeling severe heaviness in the right side of my neck and subsequent difficulty breathing. I know this is not normal but has this happened to anyone else??? Saw the cardio today and he was stumped. 

3 Comments

Neck pain and difficulty breathing

by Fdagher - 2019-05-23 16:01:38

Hi, ask your doctor to check for pericardial effusion caused bu the pacemaker leads. Specifically the atrium. 

Pacemaker pain

by Torosay - 2019-05-31 22:37:59

Hi I also have a new pacemaker (2 weeks, old) I am 46.

I get some neck pain but mainly pain in my chest which is worse when I lie on my r side at night 

I have had any cardiac cause ruled out and they have ruled out a clot. It's better than it was but waiting for a pacemaker check next week

Things have improved!

by Ksholleman - 2019-06-10 04:51:52

Happy to report that just few weeks later things have significantly improved.  Cardio appt revealed no issues so tried to pain meds (Tylenol + Ibuprofin throughout the day) and then alternating ice  / heat on the back of my neck and it worked!! I’ve done a ton of research and believe now that  the pain likely was the result of severe muscle spasms in the back of my neck which can also impact the ability to get a full breath when the spasms are happening. I still occasionally have similar symptoms but they are definitely happening less often, are less intense and are shorter In duration  so I’ll take that as a win.

Obviously this isn’t going to be the issue for everyone but hoping it will help someone else here in the group. 

You know you're wired when...

Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

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