Breathing and bumps

Shortness of breath and bumpiness of PM under skin..

by AddieJ - 2019-05-23 03:00:53

I had a LOT of shortness of breath and the feeling of being unable to get a good breath after my PM was placed.  This should get better in time and if it doesn’t, go back to the doc for an adjustment.  As far as lumpiness....mine feels much more prominent now......anyone, do they work themselves up, or out over time?

Addiej

Bumps

by AgentX86 - 2019-05-23 10:13:43

Shortness of breath is something your doctor should know about. I get a sensation close to what you describe when I'm having bigeminy PVCs. It's not comfortable but PVCs aren't dangerous, unless they're a high percentage of heartbeats. You really need to have symptoms like this checked out.

My pacemaker is implanted very close to the surface, as well. As it healed (over several months) it became less "prominent" but closer to the surface, if that makes any sense. My leads are just under the skin and at times I feel something like an abrasion there the leads loop around and head back inwards. I think what you're feeling, here, is pretty normal too. But it should be looked at, just to make sure. We can't see what your issue is.  Your doctor can. Don't worry about being a complainer. Mention it to your doctor and then listen to his answer. If it makes sense, drop the issue unless it's causing a real problem in your life.

When to call

by Gotrhythm - 2019-05-23 15:14:25

I didn't really realize how much swelling around my pacemaker there had been until it went down completely, after almost 12 months. When it did, the pacemaker edges and the wires were much more apparent.

Lately, as I have lost a little weight, and my skin has become thinner--something that happens as we age--the pacemaker and the scars around it have become even more visible and easy to feel just under the skin. My bra strap has begun to irritate the area, which it never did before.

My point is, don't expect the area to remain the same. As you gain or lose weight, as your skin changes, how the area feels might change too. Believe it or not, your body is still healing on the inside, and it's not unusual to still feel burning, itching, pinching sensations.

As for the trying to catch your breath feeling, there are lots of causes--and one of them is plain old anxiety. It sounds like you're saying the shortness of breath isn't severe or long lasting. Whatever the cause it, it's transient. It isn't accompanied by other symptoms. 

I can't tell you what to do, I'm not a doctor, but if I had your symptoms I wouldn't think I had an emergency on my hands. I'd feel it was okay to wait and see if it went away or got a lot worse before calling the doctor. 

Don't allow symptoms to be dismissed

by TooYoungForThis - 2019-07-15 18:29:29

When physician's dismiss your symptons of shortness of breath as "anxiety", it's really their anxiety of being exposed as incompent! They are more than willing to pin your symptoms as "psycological" with no recourse for their actions for the sake of expediency -- case closed.

I have been struggling with this for the last two years since my pacemaker was replaced, and I have met with disrepsect and open hostility from some practicioners who are unable to address these concerns.

People in their 40s who have these devices should not be experiencing this, it is di-bi-li-tating! The anxiety creeps every time you have to confront these cold, battle-weary, pill-pushers, who can't be bothered to "think" or "care"  because some other retiree who has a pacemaker should be happy just to be alive, blah, blah, blah.

Keep going Addie, if you find an answer there are alot of us waiting for it.