Are hiccups changing my rhythm?

Hey, a bit of back story! I am a 27 year old female and have had my pacemaker for 3 years. I had SVT which was ablated twice, then I developed a third degree heart block and went into ventricular standstill - mainly at night. So the pacemaker went in! It's dual chamber, set at 50-150 and is only on demand. 
I am new to this group and have many questions about all your experiences! But my question today is... I get a random hiccup/burp type thing and then have a heavy and uncomfortable feeling in my chest accompanied with a bit of dizziness. It feels like a deep palpatation of sorts and isn't painful, just very uncomfortable and weird. It happens a few times a day and nothing really seems to cause it, the feeling lasts about 5-10 seconds and then is gone. 
what do you guys think? Is this my pacemaker doing something? Is a lead irritating a nerve or something? I haven't spoken to the pacing clinic or doctor about this before as I've only had my metal buddy for a few years and didn't know how long it took for it to settle in! 
Thanks you guys 👍🏼

4 Comments

I would seek advice from your doctor

by Gemita - 2020-08-07 04:28:44

Hello Millnov,

Sounds to me as though you are getting some diaphragmatic stimulation or still having some phrenic nerve stimulation problems from lead placement, but I think this warrants checking out just in case there is a problem from pacing developing.  Hope your pacemaker settings, leads and battery are all satisfactory and that you are having regular pacemaker checks.

 

Thanks Gemita

by Millnov - 2020-08-07 04:45:43

Thank you for your comment :)

I had a check up in April and all was working in good order. They said I've only paced 4% in the last year which sounds good to me! 
I am quite sensitive to the pacing and can feel it when it goes. I did initially wonder if the lead placement was a bit off as I often get a clicking/catching type feeling in the apex area when I bend down or in certain positions but they've said it's all working ok. 
I don't want them to think I'm being dramatic or over cautious since they know I'm sensitive to the pacing feelings! - the clicking doesn't bother me anymore it's just something I am aware of. 
 

I may speak to my doctor first before consulting the pace maker clinic just to see if he has any insight! 
 

thanks again x

Yes do speak to your doctor

by Gemita - 2020-08-07 05:00:44

and you are not being dramatic, you are just a sensitive person who feels her pacing as many of us can.  I sometimes feel my pacing in my diaphragm which does feel so weird but I have no clicking sound !  My arrhythmias can often start soon afterwards so it may even be arrhythmia related.  Who knows !

In your case, I guess my main concern would be for the leads and whether a problem with them might be developing, but I note you have had a recent check, but still worth speaking to your doctor about this.  He might order an Xray or other imaging to assess the position and stability of your leads

Hiccup

by AgentX86 - 2020-08-07 12:27:11

This could be going the other way too. Hiccups can be caused by excitation of the diaphragm because of damage to the Vegas nerve the Vegas nerve controls the heart. Who's on first may not be clear and, if this is the case, may not matter. They're both symptoms of the same thing.

Yes, definitely see your doctor and not just your cardiologist. This is a symptom of a lot of potentially serious problems.

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