pacemaker and echo stress test

Echo stress test

by TAC - 2022-03-21 11:49:39

Don't worry, the echocardiogram will be done safely. The technician will certainly avoid pressing the probe over your PM. Pressing againt your heart won't dislodge the leads. It's a very light pressure anyway. I get an echo once a year and never had a problem.

No Worries

by MinimeJer05 - 2022-03-21 12:25:27

Hello,

I've probably had 5-10 echos after my PM implant and nothing has happened so far. They usually avoid pressing directly onto the PM and when they do press down, it's usually not with full force.

It might feel uncomfortable for a second, but I am sure they are aware of what's going on (and should be able to see your incision scars).

Feel free to remind them of your PM and your sensitivity and maybe they can go a little lighter.

Jer

No worry

by Gotrhythm - 2022-03-21 12:29:27

There are three things you need to know.

1. While a pacemaker is new and strange to you, I promise you the techs and other medical people work with patients who have pacemakers everyday. You really can trust them to know what they are doing.

2. The same scar tissue that has closed the wound over the pacemaker has been growing on the inside around the leads. It's now holding everything in place. While it's possible to dislodge leads immediately after surgery, once everything is healed up, the danger is past. Leads aren't going anywhere.

3. Pacemakers are incredibly tough. Anything you can survive, they can survive. The last thing you ever need to worry about is accidental damage to your pacemaker.

One caveat: A hard blow to your pacer will hurt you plenty, but it won't do a bit of harm to the pacemaker.

The techs probably know that the area over the pacemaker is sensitive and they'll be careful, but if the pressure is too much, just tell them.

Echo

by AgentX86 - 2022-03-21 15:36:05

I get an echocardiogram once a year.  It's no big deal at all.  The pressure I've had from the probe is when they're trying to look up from the abdomen into the heart.  They seem to push the probe home on that one.  The rib shots aren't a problem at all.  As others have said, they know you have a PM, there is nothing they can see by probing the PM and, if they did, they couldn't possibly damage anything.

Pacemaker and echo stress test

by bayla - 2022-03-21 18:07:17

Thanks all for your answers, They were very helpful. I am now less concerned.

Bayla