Throat tightness

It's been 1 week since I got my PM. I can finally breathe when I climb stairs! But I've noticed that I sometimes get a tightness at the base of my throat. It happened when the shower got steamy. I opened the door to let cool air in and then I was ok. I also tried blow drying my hair with my dryer on a stand at least 2 ft away from my PC. But I started getting that tight sensation at the bottom of my throat. And lastly, when I'm falling asleep I will lose my breath maybe once or twice and gasp. I recover immediately and once I'm sleeping I'm fine. I plan to bring this up to my doctor at my first visit, but wanted to know if anyone else experienced anything like this?  
I'm starting to relax with my PC, but some of the new sensations frighten me a bit. 

4 Comments

New pacemaker

by AgentX86 - 2022-08-27 18:00:49

I don't think what you're experiencing has much to do with your pacemaker but it's possible. I'd make sure that you tell your cardiologist about your tightness. It's probably nothing but it could be.

I'd be concerned about your waking up gasping for air. This sounds like sleep apnea.

Hi!

by Lavender - 2022-08-27 21:39:15

My throat bothered me for a month or so after getting my pacemaker. I felt that it was due to them accessing the sub clavicle vein. I too seemed to gasp a time or two for breath. Not really a gasp but like a quick double breath  It's gone away. 
 

You can hold your blow dryer and use it just keep your elbow below your shoulder on the pacemaker side. I learned to bend over and lower my head and blow dry that way. Lol
 

You're only a week in and may have a bit of anxiety and hypersensitivity. I know I felt everything like my body was on full alert for danger or something to go wrong. Nothing did. 
 

copy and paste this older pacemaker club thread that mentions throat issues:

https://www.pacemakerclub.com/message/3749/chest-and-throat-pain

 

and this one:

https://pacemakerclub.com/message/37396/uncomfortable-feeling-in-throat-area

Throat tightness

by skigrl3 - 2022-08-27 22:14:01

The 1st 1.5-2 weeks I was extremely short of breath every day and thought my pm was a huge mistake. But it passed and on 3.5 months after, I feel great and am 100% back. Give it time, you need to adjust...take care

Happens To Me Too!

by MinimeJer05 - 2022-08-29 15:14:06

Hello,

I experience the same exact feeling on occasion and for me, it's VERY random and hard to replicate. I've had a PM for about 1 year now and I still feel it. Sometimes more often and sometimes it will be a week or two before an incident.

My doctors right now and saying that they are PVCs and had me wear a heart monitor for two weeks to collect data -- still waiting on the results.

I do have sleep apnea and use my CPAP and it has made my life so much better (I feel much more rested and have less issues staying to sleep), but I still sometimes experience this as I am falling asleep (with my CPAP mask on). 

I haven't put much thought into it, mostly because it happens randomly and becasue the doctors don't seem too concerned. The first few times REALLY freaked me out and gave me some severe anxiety and panic, but now I just try to get through it and move on.

Probably not the best advice, but I just wanted to chime in to let you know that others definitely feel it and while it's scary, hopefully it's nothing serious.

Take care

Jer

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