Any Advice ?

I am almost 5 weeks post PM implant and I expected to feel alot better. I have been having seems like more in the evening episodes of after being up for not that long a feeling in my lower part my throat like someone is choking me sensation. When I go lay down it starts to go away. Has anyone else experienced this? I don't go for my PM check up until July 31st. I'm new to this club, but after reading a lot of stories I get the impression that Dr.'s just seem to not pay much attention to our little complaints. Any help would be great.

cottontop




4 Comments

Same sensations.

by Stepford_Wife - 2007-07-17 09:07:18

Hi Cottontop.

I've had my PM for 3 years now, I have episodes of AFIB, on a constant basis, and it gives me the sensation, that I'm choking, or there is a hole in my throat.
I've gotten used to it, and stop what I'm doing until it feels better.
Mention it to your doctor during your follow up. He/she might want to do an EKG, to see what's going on, and appease your mind. Complain as much, and as loud as you dare, until you get satisfactory answers.
Take care, good luck.
~ Dominique ~

Suggestions

by SMITTY - 2007-07-17 10:07:41

Hello Cottontop,

I agree with Dominique, do whatever it takes to feel a little better until you can see your doctor.

I can understand why after reading many of the comments posted here it can sound like our doctors are prone to not pay much attention to our complaints. There are two reasons for that. One is too often it is true and second, few people that have no problems with their pacemaker ever post a message here. I would venture a guess that greater than 95% of the people that visit this site the second time are having a problem with their pacemaker.

I have concluded that many doctors have been mislead by the manufacturer’s rep about pacemakers. The doctors are told that they can implant a PM in a patient with such and such symptoms and that patient’s problem will be cured or the patient will have a much better quality of life. I would bet my last nickel that few, if any doctors are made aware of the many different problems a patient can experience from their pacemaker.

The electrophysiologist that implanted my PM was very proud of the fact that he had implanted more than 3,000 pacemakers and ICD since becoming an EP. I must say that based on the results of my surgery, the fellow had mastered the art of implanted the things. Yet when I started complaining that my PM was shocking me, the first thing I heard was “the problem is not from your PM.” It took many heated discussions and many, many adjustments before I asked to have my PM turned off. I knew I was not PM dependent and I was willing to risk whatever from having an inoperable PM to get out of the misery I was going through.

I honestly think that when the rep gets through doing his “sales job” on the cardiologist, the doctors probably think of implanting a pacemaker about like, shall we say making biscuits, for the lack of a better comparison. When making biscuits, an experienced cook follows the same steps each time and the results will be pretty much the same. But implanting pacemakers in humans is not that simple. We may all have the same number of ribs, the same muscles in the same places and even have the same nerves and blood vessels. But those different components are not necessarily in exactly the same place on each human body. In my case there is a nerve on the right side of my chest that terminates at about the sternum that follows a slightly different route from that of most people with a PM. The result was that when my PM sent an impulse to the ventricle some of that electrical impulse could leak over and stimulate that nerve. After undergoing a test where they used an electrical current to find the exact path of that nerve, I was given an injection that deadened the nerve. Worked like a charm too.

So, I say to you and anyone that have a problem they are sure is caused by the pacemaker, and you are the best judge of that, remember the old axiom, “it is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.” If you are getting the runaround from your doctor show him the same courtesy, you are being shown. In other words wart the daylights out of him until you get the results you need.

Now, I’ll shut up and wish you the best in getting your problem solved.

Smitty

And, I agree

by Gellia2 - 2007-07-17 11:07:56

with Smitty. A pacemaker should not be giving you any problems. They shouldn't hurt and they shouldn't be making you feel that you are choking. Keep after your dr. until you are satisfied. I wish you the best in your endeavor, too.

Thanks everyone!

by cottontop - 2007-07-18 12:07:02

Smitty,

You just seem to always give some very inlighting information. I have read many of your comments to others. You are Pm genius. I can relate to the pain on the right side of my chest and sometimes down my arm. The 2nd week I had my pacemaker I was in so much pain I could not stand up straight to walk even to restroom. I would have episodes of my heart feeling like it flip flop,not a skip feeling, after 4 days I couln't take it anymore. So I started tatking oxycodene left from my Nov. surgery. A little relief but still hurt to even breath. My cardiologist was in Europe and I wasn't going to the ER and just sit there. I knew I couldn't take the ride. I had an appt. with him coming to Middletown Tuesday. He is from Ohio State Ross Heart Hospital. It's 1 1/2 hour drive from where we live. My cardiologist that I have been with for 20 yrs. recommended him to me. After my appt. they upped my Toprol XL and the pain went away. Now 1 wk. later it has come back and heart rate is over 104 at rest. It had been staying in the 60's or 70's since upping one of my meds. I am getting so frustrated with everything. The pc being the last straw. I have several other heart problems that aren't related to the pc. I am almost sorry that I ever got one. I take 2 steps forward and then 5 steps backwards. Sorry to be so negative.

You are right Smitty that people that get on this website don't tell the good stories just their complaints. I quess I am one of them.

Thanks,
cottontop

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