Proud owner of a new two week old pacemaker….

Hello, everyone!  I am new here, and am grateful for all of you who are posting with information!

I had a pacemaker implant two weeks ago.  I suffered from tachycardia for many years, and then tachycardia/bradycardia syndrome, heart block, sinus node dysfunction and diastolic heart failure.

I had my first check up a week ago, and leads and interrogations all looked good.  My concern is that I have had twitching in my right eye since my implant.    The other "side effects" of lightheadedness and palpitations will hopefully subside in time.  When checking with my Electrophysiologist's office, her nurse advised me that she had never heard of a pacemaker causing eye twitching.  My question is, has anyone else ever had anything like this?  Any information would be appreciated.

Thank you everyone for all of the information which has been shared on this site!  It has been very helpful to me!

Donna


6 Comments

Eyes

by Lavender - 2023-03-12 16:36:57

Hi Donna! Welcome home. We understand what you have gone through. I'm two years into a Boston Sci CRT-P. 
 

I haven't heard of eye twitching after pacemaker surgery.  Since they're not concerned, give it a few weeks to see if it goes away. Maybe you could then check with your pcp for advise. 
 

We often tell newbies that you need much more water to drink than before. Your heart is working more efficiently and you get dehydrated faster. Be sure to use that surgery side arm but just keep the elbow below the shoulder for a few more weeks. 
 

You're on your way to a healthier life with your heart beating without worrying now. 🌺☮️

Eye twitch

by Persephone - 2023-03-12 17:38:38

Hi Donna - glad you're feeling generally well. Is the eye twitch like a tic or is it an involutary squinting of the one eye? I ask because I have a fairly common condition with the lovely name blepharitis which sometimes makes me involuntarily squint the affected eye. Eye drops help but minor surgery may be required at some point. If it's like a pulsing kind of tic that makes me think it could be stress related. Maybe see an opthamologist if your cardiology practice can't help

Eye Twitching

by DGW - 2023-03-12 18:58:31

Hello!  My eye "twitches", there is no squinting.  It happens off and on throughout the day, and am waiting on my Electrophysiologist to get back to me.  I am aware that it may have nothing to do with my pacemaker implant, but wanted to check with her, as I have not anything similar to this prior to my implant.  

Thank you for your response, as I appreciate the input of others!

Donna

Twitchy

by AgentX86 - 2023-03-12 19:05:32

Hi Donna, welcome to the club.  Too bad you're here.

An eye twitch wouldn't be a direct result of a pacemaker but could easily be stress related (or something in your eye 😁). I had twitching in my shoulder/neck for several hours after but that's about it.  The leads (wires from the pacemaker to the heart) do go through a vein just under the clavicle (collar bone), down to the heart but not really near the head.

Is the twitching related to the beating of your heart? If not, it's coincidental. If it is, it may not be coincidental but who knows? Make sure your doctors know about it and give it a couple more weeks.  Then raise the problem to your doctors again. Pehaps you want to get your PCP involved at that point.

Eye twitch > 2 weeks

by Rch - 2023-03-12 23:35:42

If you have unilateral eye twitch for more than 2 weeks, I suggest you consult your provider. He may need to refer you to a consultant!  

Twitching

by piglet22 - 2023-03-13 08:08:18

At end of life (battery) a pacemaker can change mode and go into a backup mode.

This can definitely cause twitching in time with the pulse in the local, pectoral and arm muscles.

I know because I experienced it in 2016.

I would have to say that eye twitching related to pacemakers sounds unlikely, but I wouldn't rule anything out.

I certainly have had sensations while casually picking something, say an itch on my arm and then suddenly you feel a sensation a long way from your arm, say, in your leg.

It's quite reproducable.

The chances are it's not related to the PM, but if there is any relationship between the eye twitch and pulse, and it's continuing, it needs an explanation to put your worries to bed.

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