Sudden deep breath

I got my new PM in march 08, strange thing happened after that. Just after PM impalnt i started getting Sudden deep breath. It comes once in 1-2 hrs and does not cause any problem. My idea was that as HR was low before PM insertion, lungs were not accustomed to pull sufficient air which is required after increased HR (PM implantation). So that requirement is compensated by Sudden deep breath.

When i asked my cardiologist about the deep breath he smiled and said it is not because of PM, but even after 1 yr i am getting them and it all started after PM. If somebody has same experience or have any idea about the same plz share. I am so puzzled.....

5 Comments

Deep Breathing

by Shorty-2 - 2008-02-09 06:02:32

Pacer

I'm new here and if I break some of the rules I hope I don't make anybody mad. But the very first thing I see is somebody asking a question about something that happened to me about 15 years ago, which was before I got my pacemaker. So while my breathing problem was not caused by my pacemaker, I want to say I'm not saying your pacemaker is not the cause of the involuntary deep breathing. I'll be the first to say that if somebody told me they were woke up each morning at 4 AM by their pacemaker playing the Star Spangled Banner, I would just say "ain't that something. I never would have believed it if you hadn't told me about it happening."

But on the deep breathing, I went through that for several years when I was having some pretty bad health problems. It turns out that I was not breathing deep enough or often enough. The result was I was not getting enough oxygen and every once in a while Mother Nature would step in an make me take a deep breath. The doctor made me start exercising my lungs by doing some deep breathing for several minutes three or four times each day. After about a month I guess it was, I noticed I wasn't doing the sudden deep breath thing anymore. It worked for me and if you haven't tried this you might want to give it a try. It actually made me feel better plus stopping an aggravating problem.

Shorty

Thank you!

by pacerpacer - 2008-02-10 01:02:08

Very good and useful suggestion. I also feel that this problem is because i dont breath deep enough. doing some exercise will definately help.

Many thanks

Anxiety

by Vicki - 2008-02-10 07:02:19

Hi,
Shorty has a really good point. Another reason for this could be anxiety related. I get the same feeling sometimes. I first noticed it one month after pacemaker. I think any weird thing that happens to us after PM, we tend to think it's because of it. Anyway, mine would come and go and I noticed that if I was busy or active it didn't happen. Most of the time it was when I was sitting quietly watching TV, driving by myself, or I guess when my mind had time to focus on it.

Try those breathing exercises. I will too.

Vicki

Breathing

by heckboy - 2008-02-16 05:02:09

At first (please forgive me), I though thts is was a nutty suggestion, that a PM would make one suddenly inhale a deep breath. Then, I kid thee not, since reading this post I have noticed myself doin the same thing in that twilight state just before I get up or go to sleep. I hve no idea how long I've been doing it, but reading the posts above, I'm wondering if it has to do with my being relatively sedentary since my PM replacement. I trust (hope) that it goes away once I get back to my regular routine of running.

Involuntary breath?

by MsJanet - 2014-07-30 12:07:30

I also have involuntary deep breaths occasionally. Usually when I am resting or lying in bed reading, etc. I started having these right after my first PM surgery. I don't have them daily, but almost. When they happen, I can hear myself, like a gasp for breath, but it doesn't hurt, it almost feels good.
I have a long story and no answer, but hope to find out something soon.
My first surgery was not successful. I had extreme pain and my diaphragm was being paced instead of my heart. My PM was set at 60 and my heart rate wouldn't go above or below 60. Not knowing anything about a PM, all I knew was that I was in extreme pain.. Finally two weeks later, my surgeon and Cardiologist finally believed me and realized I wasn't just over reacting about my healing process. The PM tech shut the misplaced lead off and I had my second surgery and have been great except for the involuntary breath that occurs occasionally. I also mentioned the breathing before my second successful surgery to the surgeon, which also was played down at that time as like a hiccough from my diaphragm. I was in so much stress and pain at that time that I didn't press that issue. Since the wonderful, success of my second surgery I have been euphoric about not having any problems. However, today I went to my regular internist for my yearly checkup and I mentioned it to her. She is going to place a monthly heart monitor on me to see if we can see what's happening. I should have checked into this sooner, but my excuse is that going from extreme pain and no one listening to being believed, finding the problem and fixing it and no pain, I just let it go. As I said earlier, the breath actually feels good.? If I find any answers, I will post here. Sorry I haven't given an answer, just vented, but it's very interesting that so many have this same thing happening.

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