Pain After Pacemaker

Hello. I am a 20 year old male who got a pacemaker four weeks ago. On August 12 I went to get my wisdom teeth out but when my oral surgeon gave me Versed and Fentanyl my heart rate dropped to 20 and my blood pressure shot up, I was rushed to the emergency room. I have had a headache ever since, maybe a little before. I found out that when I slept my heartrate would drop to the low 20's and my resting was in the low 40's. Now that I have a pacemaker I feel less tired. But my "heart area" still hurts. I got told that I could do cardio this past Monday but right when I started jogging my heart started to really hurt and so did my head. They told me to take it a little slower. But still my heart hurts, i get vertigo, and I can't sleep my head hurts so bad. I have been given Ambien but that drug makes me hallucinate. If anybody out there can help me I would appreciate it. It hurts to even have sex with my girlfriend. I have been tested for viruses and they came back inconclusive. Thanks again

7 Comments

HEADACHES

by Tommy-2 - 2011-10-15 09:10:08

FROM GOOGLE

Exercise headaches

While any activity that increases intracranial pressure may produce an exertional headache, certain exercises are more likely to lead to a headache. These have been weight lifting, "heading" the ball in soccer, jogging, diving, and sexual activity. The lower impact activities, such as walking, swimming, treadmilling, and biking, rarely produce exercise-induced headaches. Patients who recently begun physical fitness programs are more likely to experience exertional migraines.

Any neurologic problem that comes apparent with increasing intracranial pressure may manifest itself during sexual activity. Meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and stroke may become apparent during sex. Occasionally, headaches during sexual activity represent problems outside of the CNS, such as an obstructive lesion of the lower aorta. However, sex-induced headaches are generally benign, without intracranial or other pathology.

You need to see a doctor about your headaches.

Pacemaker syndrome?

by MSPACER - 2011-10-15 09:10:11

Your pacemaker may need some adjustments. Sometimes pacing in the ventricles too much can cause symptoms. Maybe your blood pressure has increased too much. Have you had your blood pressure checked? Do you feel pulsating in your neck or throat? That is a symptom of pacing in the ventricle. Your doctor should adjust your pacemaker, so you pace in the ventricle as little as possible. You should not have vertigo symptoms. I had something similar after my first implant. My blood pressure had increased a lot even though I never had high blood pressure before, and I had a feeling of vertigo. The doctors needed to adjust the lower setting in my pacemaker, from 70 to 60, as well as do some other adjustments to decrease the pacing in the ventricle. When you say there is pain in your heart area, do you mean the incision area? That can take a while to heal. You could have pain for several months while the scar tissue heals. But if the pain is in your heart, where the leads are screwed in, then you should definitely contact your doctor cause there could be some post op complication.

"Heart" pain vs incisional pain

by shockbox340 - 2011-10-16 03:10:56

Ima,

If your pain is in the area of where your pacemaker is, I wouldn't be overly concerned. However, if your pain is more generic chest pain, I would get that checked out sooner rather than later. Unlikely post-operative complications like a perforation (where the wire pokes through the heart muscle) that could explain the chest pain and can cause other serious problems. Talk to your doctor's nurse and let them know exactly what kind of pain you are having and what aggrivates it.

Hang in there! Before long you will forget that it's even there!

Thanks

by ImaMachine - 2011-10-16 04:10:02

Thanks for all the replies! The pain I am getting is definitely in the heart region (left of the chest). The pacemaker incision only bugs me a little bit, it's getting better. I have a neurologist appointment coming up but it's in mid-November. I am going to give a call to the pacemaker clinic tomorrow and try and get some help in this matter. And my pacemaker is set at 70 so I do need to get that checked. If anyone has any more info I would greatly appreciate it!

Cardiac Rehab

by Pookie - 2011-10-16 04:10:52

Just a thought, but my hospital offers any heart patient Cardiac Rehab.....I think it's a great idea because there are medical personnel to see how you are doing and they might have come across your issue before.

Wouldn't hurt to ask.

If your heart hurts, don't wait....see or call your doctor.

Take care,
Pookie

?

by ImaMachine - 2011-10-30 10:10:55

Okay. I went back to the pacemaker clinic and they turned on my respiratory sensor so that my pm would make my hear rate increase when I workout. I can't even do a fast walk now without my head hurting and chest hurting. I was laying in bed and my heart was going 100 bpm. I have no idea what is going on? I feel like I am slowly deteriorating :/

If you have anything to add please do! Even a word of inspiration! I'm lost. Thanks

Inspirational Word

by venita - 2011-11-18 01:11:15

The mind is a POWERFUL tool, and what we alow our selves to think we bring to ourselves as well. Rather it is GOOD energy or Negative energy. Please don't tell your self you are deteriorating..you are just going thru a tough obstacle now that you will recover from. I am 35 and I recieved a pacemaker last Nov.6. so I can so relate to your fears and concerns, but, you will be o.k. Im sorry you have to go thru this at this time of your life, and I hope your girlfriend is very understanding thru this tough time you are experiencing. I wish you well..and I will keep you in my prayers, and just know..that EVERYTHING we go thru in LIFE has a purpose rather its meant for us to become STRONGER..WISER..and INSPIRATIONAL to others as well as for ourselves.....I know this has to be probally one of if not the toughest thing you have ever gone thru.....but just please remember.....THIS TO SHALL PASS!!!!

You know you're wired when...

You get your device tuned-up for hot dates.

Member Quotes

My eight year old son had a pacemaker since he was 6 months old. He does very well, plays soccer, baseball, and rides his bike. I am so glad he is not ashamed of his pacemaker. He will proudly show his "battery" to anyone.