breathing trouble

Hi,
I am a 27 year old female who just had a pacemaker put in on October 7. Everything is healing really well and while I am not in pain, I am having some trouble taking deep breaths. It feels like someone has knocked my breath out of me. Has anyone else experienced this? I am still on some pain meds and it doesnt feel this way when I take those, but I obviously can't take those the rest of my life. I am little and didn't know if my body just has to get used to the pm being in my body. Any help would be great!

4 Comments

Check it out

by sln - 2011-10-17 03:10:42

Hi, my lung got punctured when my pacemaker was put in and I was told that complication is more likely in people who are slender, like I am, or small since the lungs are squeezed in the ribcage a bit and the tops extend higher up near where the leads are being poked around. In my case they noticed it on my X-ray the next day, and I also started having trouble breathing then, kind of like you describe. I'm not sure how likely it is that you have that complication, but it can be very dangerous so I would definitely get it checked out immediately just in case if I were you. I mean really immediately, like call the on-call doc, don't wait until the office opens.

Sharon

see dr

by jane32 - 2011-10-17 06:10:26

I agree with the other comments, get it checked out as soon as possible. I also had my lung punctured during procedure and found it hurt to breath and I was breathless, they picked it up when I had my xray the next morning. Don't hesitate to get it checked, better to be safe than sorry.

Regards Jane

breathing trouble

by riodog - 2011-10-17 10:10:40

Wow!!
I never realized so many people had their lungs punctured, I did too and was told it was very rare. I had CHF and they were going to do a heart cath and implanted a CRT-D instead on a Tuesday.They sent me home on Friday night because no one at the hospital caught the puncture and after being home for two hours I coughed and the CRT-D started zapping me. Called 911, woke my husband and by the time the ambulance got here, I was out of it and didn't get back home for about two weeks. Dr. said it caused a "large pneumothorax" his words, not mine, had the honking big chest tube and the whole works. I guess I was lucky to get back home. I too am small so maybe that was a contributing factor. It's silly, but it's good to know I'm not the only unfortunate person.

gretchen

Hi:)

by Pookie - 2011-10-17 12:10:21

Glad to hear that everything is healing well but am a tad bit concerned about your breathing issue.

I truly think you should call your doctor right away and perhaps ask for a chest Xray as sometimes the risk of having pacemaker surgery (less than 1%) is that a lead can puncture the lung. My lead punctured my heart, but that is another story for another time.

Please....have yourself checked out by a doctor, it could be nothing, but at the same time it could be fluid built up and if so (emphasis on if) it could be treated right away.

Take care,
Pookie

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I just want to share about the quality of life after my pacemaker, and hopefully increase awareness that lifestyles do not have to be drastically modified just because we are pacemaker recipients.