I think my voltage is too high?

I've had a defibrillator/pacemaker for about a year and a half now. It's used to keep my upper and lower chambers beating at the same time, but also has the power to shock if I were to ever get a VT.

However, I constantly feel like my heart doesnt get to 'rest'. At night I can hear it working, it sounds like a mixture of a metal gong and chimes. I always feel tired and drained and my heart always feels like its 'heavy' pounding, not fast, just heavy. I also have slight anxiety all day and night due to this.

I tried to tell my dr that I think the voltage is too high but he doesnt believe me. He lowered it for a second and I immediately felt better but then decided to raise it anyway.

Am I making this up in my head. Sometimes it makes me feel like I just want to sleep and not wake up.

4 Comments

pacer

by Rodlyn - 2012-03-24 02:03:34

I don't know about the ICD but I have a pacer and I too could not stand feeling the thing beat my heart. I went back again and again and finally got the perfect setting. some pacer techs can be bullies. Talk to your EP MD and make sure you are comfortable. They can turn the sensitivity down so you don't feel it. It is kind of like fine tuning a hearing aid. My husband has been nearly deaf from birth and has worn hearing aids and always goes in several times until he gets the setting just right. Your pacer tech and doctor need to work with you so you can get some rest and get on with your life. I really understand how you feel. I was going crazy with the pounding. I have now had my pacer for 17 years and changed out 3 times. I know the drill. I go back each time until it is working and I don't feel it.

ICD

by Hope - 2012-03-24 05:03:50

Hi! Wow! You should be able to sleep without what you are experiencing. I have a combo device, also. First one implanted 2004, second one 2009. I do have what I desribe as 'flip flops' sometime, but nothing as unsettling as you are experiencing. Please take care and keep seeking medical help until you have an answer. Will be thinking of you. Hopeful Heart

As far as I know

by howdoyoumendabrokenheart - 2012-03-24 12:03:00

ICD's should not have moving parts. If they did I don't think it's like a grandfather clock. I cannot say you are NOT hearing gongs and chimes, but maybe they are from another source. I also didn't have mine that long yet so maybe it is possible. At any rate I would speak to the technician who tests your unit to ensure it is working correctly and ask if there is any possibility of hear such things from your ICD. Good luck and the best of health to you.

Me too

by Peg541 - 2012-03-24 12:03:44

I have the same complaint and saw the EP for two days in a row.

They had changed a setting because I had some irregularities from the pacemaker. Since then my heart was pounding out of my chest.

Like you said not fast just pounding. And it also leaves me anxious like I gotta get out of here feeling.

He said take an extra beta blocker (atenolol) if that happens.

Which brings us exactly full circle. I came to him for the pacemaker because the beta blockers were making me dizzy. I was still dizzy after the pacemaker until I spaced out the beta blockers to three times a day.

Now he says take more? More dizzy? I say change the settings back and he said no.

The tech that found the problem at first and made the changes got really pissy when I asked him to change it back because the new changes were making my heart pound.

He said there was no way that could happen with those settings. He refused to change it back JUST for me to see if it made a difference and he turned my pacer off just to see if I still had pounding. I did so that sort of made him right but he was so set on his precious settings, what I felt meant nothing.

I went home very disappointed yesterday. Today is better. No pounding. So maybe wait a bit and see if it feels better in a day or two.

So hard to describe pounding. They all think FAST but no it's POUNDING. Rough hard heartbeats that shake the bed and keep me up all night.

You might change just give it time.

Good luck..Peg

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