Phrenic nerve stim with new CRT-P

Hi all!

It has been awhile for me since I have posted. Back in the beginning of the year I had to have a couple pocket revisions for my PM due to it moving in my arm pit and then wires came uncoiled. After that was done I started having lots of palpatations/diaphragm pacing coming from my RV lead. After many setting adjustments that didn't work I was sent to the Mayo Clinic.

Let me just say that the drs there are amazing and I wish I would have went there long time ago. I went for my first official visit oct 1 and he said that the plan was to install a LV lead so they could turn down the voltage on the RV to almost nothing so I wouldn't have the diaphragm pacing, which required me to get a CRT-P device. Now the problem is I have lots of nerve stim from the new lead. Medtronic has done all the adjusting they can do and I still have it so I'm going back to Mayo next fri to see what they can do. I have one of the newest most programmable PMs on the market and have had no luck yet. As a last resort he said he may to reposition the new lead or put it in a different vein.

I have tried to do some searching on here to see if anyone has had similiar issues but can't really find what I'm looking for. My question is has anyone had nerve stim so bad it feels like you are getting shocked all the time, it does it when I laugh, lay on either right or left side, bend over, and sometimes just talking. You can acutally see the left side of my abdomen jump. If so, what did you do to help correct this?

Thanks so much!!

3 Comments

No its different

by daisy0388 - 2014-11-10 02:11:50


My symptoms afffect the whole left side of my abdomen, you can see it jump but thanks for the offer of advice!

Nerve stim

by NormaLou - 2014-11-10 11:11:20

I have had some small prickly (shocks?) in the area around my PM and am wondering if this is what you are referring to as nerve stim? I haven't yet had a chance to see my EP to find out what is going on, but it's quite disconcerting.

If your symptoms are difference, I apologize and don't have any answer for you.

NormaLou

Nerve/diaphram stim

by Bigheart1 - 2014-12-11 09:12:24

Daisy,
I am having either phrenic stim or diaphragm stim from a newly implanted BiV pacer on Dec 1. They tried to reprogram my heart with a new 17 program LV site lead but no go. I see the surgeon in a week and will let you know what they might do. I get jumps in my left side and twitching ticking sensation along my left side of my diaphragm under my left breast. Its so annoying I am praying they can somehow rid of it. They did turn down the current in that lead so its still pacing (but they hoped it would improve) but its still there much of the day! The nurse told me to change positions when it happens and see what stops it and what triggers it for my visit. This is one side effect none talked to me about. The focus was infection and keeping my left arm down etc. Its so unnerving. I hope my heart gets benefit from the BIV at the least!! Good luck to you.

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