Normal to Feel Electrical Current

Good Afternoon! I am a little over 3 weeks post-op and doing better each day. It took a good 2 weeks to get over the hump and get back to a sense of normality. Ever since my pacemaker has been placed I would get sensations of the electrical current with each heart beat (almost feelings of a tens unit) in my breast tissue. This would come and go and be positional. Now I only get this sensation when I attempt to lay on my left side. My pacemaker was placed in my left axillary/breast area. I follow up with my doctor in 3 weeks but just wanted to know if anyone else has had this sensation and if this is normal or something I should be concerned about. It isn't painful, just annoying and makes it impossible for me to lay on that side because I get nauseated. Thanks :)

6 Comments

asfasf

by boxxed - 2012-11-05 08:11:18

Could be diaphragm stimulation. If it is, then it should be "relatively" easy to correct. Unless you're an awkward circumstance where the minimum output that stimulates your diaphragm is HIGHER than the minimum output that captures the heart tissue and makes it contract.

No, it's not normal

by Grateful Heart - 2012-11-05 08:11:41

I had something similar too. I couldn't lay on my left side because I felt what I called a "ticking" feeling. Since I was new to the pacemaker/ ICD world, I didn't know this wasn't normal. As time went on, the "ticking" feeling became more frequent and not just when I layed on my left side.

It turned out the lead wasn't capturing and it was stimulating my diaphragm. A lead failure like Don said.

If you want to test it, ask them to turn the voltage up and see if you feel it MUCH stronger than you do now. It won't hurt, like you said, but it is very uncomfortable.

If I were you, I would not wait for 3 weeks but would call the doctor sooner. You shouldn't have to be that uncomfortable and they can probably make an adjustment for now.

Good luck,
Grateful Heart

lternative Explanation

by donr - 2012-11-05 08:11:58

I had a similar experience when I had a lead fail. The PM switched into Mono-Polar functioning instead of Bi-Polar mode.

In Mono-polar Mode, the body acts as the return path for the signal from the PM. What I was feeling was the current passing from my body to the PM case. Perfectly timed w/my heart beat.

It is possible that a lead has failed on you - can happen at any time in their lifespan.
Don

Faulty Lead?

by TRL28 - 2012-11-05 10:11:28

So what will they need to do if it is a faulty lead? Just adjust some settings or will they need to replace it :( I had two pacer checks while I was in the hospital and they said everything was fine and even then I felt this sensation but didn't know to say anything because I thought it was normal and would eventually go away after I adjusted to everything.

Bad Lead?????

by donr - 2012-11-05 11:11:33

Depends on what the cause is for the tingling.

Worst case - replace the lead. At your stage - relatively simple. Your leads are not yet embedded in the walls of your veins.

Other cases - program changes. Until someone looks at your situation other than to glance at the strip & mumble "everything's fine," you will not know what is going on. That will take someone listening to you & tinkering w/ settings.

You have to be a truly "Pushy Broad" if you are to get relief from this situation. I'll be brutally honest - to them you are just another "Hysterical Woman," to be brushed off & gotten out the door so they can see the next patient. After all, THEY are the Dr. & his staff who know the answers to all the questions & you are an unknowing Plebian who should be thankful for their attention, to be dealt with at their pleasure. Like Grateful Heart said above - DON"T WAIT, Call now!

Don

In my case

by Grateful Heart - 2012-11-05 11:11:36

They had to replace the lead. They did not take out the faulty lead but put in another one along side it which is typical. More than 1 lead and sometimes several can fit in 1 vein depending on the size of the vein. While I felt it very early on, the interrogations did not pick it up until 2 1/2 years later with an alert on the print out.

Sometimes they can make an adjustment I am told. It doesn't seem emergent (at least in my case) because the pacemaker is still pacing your heart, it is just uncomfortable. This may not be your case, but it does sound like it. Talk to your doctor and ease your mind.

Let us know how it goes and good luck.

Grateful Heart

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