palpitations

Hello,
I just had a PM inserted (under emergency conditions) on Sunday. Came home yesterday. Am amazed at the increase in my energy level, although the surgical site is VERY sore since I had it implanted under the pectoral muscle. My only complaint is occasional palpitations every once in the while. The beats are very strong. It occurs on the bottom of my heart. It's the same feeling I had when they were testing my PM right after insertion and I was still on the cath lab. Is this normal? Is it just the PM firing an impulse? My diagnosis was sinus arrest, with type 2 heart block.

4 Comments

Similar experience

by ChristieD - 2012-10-16 10:10:42

Hi, Sherri! I just had my PM placed a month ago tomorrow (also under the pectoral muscle) and had the same symptoms you did for a few days after I got home. I have a type 2 second degree block and had to be emergently admitted to the hospital because I was in complete heart block and came home with a PM.

I think part of my issue was I was hyper-aware of every little beat my heart made because I was so on edge after getting the PM. I was worried it wasn't going to work right, I was going to pull a lead out accidentally, etc. After a few days I didn't notice the heavier beats and flutters anymore and everything looked good at my interrogation.

That being said, as an RN I will tell you if you feel something is "off" or the symptoms are bothersome you need to call your doctor.

Good luck!
Christie

The first weeks can be hard

by mandogrl - 2012-10-16 11:10:42

I was told they have voltage set a little higher the first 6weeks. They want to form scars around the leads to hold them in place. I felt "strong beats" and more pacing those first6 weeks. Then they lower some levels.

Thank you so much!

by Sherriluvstobike - 2012-10-17 10:10:02

Thank you everyone for your comments. I feel better already (less anxious). SO happy to have this site to share with fellow pacers!

Just a guess...

by Pookie - 2012-10-17 12:10:01

I think I had what you are describing and mine turned out to be the following:

most pacemakers have a self-test set at a specific time and my ventricle lead was the culprit - I could feel it and it was very uncomfortable, so they simply turned it off since I use that lead less than 1% of the time.

again, it's just a guess, but something to ask about the next time you have your pacer interrogated.

Take care,
Pookie

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I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.