Diaphragm jumping and pain...

I had my leads repositioned 2 and half months ago but never felt the same as the original install. Every time I turned my head, nodded my head, or someone tapped on me I could feel my diaphragm jumping and it was speeding up my breathing. I had been in several times to get this adjusted. They ended up turned my rate response pretty much off, which meant I could barely get off the couch. Forget about climbing stairs. They told me to tap the device to speed up my heart, to get enough air. As if a person looks normal hitting their "power button" to climb a flight of stairs. Finally, I had so much pain I thought I was having a heart attack! So I went to the hospital this week. They looked at my PM on floroscopy in the OR. I turned my head, fake sneezed, and moved my neck in the ways that bug the PM. Then they turned down my voltage from 2.5 to 1.5. Suddenly the pain, the diaphragm jumping was gone!!! It was the voltage the whole time. I'm still dealing with getting hiccups often but I can deal with those.

3 Comments

Diaphragm

by jude - 2014-02-18 01:02:54

Hi, I am jude. I am new to this site so I missed reading your response. You had no choice but to do what you did to save your grandson.

My email add. is judeb3@gmail.com.

I had a PM put in Jan. 2012. A few weeks after I started having shortness of breath & dizzyness. It got so bad that I ended back in the hospital . On May 2013 I had a CRT-D put in . I was told that I had Pacemaker Syndrome. I came when I cam out of surgery I had the diaphragm punching. After a few months I started having terrible shortness of breath when I tried to stand up. The dr. said I had to have more surgery but I am on hold because I am afraid of these drs!! jude

Original install (re: Diaphragm jumping and pain...)

by mick655 - 2016-03-16 06:03:11

I have had an eventless 5 years with my original 2-lead PM. However, cardiologist recommends CRT (3 lead), so I am having one implanted. I am concerned when jwardisu says he never felt the same as original install.

Does this happen to a lot of folks? I'd really like to get some feedback, as I am due for an implant soon.

Thanks,
Mick

Update

by jwardlsu - 2016-03-16 09:03:47

Mick,

I was having this issue with a Medtronic Revo. If you contact me offline I can explain it to you. I switched devices about a year and a half ago to a Boston Scientific Ingenio. No phrenic nerve/diaphragm issues since! I workout two hours a day. I venture to say I am passing up a lot of my friends in terms of my capabilities. I'd be happy to talk to you about any pacer questions you have.

Jenny

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