chest pain

Hi. I am 28 and had my pacemaker inserted 3 weeks ago. Ever since, I've had waves of extreme pain deep in the middle of my chest that sometimes reaches up to my jaw. I can't breathe in without it being excruciating so i have to take pain killers and lie down for hours (which is not really conducive with me returning to work). Pain was at its worst after PM check-up because the cardio messed around with my heart beat. Had a chest x-ray and blood tests and all looks normal. My cardiologist is very difficult to contact and GP doesn't know much about this stuff and I also feel embarrassed about going back to the doctors yet again. Doctor suggested that I take ibuprofen every 4 hours. This has helped a bit but i'm still getting the waves of pain. If I knew why this was happening or that it was part of the recovery process I think i could handle it but i'm really lost. I don't know anyone my age that has one and no one around me seems to understand how it feels. If anyone has any thoughts i'd really appreciate it. Cheers, An

7 Comments

sounds sore

by pace-man - 2013-12-28 01:12:31

Hi, I had a pacemaker inserted a couple of months ago now, I haven't had any of the problems that you described ,I would certainly be chasing up your cardiologist to see what he can do for you, I know what you are saying about trying to see your cardiologist I still haven't seen mine yet and I had the op back in October, I am booked in for the middle of January.
I hope you get some answers soon. I had mine done at Brisbane , where did you get done. ? Rick

Thanks for your advice

by annalan99 - 2013-12-28 08:12:30

Thanks for your comments guys.i got my PM put in at St Vincent's in melbourne..i didn't know I had a heart condition.my heart just stopped working in the middle of the night and I flatlined about 4 times in a row and then had another shorter pause in hospital the day after.i had hypoxia fits after each episode but my heart kicked in again without needing CPR or any major medical intervention.
Im currently on Fludrocortisone but the chest pain started before I was put on that so I think it's unrelated. I think your suggestion of an advocate is a good idea and I'm wondering about the pulse rate.maybe that explains it coz everything else seems fine.
I might go into ED if it starts again today because I'm absolutely at my wits end.
Thanks again for your support.

With that much pain

by Theknotguy - 2013-12-28 11:12:35

With that much pain I'd punch the button, go to the ER and get it checked out, ASAP. Two questions:

1) What is causing the pain?
2) Why so much pain?

Did you get your PM because of a traumatic experience? Or was it implanted because of a heart condition?
What medications are you taking? Could they be causing the problems? Is your PM set too high on the pulse rate?

If you aren't physically able to argue with physicians and medical people, get an advocate (parent, spouse, close realtive, close friend) to argue for you. You need a solution.

Theknotguy

PM pain in chest

by Queeg - 2014-01-01 06:01:23

Medtronic dual chamber mri scan pacemaker installed three weeks ago. Pain in middle chest forced me into emergency on ride home from implant. Moved lower atrial lead. Turned atrial lead off but will not go all the way off. After five days out of hospital. At Cardio checkup told Medtronic tech and doctor getting shocks in chest while riding in auto. Put me on antibiotics and Alleve anti-inflamatory. Druggist sent me letter the antibiotic is unsuitable for 73 year old. Inflamtorys make me belch all the time. Stopped both. Feel normal but still have shocks or something to my middle chest. dr. Office told me I have inflamed heart lining and need the meds.

My research leads me to believe I have a false rate of response from riding or driving car or the volts are too high on the pacemaker. These three weeks have been the nightmare of my life as I only had a historically low heart beat around 46. Going for endo scope in few days to see if stomach ulcers, esophagus stricture, inflamation, Pylori bacteria in stomach. Your symptoms are out there but Cardio people act like never heard of my symptoms or yours.

Pain in chest from pacemaker

by Queeg - 2014-01-01 06:01:45

Try dhearts.com....search pacemaker and chest pain.....these are symptoms and no one seems to have heard of them before.

You guys were right

by annalan99 - 2014-01-03 03:01:23

Thanks for your comments.i ended up in ED straight after I wrote the last comment.turns out I had pericarditis and pericardial effusion, caused during operation.probably perforation around atrial lead.just released this arvo After yet another week in hospital.on masses of steroids, pain killers and anti inflamatories.the fluid on my heart hasn't shifted yet but hoping that it will naturally start to move.if not they will drain it.at the moment my pain and breathing is stable so that's all I can ask for.yay!

Chest pain /twitching

by Jasmin - 2019-07-26 05:57:08

I had my pacemaker put on me 3 weeks ago, im also having chest pain here and there, i could also feel the pacemaker working, i told this to my cardiologist and he said everything looked good, he towned it down to where i couldnt feel it anymore, but im still having a weird twitch on my chest and the chest pain that comes and goes, should i be worried? 

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It is just over 10 years since a dual lead device was implanted for complete heart block. It has worked perfectly and I have traveled well near two million miles internationally since then.