PALPITATIONS

I have a slight case of pneumonia and bigger case of bronchitis. While having a coughing attack I got light headed, started shaking and muttering some words, now my pacer has been palpitating. No defib on board. Almost due for my batteries (within the next 8 months). I have had my pacer since 2006 and never felt anything from it. Now it is palpitating like its my actual heart. Something serious?

4 Comments

Yours is an unusual...

by donr - 2014-10-06 10:10:02

...complaint. A PM is a passive device - at least in one way - it does nothing unless it detects that YOUR heart is doing something wrong.

If it is true that your PM is doing something like acting on its own, it needs to be looked at & you should call your Cardio about it. That's because it is only supposed to fill in where your heart does NOT function properly.

A palpitation is a generic term for ANY abnormal heart beat. Go here to read about the term & what it represents:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003081.htm

This may be serious for one of two reasons:
1) YOUR heart is doing something abnormal & needs to be checked out. This includes anxiety caused by some abnormality you do not understand, &

2) Your PM may be malfunctioning. Now this is a real low probability event, given the intrinsic reliability of PM's.

Good luck in finding the answer to your question. Given that you are finishing a bout of pneumonia, I'll bet that it is connected in some way to that & it is YOUR heart. NOT the PM.

Donr

Just my opinion

by Gotrhythm - 2014-10-06 10:10:46

But lightheaded, shaking, and "muttering some words" sounds serious to me. Those are symptoms of a lack of oxygen to the brain. The cause could be something pertaining to your heart, but could also be mini-strokes. If it happens again, don't wait around. Go to the ER.

About palpitations. Over the last few years I've gained a lot of experience with palpitations. Mostly they are harmless but when they are frequent, they can sure make you feel bad, or in your case, worse.

Some of the many things that will bring on palpitations are fever, chest congestion, and coughing. Odds are it's the heart, not the pacemaker that's palpitating. But given that your PM is close to needing replacement a call to the doctor or clinic might be in order.

just my opinion

by REBAAMOUSH - 2014-10-09 11:10:26

Thank you for your input on my situation. I had a brief pacer check today and it is working correctly, but needs a battery change. I am waiting to hear from my cardiologist on my echo and monitoring while I was in the hospital.

yours is unusual

by REBAAMOUSH - 2014-10-09 11:10:41

Thank you for your input it was very helpful and allowed me to better ask the right questions to my cardio.

You know you're wired when...

Your favorite poem is “Ode to a Cardiac Node”.

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