Pacemaker

I have had my PM a couple weeks, I have been feeling a snapping type feeling in it. What's up with that?

1 Comments

Could be

by Theknotguy - 2014-10-30 10:10:07

Some people are more sensitive to electrical discharges than others. Others, like me, are able to feel what is going on with their heart. Sometimes that means you are lucky, sometimes that means you end up feeling more pain.

Right after I got my PM, they had the voltage set up at a higher level. At times I would feel when the PM would kick in. Sometimes I would go on coughing jags because I'd be expecting my normal (albeit slow) heartbeat. Instead I'd feel the PM kick in sooner than I expected. The higher voltage would also cause a "thump" with every heartbeat. Sometimes the "thump" would wake me up at night.

After about 8 weeks they lowered the voltage on my PM - I was sitting in the chair watching while the tech did it. Didn't feel a thing. The thump went away and I didn't feel it (as much) when the PM kicked in.

They may have your voltage set up at a higher level and you may be feeling it.

There have been other posts on this forum where implanted leads have gotten too close to other parts of the body and it has caused trouble. But it happens rarely based upon the number of posts.

In either case, I'd call your EP / cardiologist, let them know what is going on and see if they can offer any suggestions. Sometimes lowering the voltage helps. But what they do is up to the EP / cardiologist to decide.

I still sometimes feel the PM kick in. It doesn't really bother me, especially since my other option is being dead.

Hope they can find a solution for you.

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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.