should i be concerned

i am new here and 43 had my first st jude model 2240 just two weeks ago, I am 100% dependant since he did a av node ablation as well. surgery went well with only a couple complication during the av node ablation and bleeding. any how. since surgery i have had a heck of time breathing, hard to get a breath, when i yawn i feel like im suffocating there for a minute. I do have Copd and asthma but never like this, my inhalers are not helping. No fever, but there is alot of pressure in my chest. it does feel worse when i feel the pacemaker rate response increase my heart rate, it is averaging 126-130 I asked the suregon to lower it and he said that will be up to my regular cardiolist. there is some pain in my chest, around the insertion site but thee is a bit of tingling and pain raidiating from my left shoulder. It sounds wierd i know but i have lived with pains since 2003 and with this new thing i dont know what to take serious or what not to. i dont want tobe one of those patients who goes to the doctor for every little thing. any help would be great. u can post here or if u prefer you can private message me. thank you

4 Comments

It's only two weeks

by Theknotguy - 2015-02-01 01:02:53

It's only two weeks. Your body hasn't had time to adjust to the new circumstances. Swelling hasn't gone down.

Getting a PM isn't like going to the store and getting instant pancakes. It does take time to adjust.

As for the heavy yawn, I got those right after getting the PM and still get them at 15 months out. Your body wants to go back to the old way of breathing but the PM is keeping your heart beating at 60 BPM (or whatever your EP set it to). Your body runs out of oxygen because of the faster heart rate but you aren't breathing fast enough to get the oxygen into your bloodstream. Yawn and you get a shot of oxygen. It gets better as your body adjusts. Inhaler won't help as it isn't an asthma problem.

Tingling and pain radiating down the arm are probably due to swelling that hasn't gone down yet or stretching of tissue to give the PM room. If you aren't getting shooting pains, very sharp pains, or running a fever, usually it's not a problem.

Keep moving, do light exercise, drink plenty of water. Hang in there. It gets better.

call

by Tracey_E - 2015-02-01 04:02:59

It could easily be a combination of healing and your breathing issues, however you should rule out pericarditis. When in doubt, give them a call and ask if they want to see you.

Yes, be concerned

by Alma Annie - 2015-02-01 08:02:29

Always have breathing problems checked out asap. From what you say you are having great difficulty with breathing. Ask to see your cardio rather than ask if they want to see you. Always better to be told no problem than to leave a problem untreated.
Alma Annie

Yes, call

by Grateful Heart - 2015-02-01 09:02:57


If it feels worse, go to the ER.

Difficulty breathing should not be ignored. Better to be safe than sorry.

Grateful Heart

You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

Member Quotes

I had a pacemaker when I was 11. I never once thought I wasn't a 'normal kid' nor was I ever treated differently because of it. I could do everything all my friends were doing; I just happened to have a battery attached to my heart to help it work.