Can pacemaker cause shortness of breath?

My PM installed Aug 25, 2015.

First problem was I had a large hematoma and had to be opened up again a couple of weeks later. That issue now seems to be resolved.

My concern now is I seem to have worse "shortness of breath" than before. Like, maybe the heart is not as efficient as it was before the PM was installed. Is this possible? An internet search found only one article specific to my problem: Study Links Heart Damage to Pacemaker, 2002, http://www.nytimes.com/2002/12/20/us/study-links-heart-damage-to-pacemaker.html

Does anyone have later information?

BTW, I have doubts that I even needed a PM but my doctor insisted on it. I have "controlled AFIB", on average a normal heart beat rate. However I did have a fainting spell, so he insisted on installing the PM. What it does with AFIB is not obvious to me.

2 Comments

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by Tracey_E - 2015-10-25 05:10:31

The pm has not damaged your heart since August. There is some evidence that years of pacing can do damage but how they pace has changed over the years and you haven't had yours long. Did they change your meds when you got the pm? Sometimes they can treat the afib more aggressively once they know the pm will keep your heart rate from dropping too low, and those meds can cause sob. Often the pm settings they send us home with are a starting point, not where you end up, so they may need to be tweaked. If you are having new symptoms, always call and ask to be seen. This is probably an easy fix.

No medication change

by Yokena - 2015-10-27 01:10:40

No, my medication was not changed. I am on coumadin and lipitor.

I will give the pm more time before I raise an issue for I am concerned that it may be just psychological. Today, my "shortness of breath" problem seems to be back to normal.

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