pacemaker protrudes and pain in chest

The reason I found out I needed a pacemaker was I was very tired all the time, and short of breath if I did anything above sitting at computer, also lots of dizzy spells. I had a pacemaker surgery due to slow heart beats of 41 a minute and heart stopped beating for 3.7 seconds. This was 12/16/2015 and the pacemaker protrudes and all over aching, and frequent sharp pains in chest. I have a friend that has just had one inserted in Aug and you cannot see or feel hers and she is having no problems (other than once in awhile a tiny shock)
Does this indicate that the pacemaker has moved out of the pocket and is the pains telling me something is really wrong.
thank you
Rebecca

5 Comments

We are all different

by Grateful Heart - 2016-01-25 05:01:06


Mine protrudes too. Sometimes it takes time for the PM to settle in. It's only been a month so it will probably calm down.

The tiny shocks you feel are most likely your nerves regenerating if it's near the incision site. To me, if felt like ant bites or needle sticks. They can last from 6 months to a year off and on. I didn't have them with my original implant but they started after a lead revision (replacement). So not everyone feels them and not with each surgery.

Any other pains in the chest should always be checked out but it sounds like you are progressing normally. It's normal to have a lot of questions. You'll be ok.

Grateful Heart

Sharp pains

by Sheppey - 2016-01-25 09:01:33

Dear Rebecca, Please do not worry too much about the pacemaker protruding? It will ache for a while , but given time, you will forget it is there. Sharp shock type pains are also quite usual. They will go in time.
I had a loop recorder taken out and a pacemaker implanted... have two scar sites..... I am experiencing the same things you describe.
I too had Bradycardia... down to 30 bpm and regular sinus pauses (Sinus Arrests) I had SSS.
Always get chest ache or crushing feeling checked out .
Usually sharp type pains are not urgent?

You have been through a difficult period.. you need time to adjust and recover.... it should get easier though?
All the best

pacemaker protrudes and pain in chest

by restll@aol.com - 2016-01-29 03:01:04

Thanks for all the comments. I only had the one person I knew with a pacemaker and her symptoms were so different, that it worried me that mine protrudes so much more than hers. I am glad to know that most of this is normal and that the ache/pain is normal restoring muscle and nerves, and the sharp chest pains have eased off, and also the hard pain, now it is mostly a tenderness ache and I do have an appointment with another cardiologist in 3 weeks, so if nothing drastic happens before then, I will wait for his appointment.
thanks again (and yes I know we are all different and that you are not doctors, but I was checking to see if my issues were so different from others, but now am more at ease).
Rebecca

Protruding pacer and shocks!

by berniewernie - 2016-02-01 06:02:55


Hello Rebecca and others who commented,

Mine sticks out and I will try and load a photo but dont know if will be successful. I am tiny and skinny and had my original pm put in October 2014, a re-burial in May 2015 due to protrusion and all along I have had major bad shocks. I have been to pacer cllnic many times and seen my consultant a few times but none of them will have it! Its got to the point where I have mentioned liability lawyers..... for the manufacturer and negligence for the hospital..... I reallly dont want to go down this route as been in Law myself for 40 years, conveyancing, and its not in my nature to be like this. However I cannot carry on getting huge electric shocks. It happens from security tags such as on clothes and toothbrush boxes, razors, hairdryers etc etc all accessories and also from home security alarm sensors..... it is interferring with my life. Bernie

Protruding Pacemaker

by suep - 2016-03-19 12:03:00

At my pacing check 6 weeks post box replacement, the physiologist said that he felt the box was loose. I did comment that it did feel like it sort of fell forward at times. My Cardiac Surgeon looked at it and said that it was too close to the surface of my skin (another Cardiologist did my surgery) and said that it should have been implanted further almost into the subcutaneous muscle. It was at risk of turning over if caught as it was very loose. And yes it did protrude quite badly. I could actually hold it the side of it and wiggle it about! I only did that once! So I have just had another pocket made and its now very secure.

I suppose in essence what I'm trying to say is: Don't put up with something you feel is not right especially if you are not new to how it should feel. We know our own bodies, take ownership of them!!!!!

You know you're wired when...

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

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