Do you "feel" your PM working?

Hi Guys,

New member here, just looking for others experiences with their PM. I'm 30yo male, had a pacemaker put in about six months ago. Since then I've noticed more and more "symptoms" and was wondering how common they are in others with a PM. I started feeling a flicking feeling in my throat and thought i was being paranoid but its getting worse. I've started getting chest pain along with it. Is this normal? I went back to the specialist and he gave me a home monitor, he didn't really say much else about it. The other thing since seeing the specialist, is that I wake up on my back during the night and my heart is beating rapidly and beating quite hard as soon as I move onto my side it subsides. Does anybody else encounter something similar? I really appreciate feedback from anyone else's experiences.

Cheers Lath

5 Comments

check with your doc

by techiej - 2016-05-02 04:05:29

Except for possibly feeling it when the PM does a self-test I wouldn't expect you to be able to feel anything.

When mine self tests I can feel it in my throat but it only lasts for a few seconds and I only even notice it if I'm resting.

the only other time that I can even notice that mine is working is if I'm using the elliptical for exercise in that I can feel my heart picking up with the motion and then again when my respiration increases.

During normal activities and normal walking I never notice anything.

Would like to see a reply

by Annmoss - 2016-05-02 06:05:44

Hi there, I wish someone would reply to your post, as I am in exactly the same boat as you. I've had my pacemaker in nearly a year and my symptoms have just started to get worst. I've started to have a silly cough now as well.
I'm a little older than you I'm 57. I haven't been to see anyone as I want sure if it was the normal thing to happen. I'm very tired all the time and find It increasingly difficult to walk the dogs.
When I first had my PM in and said I didn't feel right, they sent me for a scan and a PM check. They said all was working fine, but they also said clearly I didn't look well but offered no help. I have good days, but soon feel tired.

Ann

similar feelings

by Jane S - 2016-05-02 10:05:33

I'm a year down the line with my PM and still having loads of issues,.
I would say to you both to ask for a 3day holter monitor and a 12lead exercise stress test. They should help pick up any other arrhythmias etc. that won't show on the PM report, and for Ann the later may show that your settings maybe giving you problems, i.e. causing a type of heart block which makes you feel awful.
Be brave and ask for more.
Good luck
Jane

Wish I could help

by Good Dog - 2016-05-02 10:05:54

I really wish I could help. I have had a PM for 30+ years and have never experienced the kind of symptoms you describe. However, I think that the PM will record unusual events and the home monitor will transmit them to the doctors office. Shame on them if they didn't explain that. Also, you really need to press the doc until you get the answers you need to give you peace of mind. That is of course, depending upon if he has figured-out what is going-on. If he is unaware now, then you need to keep pressing him until you do get a satisfactory answer.
It will be difficult for anyone in this forum to help unless they too have experienced this problem and received a resolution.
I do hope you can get to the bottom of this.........
Sincerely,
David

OP again...

by Lath - 2016-05-05 10:05:25

Hi Guys,
Thank you for the replies, I've tried to make an appointment with the specialist to try to work out what's going on but the wait time is about six weeks, which leaves me in the dark a little. I've started grabbing my phone and writing down the times where the rapid heart beat occurs and its all different hours of the night, never the same. If it were 'self testing' then would it be at the same time every night?

I really hope these events are being recorded and they tell me its fairly normal. I can deal with it, as long as my health isn't in further decline or something. I've never let anything worry me before but I have a baby girl due September and it's now really playing on my mind.

You know you're wired when...

You can feel your fingers and toes again.

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Life does not stop with a pacemaker, even though it caught me off guard.