Flicking

It could be the pacer running its daily test program?

by Zoë - 2018-01-26 20:49:16

You said it's still happening despite having some settings tweaked but I wonder if you could see if your pacemaker is running a daily test? (Ask the nurse/tech who does your pacemaker checks). This is where it will do a mini "interrogation" automatically and run a quick pacing of your atrium and ventricles (if you have dual or more leads).  It feels like that flicking sensation your describing.  

I also had my settings adjusted and they decided to turn that daily self check thingy off of mine and I no longer feel that uncomfortable flicking.  I only feel it give random flicks or thumps when it's doing its ventricular pacing (as confirmed during last interrogation).

kindest regards, Zoë

Flicking

by PhilUK - 2018-01-29 06:23:09

 Are we talking from the implant site, ie the actual pacemaker box itself?  I have a strong pulsing sensation coming from my implant site which took me 15 months to find out what it was. Nobody at hospital could give me a definitive answer so I wrote to the manufacturer, Boston scientific. Turns out my unit is self testing every 21 hours. I feel strong pulses which can be seen through my clothing from the implant site. The tech at Boston Scientific thinks the unit is next to a nerve which causes the pulses. I always have 14 pulses every 21 hours. People are horrified when they witness it but I am OK with it now since the explanation. Yes I could have it turned off but as I am 100% reliant I opted to leave it on for safety.

Flicks

by Irelady10 - 2018-01-29 11:16:32

Gumption- I seem to have same issues as you. I do not think it is self checking because the times and duration of the flicks have no pattern. Sometimes it happens multiples times throughout the day, sometimes just once, sometimes for hours at a time. They did try to lower pacing setting from 60-40 bpm and lowering threshold, but that didn't stop it. It is annoying and at times very uncomfortable. I have a dual lead ICD. I am wondering if it does happen during or after A-fib or some other abnormal rhythm. I am prone to arythmias from my CHD.

Flicking

by Irelady10 - 2018-01-30 08:36:34

Your description of someone flocking a finger is dead on to what I feel too. It happened again last night at 3 am for about 20 minutes. It's so uncomfortable and I have to sit straight up until it stops.

Please let me know if you get answers. None of my doctors have an answer for what this is.

It Sounds like Diaphragmatic Pacing

by Grateful Heart - 2018-01-30 18:52:53

A lead may be pacing your diaphragm, giving a pulsing or flicking sensation. 

Turning up the voltage is a test to see if you feel the pulsing stronger.  An X-Ray can check if the leads are in place.  Sometimes lowering the voltage helps.  If not, a lead revision is considered.

Good luck to all of you.  Keep us posted.

Grateful Heart

Annoying flicking

by Renny - 2018-02-04 03:39:37

I’m fairly new to all this, with implant of my crt-d on 17 November 2017.  My flicking issue was intense and sent me back to hospital tge day I came home.  It was actually a lead in the wrong place (it's been fixed) BUT in discussing it with the Heart  Failure Clinic they suggested that flicks less intense than mine can be caused by the frenic (phrenic?) nerve being irritated.  Just tossing the idea in there.