icd

I had a bi-ventricular icd fitted 2nd Jan 2018, after 3 weeks I started getting a kicking sensation (almost like a baby kicking) my right side jerks as it does so, my daughter says it look like I have hic-cups. I had it adjusted at my check up 2 weeks ago but it’s still doing it anyone else experience this, the hospital said they’d never come across it before.

3 Comments

Diagphragmatic Stim

by PacerRep - 2018-03-04 14:15:35

This is actually very common, whoever told you they haven't seen it before at the hospital, never deals with pacemakers aparently.  Hiccups is the classic sign of stim. In surgery, we turn the lead on full power and the nurse or doctor puts their hand on your lower right side to feel for it. I can gaurentee you that you didn't have it during the proceedure, but those LV leads  can rotate ever so slightly and catch that nerve. The LV lead is absolutely stimulating your phrenic nerve. Schedule a device  check and have the tech start changing the "pacing vectors" of your LV lead. If they can not solve it with vectors, have them increase the pulse width and lower the voltage and try all the vectors again.

If that doesn't work, you have 3 options.

Deal with it

Turn the lead off and not recieve the therapy

Surgical lead revision, they need to move the lead tip. This is a very fast and small proceedure (usually). But it does involve opening the pocket back up.

 

Similar

by Beaks - 2018-03-05 00:21:21

I think I get something like this when I walk or lean forward, its almost like a nerve twitching but pulsing close to the skin. If I put my hand over it a press a little it seems to stop, or at least I don't feel it. Mine is on the left side though 4" below my nipple.

lead replacement

by Marilyn - 2018-03-14 12:32:03

So I’ve been back to the clinic and yes it’s diaphragmic stilmulation I am experiencing. They’ve switched the pacing lead off, and said it needs replacing. Does anyone know how long this op takes and what it involves. Just dreading the thought of another 3 hour op.

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