palpitations and rapid heartbeat

hi everyone...

my mom has a Metronic Adapta Pacemaker since July and she has been having heart palpitations and her pulse sometimes gets a bit high...she also complains about feeling the pacemaker kicks in... and it being a really uncomfortable and hard to describe strange feeling...shes discussed these concerns with the doctor but he says that theres not much he can do about these issues.....because the pacemaker is put in to avoid fainting and that some people just experience these symptoms....we are new to this pacemaker world....do any of you experience these symptoms and sensations? She's feeling very discouraged because its been almost two months and she's still not feeling well and can't do some of the things she use to do. we appreciate any feedback and advice.

4 Comments

PM Problems

by SMITTY - 2009-08-27 04:08:19

Hi Simplicity,

First and foremost your mother needs to see another doctor if possible. One that knows something about pacemakers. I can say that because she has discussed her problems with her doctor and according to you "he says that theres not much he can do about these issues.....because the pacemaker is put in to avoid fainting and that some people just experience these symptoms. I think the only true part of that statement is "theres not much he can do about these issues" and that is because, in my opinion, he knows so little about the operation of a pacemakers.

Sure, I'll admit I get incensed when I read about people with pacemakers getting treated as you mother does because it should not be happening. A pacemaker SHOULD NOT HURT or cause discomfort. All it is doing is filling in heart beats the hearts natural pacemaker fails to cause. That pacemaker should be able to do its job silently and painlessly. If it is not then it probably needs some fine tuning, which is not unusual for new pacemakers. However the fine tuning does require someone that knows and understands pacemakers. So if your mother's doctor cannot do this ask him to get her an appointment with a Medtronic representative. I've had to get one twice to look at settings on my pacemaker and each time I was extremely pleased with the results.

Now I'll stop the ranting and try to offer a suggestion or two. But first let me say what I'm talking about is her feeling the pacemaker kick in. As for the palpations the pacemaker should not be causing them, but I have seen several people bring up this subject after they get a pacemaker. I had them after I got mine years ago, but for all practical purposes they went away in a few months, although I do still have some occasionally. I don't know why this happens.

As for the high heart rate, that could be pacemaker related. Practically all pacemakers being implanted today have a feature known as a rate response. The purpose of this feature is when the person starts any physical activity the pacemaker can detect this and increase the heart rate. This activity can range from walking up stairs to making beds to whatever. If your mother's high heart rate is uncomfortable and is due to the rate response feature, it can be adjusted to lower levels where it can still serve a person's needs without causing discomfort.

I wish her the best.

Smitty

Adjustment needed?

by Blueaustralia - 2009-08-27 05:08:36

After I had my pm I could fee it "kick in" if I was sitting down I would have to get up and walk around. This was not always convenient but people got used to Saying "Oh her pm has just kicked in".

My tech adjusted the r ate and only occasionally I feel it now. It is like a gentle ticking in the left of my chest.
Before adjustment I fel it was all too fast and was wearing me out. I was so tired. Keep on about it ( although we should not have to) the factory settings don't suit everyone. We are all differednt. Thanks to Smitty's knowledge a lot of us find reassurance in his explanations.

Sincere wishes from Ox

A Question

by ppt - 2009-08-27 06:08:19

This does not sound right to me at all! I too was sort of "not listened to" by my Cardiologist who finally (months later) referred me to an Electrophysiologist. I am dramatically (emphasis on dramatically) improved! Fine tuning all my settings has taken approximately 8 months. Is your Dr. am Electrophysiologist (EP)? If not find one !! Don't give up and don't settle.... Good luck.

I feel the same way

by Pratt3Mullen - 2011-03-17 12:03:35

I am not even fifty yet and I got the same kind of pacemaker three months ago. I had wicked heart palpations before the pacemaker and still do now and I can feel it tapping when it works. My heart skips every other beat, and I can be sitting and feel like I climbed a flight of stairs with my heart thumping around, light headed and short of breath.The pacemaker is turned on the lowest setting because the palpations are worse when turned up because of my heart reacting to the pacemaker working. I am taking metoprolol to help numb out the palpations enough to function normally but I am still not feeling as well as I would like, and I have this thing in for the next 40 years or more. I am being referred to a dr who does experimental surgery where one of the lead wires is put directly underneath the av node on the heart itself instead of in the lower atrium as it is now. I read the above comments and will ask to see a metronic representative and a electrophysiologist. Jerrilynn

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