mechanical feeling/short of breath

Hello friends!

My PM went in the 23rd of February, it has been almost 4 weeks. When I went in for my initial interrogation at 2 weeks they said they would be lowering the voltage from 5 down to 2 at my 6 week appointment. When they did the interrogation and made the PM work I felt it quite strongly. I had been feeling it since it was implanted & was relieved that it was the PM working, not something to be concerned about. I have been told I will get used to it. I'm not. It is heavy & mechanical feeling, it is hard to catch my breath...it is quite uncomfortable. It feels like it does when my PM does its self check thing at midnight.
My question is...when they lower the voltage will I continue to feel it? If so will I feel it less so? I really hope so, I see this being a very difficult thing to get used to. It is as uncomfortable as my block was. Thank you all for being here!
~Jessi


4 Comments

Effect of higher voltage

by ElectricFrank - 2010-03-23 02:03:06

Jessi,
It's hard to say what effect the lower voltage will have. My experience is that the higher voltage setting is more irritating to my heart tissue and leads to more strange beats.

The advice that "you will get used to it" is a cop out on their part. The sort of feeling you describe isn't the kind of thing you can easily ignore.

By the way it is normal to feel strange beats during a checkup. The test runs your heart through a series of different HR's as well as causing it to skip beats. The feeling should stop when the test is over.

frank

Voltage

by bini - 2010-03-23 08:03:46

Hi Jessi,
When I first got my PM implanted I had a pretty high voltage set. I could not sleep at night bc it felt like my heart was beating out of my chest and a slight short of breath feeling. My surgery was done out of state, so before I flew back home I had my cardio change the voltage setting to a lower one.

I saw a difference right away. I felt so much better.
He explained that he did what was standard for most people, and he knew that it may need to be changed. he said my heart is like a babies heart and is very sensative..so a low voltage is all I need.

I am not sure if this is what is happening with you, but I hope it helps! Good Luck!

Christine

Shock

by Dwight - 2010-03-23 09:03:31

Jessi I would give you a hug but I am afraid you would shock me right now! Best of luck to you and I do hope you get the settings "right" for what is best for you. That has to be frustrating. Stay stong,, I
I am taking my chances on the hug anyway.....
Huggggg
Dwight

Im sorry sweets

by brooke1803 - 2010-03-23 12:03:24

I ma having a bad day..3 of my steri strips have come off and it looks like Doc Raj butchered my chest...the PM is like the size of my palm, and its got like this pinching feeling and itchy..i just wanna dig it out!!!! I have no idea about voltage or self checks or nothing..no one explained crap to me..i was just there..and this was put in and i was set free..is how i feel. *cries* i am getting very depressed about it all. Its like owning me lately....I can breath again, and walk with out having to stop..i almost fainted today tho...scarey as shit!!! But i think it was just me..i dunno. Call me tomorrow hunny if yah avea chance and hope you get answers you need. ;) sorry to bitch so much on here.

You know you're wired when...

You can finally prove that you have a heart.

Member Quotes

It's much better to live with a pacemaker than to risk your life without one.