squeezing, talking, jolts, esophogus test



I have had a pacemaker now for 4 weeks. The feeling of jolts to my chest continue when I lay down, and even sometimes when I sit. A squeezing sensation in my upper chest is now getting more frequent. When I talk I feel short of breath and get that squeezing sensation in my chest. I also feel like coughing when this happens.
I have been told the PM is working fine. But, I have been getting these jolts since approx. two hours after the PM was installed.

I am so miserable. I can tell the PM has restored a feeling of well being to my system in general and for that I am grateful.
However, these side effects are horrible and often frightening.
Furthermore, I have trouble replying to messages. I do not
know how to send a private message and have lost some of the automatic responses I sent. Can someone explain how to initiate a private message on this website. And please please let me know if anyone of you had this squeezing sensation.
I am also waiting for the results of the esophogus test I did yesterday to see if I could swallow. I expect a good result but we will see. I really need help. These jolts are nasty. Thank You........Karen W

9 Comments

been there

by mimcfarl - 2010-11-09 06:11:09

hello karen,im nt sure why u got your pm,but mine was due to slow hr in 30s.im 35 today thank God for that...i was having dizzy spells,off n on lightheaded,fluttering in chest area to throat....i had the pm put in on 2/18/09..i had the same feelings of it's not working,was feelin the same way I was but worse...after about a month things started to look up....every now n then I feel a few extra beats,but dr assured me it's nothing to worry about while reviewing my report..i hope u start to feel better soon also...not sure how private messages wrk..

i have the same

by maureen.coxsey - 2010-11-09 07:11:25

Hi
I have had a PM for 10 years and have had no problems at all, at first I felt a flutter now and again but got so used to it that I stopped noticing it.

But I had a new unit fitted on the 24th of Sep and I am experiencing the same symptoms as you, I get fast strong beats and it takes my breath away, not in a gasping way but I cant talk until its passed and it makes me cough, over the last week I have started with a squeezing pain that goes through to my back and I have been worried that it was a warning of a heart attack
but now I know it could just be the PM settings, I feel a bit better but it is frightening.
I dont have a hospital app untill 2nd Feb and I was told today that I cant get a earlyer date, if you get any information on this will you let me know please.
When you go out for a walk or move around does it feel worse ? up untill now I couldnt feel it working, so I sort of feel like its just been fitted and not 10 years old

Moe

I forgot to add....

by Pookie - 2010-11-09 09:11:09

if either of you do a SEARCH (upper right hand corner of this screen) I seem to remember that this subject has been brought up before and you might get a clue to an answer.

Good luck,
Pookie

Sending Private Messages....

by Pookie - 2010-11-09 09:11:18

guess who...me again....Pookie. Actually my name is Karen as well:) but please call me Pookie:)

To send a private message:

1) go to the Members List (upper left hand corner)
2) type in their username (try mine)
3) you will then see near the top (in red) under my name "send a private message" - click on that...

try sending me one.

Pookie:)

my guess...

by Pookie - 2010-11-09 09:11:33

is one of the leads might be pressing on a nerve.

and I have to vent...if I hear one more doctor or PM Tech say: "Your pacemaker is functioning properly." - well, I think I'm gonna scream.

YES we know it's functioning - meaning the darn thing is ON, but hello - the settings obviously aren't adjusted to your needs. each of us is different even though we may have the same diagnosis.

Have they at least taken an Xray to see if your leads are in the original position or perhaps they aren't in a good spot to begin with.

I had oodles of issues when I first had my pacemaker, and when I was sent to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, the first thing the cardiologist said about my leads was: yes they are in there, but they are not where we would have placed them. sorta like right church, wrong pew. and because of this when I do pace, my battery is using a lot more energy than it need be. However, with that being said, I am NOT going in for yet another surgery. 5 was enough for me.

And as far as settings go - everyone - please continue to push your cardiologists or PM Techs or whoever "tunes" your pacemaker because I went for 5 and a half years (YES - almost 6 yrs) feeling like crap all because of one little setting was ON when it should have been OFF. If it wasn't for one of the PM Techs just getting back from a Medtronics upgrade course, I was about to have an ablation!!!!!!!!!! I shudder to think I almost had my heart burnt for what???? - nothing.

So keep on those doctors - remember - you should not feel worse after having a pacemaker - if it takes 20 times to get your settings right, so be it.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Pookie

hi pookie/Karen

by maureen.coxsey - 2010-11-10 12:11:35


Thanks for the info I did try and do a search on the problem karen and myself are having but like karen I am new to this club and havnt got the hang of ot yet but I will keep looking. Thanks for your time tho.

And Karen please let me know what you find out

RE: I have the same from MOE

by Karen W - 2010-11-11 07:11:04

Dear Moe
I received your message two days ago but just got to see the Manufacturer's representative yesterday. I am writing now to tell you that I did have some settings changed and I feel much better. Our symptoms are so similiar except my squeezing sensation did not go through to my back.
I did have same upper muscular tension in my back from favoring my PM incision, but that went away several days ago. The mfg.rep. changed settings in the office and I feel better. The last rep. I talked with said everything was fine. The new person changing the settings made a difference. The lower chamber of my heart (ventricle) receives the impulse different than the upper chamber. My symptoms were coming from the lower chamber. I have only two leads and did not have the squeezing in my back so it is possible that our symptoms are coming from different areas of the heart. But what is the SAME FOR BOTH OF US is that we are having distressing feelings. Mine are fixed now and I feel more peaceful. I do not understand why you can't see a doctor until February. I hope you can move up your appointment. I think our settings are different but I also think changing settings can be a possbile solution.
Karen W

P.S. I have been trying to send a private message to you but it won't go through. So I am hoping you receive this reply to your comment. I am having trouble sending private messages.

Moe Again

by maureen.coxsey - 2010-11-11 08:11:07

Hi Karen
Thanks for the info.
I had a scan 4 weeks ago and have just had a letter to say my left ventricle is isn't pumping as it should ? they are going to fit a monitor to trace my heart for 7 days, not sure what they are going to do with the results! as I feel left in limbo.

As I told you I have had my PM for 10 years and never had any problems at all.

Early last year my husband lost his job and out private medical care went with it, so I have had to change my Dr.

We are lucky here we do have a national health (don't have to pay) but it feels like a secret society its as if they don't feel the need to give you info because you are not paying them direct, you don't get the time to talk to your cardiologist that you do when you are paying and you cant get a appointment when you need one, that's why I have to Waite until Feb to go to the pacemaker clinic, I don't know why I have now been passed to another Dr because of the ventricle problem.

I have never been afraid of my pace maker before but I am now I don't feel well, I cant sleep because its kicking in when I do dose off and I wake fighting for breath.

HaHa I am having a good old rant aren't I, its just so good to have contact with people who know how I feel, My husband says he is going to read the messages left by people so he can understand more of what I am going through as its never been a issue before and he can see just how unwell I have become.
I am off work and worry about my job as I just couldn't do a days work right now, so keep your fingers crossed for me that they reset mine as they did yours and we will both be back to normal.

Moe

Ps I cant send a message either.
is it coz we are dumb! hahaha dont answer that

to Karen

by estherr - 2010-11-20 09:11:47

I complained of the same kind of jolts-only I called them 'pings'. My medtronic rep changed the settings after watching me through a stress test with my cardiologist. They agreed that the placement of one lead near a nerve caused it. Most of the sensations are gone, and now I'm trying to figure out why my bp goes up and down at weird times. Keep after your doc- try a stress test- see your pm rep. You don't have to be miserable.

You know you're wired when...

Born to be Wired is your theme song.

Member Quotes

I am a competitive cyclist with a pacemaker!