Hiccups just wondering.

Well we had the question on itching this morning which by the way I still get after over 3 years just a minor aggravation. But can someone out in PM land explain to me why we get the hiccups that are truly unbelievable. I mean the ones I get go clear down to the toes. I can usually get rid of them just by changing positions. But even then sometimes they will keep going for awhile. Before the pace I rarely got hiccups but now they happen quite ofter. Just another aggravation but I would like to know why. I assume it has something to do with the implant.

5 Comments

Hiccups

by SMITTY - 2009-01-01 02:01:40

Before I got a pacemaker hiccups were rare events for me. Since getting the PM there have been times when they are something to behold, so I'll pass on to you what my doctors told me and did for me.

"Since hiccups are caused by uncontrolled spasms of the diaphragm, this probably means that your PM is stimulating the diaphragm when the hiccups occur."

I would periodically have what felt like an electric shock on the lower part of my chest on the right side. I do know that the current from a PM impulse can stimulate various nerves in the chest and apparently that includes nerves going to, or in, the diaphragm because my hiccups were at their worst when I was getting "shocked." To solve the "shocks" the doctors offered me a choice of them trying to relocate the PM lead going to my ventricle, or to have the affected nerve deadened.

I chose the nerve deadening, which may have been a bad choice. Deadening that nerve stopped the "shocks" and reduced the frequency of the hiccups by at least 80%. However, not many months after the nerve deadening I found that when I bent over - say to pick up something from the floor - I would suddenly become very short of breath. This brought in a new doctor and more tests and the diagnosis was that my diaphragm on the right side was paralyzed and allowing the bottom of my lung to be crowded by internal organs when I bent over.

To make a long story short, I got the frequency of my hiccups reduced a goodly amount and I got my "shocking" problem solved. But I suggest before anyone starts diddling with what Mother Nature gave you, for whatever reason, try to find out what all the repercussions may be. I didn't and if I knew then what I know now the PM lead would have been repositioned and I would have continued to live with my attention getting hiccups.

Good luck,

Smitty

thanks for the good info to have.

by jessie - 2009-01-01 07:01:06

smitty i always read all your experiences as things occur and in my thoughts i remember something being said. i myself have not experienced a lot of hiccups but it is good to know what you experienced. maybe it will help bob who seems to be having this problem at the moment. hope your christmas was good with your family and that 2009 will treat you well. jessie

Thanks Smitty

by bowlrbob - 2009-01-01 08:01:34

Thanks for your insite. I have had my metal friend for over 3 years now. And these hiccups are something I get every few days or so. And so far they don't last long. But they are really deep when i get them. But based on what you said I can live with them. I was really just curious as to what caused them. Bowlrbob

Quick check

by ElectricFrank - 2009-01-01 10:01:35

One way to get a handle on the stimulated diaphragm possibility is to check you pulse to see if the hiccups are in sync with it. If it is pacer doing it the hic should happen very near to a heart beat. You need to check it over a number of beats to be sure it isn't a coincidence. Also, every pacer pulse won't necessarily produce a hic.

Lately, I've had an intermittent twitch in my diaphragm area. I monitored my heart/pacer on my ECG and could see the muscle twitch as well. It seems in my case they are totally unrelated. I do a phone check next week so I will have another bit of info.

frank

Hiccups

by SMITTY - 2009-01-02 02:01:17

I would like to add another comment on this subject. Frank's theory on checking to see if the hiccups are in sync with the heart beat is a good one, but my experience is it would be impossible to put into practice. My hiccups are such loud and instantaneous outbursts it would be like trying to check your hear rate when you sneeze. There ain't no way. Also mine usually come in singles and rarely will I have even two in a row and never any warning.

Another thing I implied in my previous comment was that I thought the deadening of tbe nerve that was being stimulated and causing pain like that of an electric shock, that I thought deadening that nerve caused me to have the paralyzed diaphragm. The paralyzed diaphragm diagnosis came several months after the deadening of that nerved although I had the SOB symptoms long before the diagnosis.

But the fact is I don't know what caused the paralyzed diaphragm. It could be old age, it could have been the meds used to deadening of that nerve, it could be any one of a dozen things,including the shingles they are trying to tell me I have. I truly have my doubts about that shingles diagnosis but how do you tell a doctor he doesn't know what he is talking about when I have nothing to offer as proof and he is the expert. What it all comes down to is I have a paralyzed diaphragm and the only treatment is surgery which I am not interested in as it is complicated surgery and not always successful, but it does carry with it the possibility of some severe complications.

Magstar, I'll bet anybody that has hiccups after getting a PM knows why that warning in there.

Happy New Year everybody,

Smitty

You know you're wired when...

Your ICD has a better memory than you.

Member Quotes

We are ALIVE! How wonderful is modern medicine.