Shocks to Abdomen

Hey, I got a pacemaker put in March and now I'm feeling like my abdomen is getting shocked. Is that normal to feel or should I touch base with my doc?

3 Comments

call

by Tracey_E - 2011-05-16 07:05:11

It could easily be nothing but it's definitely not normal so I'd call, interrogate the pm and make sure it's pacing and possibly get an xray to make sure the leads are where they started off.

Ditto

by pacergirl - 2011-05-16 10:05:12

I would call the doc. today and have them check you out.
PG

PM Shocks

by SMITTY - 2011-05-16 11:05:21


Hey Freguson,

I have a couple of comments on your problem since I lived with something similar to what you describe for too long. Now I'm not trying to diagnose your problem, I'm just telling you I had something similar.

For starters, no it is not normal and you do need to see the Dr as others have said.

My problem turned out to be stimulation of a nerve by the electrical impulse from my pacemaker. That sounds like it should be easy enough for any electrophysiologist to diagnose, but not so for me. All I could get out that clown and his bunch of helpers was "what you are feeling is not caused by your PM." So don't be surprised if that is the first answer you get. I have seen others here say that is the response they also got.

Mine initially started on the lower left side of my chest but after a few months shifted the right side. On the right side I guess it thought it had found a home as it would not go away. The final diagnoses was the impulse from PM lead to the ventricle was stimulating the phrenic nerve which was causing the pain.

I was given the options of having the lead relocated or having the nerve deadened. I am not recommending that you do, or do not, consider either one of those as a means to get rid of the problem. In my case I turned down the reallocating the lead because it had been in place so long and that it may require the use of a laser to free up the lead. So I chose the deadening the nerve which was a simple injection into the spinal area.

Deadening the nerve worked like a charm for stopping the pain from the PM but it brought its own bag of problems. I ended up with a paralyzed diaphragm on the right side. The paralyzed diaphragm has presented problems, but in my case because of my age and other problems, the problems are less that the shocking I was getting from the PM.

I tell you all this because as we all know for every action there is a reaction. So my suggestion is unless the pain is really bad, wait and hope it wills go away as that does happen sometimes. If you must have treatment take a hard look at what, if any, side effects that treatment may cause.

And don't be surprised if you hear the problems is not caused by your PM.

Good luck to you,

Smitty

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