Ouch

I got my Pm in almost 2 years ago and it has now been one year with out having to have the leads fixed(I had to have them fixed 3 times). Just in the last two months I have been having a hard time sleeping...when I lay on my left arm it kinda hurts and when I sleep on my right my right arm goes numb and I have kind of chest pain. My Doctor wants to do a cath test but ..I am only 30 and I am not having it because I am too scared!!
Has anyone had this problem with a pm after a year of no pain?
Thank you
amy29


4 Comments

cath test.

by lindsay - 2008-02-07 04:02:16

Well i have a pacemaker and don't really have pain like that. i get uncomfortable at times but thats it. but i have had caths a lot of times my whole life and i am only 17. its not that bad. if your doctor wants you to get it done, there must be a good reason. if you went through surgery, you can get a heart cath.

How do you know...

by Pacing13 - 2008-02-07 04:02:52

How do you know the arm going numb is due to the PM? I have issues wtih my arms going numb and have ruled it to be carpal tunnel.
What do you mean by having your leads fixed?

Hurts

by BOB 1 - 2008-02-07 06:02:19

First, heart problems that can only be bdiagnosed with a cath do not care about your age. So, my suggestion is to put aside any consideration your age may be playing in your decision.

Second, if this is the same doctor that inserted the leads that are causing you some trouble, well --- let me put it this way, if it were me I would want another opinion before I let this doctor insert a cath the length of my body to look at my heart. I have to say, based on what I can derive from you message, it sounds like that doctor may be grasping for straws to find a solution to a problem that he has no answers for.

I have had a pacemaker for several years and I had about 10 caths before the pacemaker and at least five since and at no time did my pacemaker ever enter into the picture for the caths, not even when I was having a problem with one of the leads. All they ever did for a visual was X-ray.

do the cath

by PreciousDays - 2008-02-08 10:02:18

the cath isn't that bad - it sounds worse than it is - but I agree with the others - if it is the same doc who put the pacer in - and who has had the lead problems - get the cath done - but by somebody else. Good luck

PD

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