Feeling heart being paced

It takes time

by Grateful Heart - 2017-09-09 10:16:41

For most of us the voltage for pacing is set high at first, until your heart gets used to being paced by the device and the leads embed. 

You should have an appointment in a week or two to check on your wound and device.  Mention it at the next visit and they can lower that setting to make it more comfortable for you.  We are all different so it may take a few tries of tweaking the setting before it feels right for you.   

It will feel better....one week is not a long time.  It's scary I know but we are all here to tell you it will get better.  Time is your friend.

Grateful Heart  

recovery

by Tracey_E - 2017-09-09 11:16:09

They will adjust the settings and turn down the voltage once your heart has a chance to get used to being paced and the leads have had some time to settle in. It's extremely rare to feel pacing long term. The signal that the pacer puts out is very very minimal, mimicking what the heart should be doing on its own. People sometimes picture these strong shocks, but that's not how it works. It's more likely you're feeling the faster heart rate, not the actual pacing. It can take some time to stop noticing it, but the feeling does go away. 

Same for me

by Theknotguy - 2017-09-10 00:20:18

I felt the pacemaker working until they turned down the voltage.  Now I'm almost four years in and I don't feel it working except when they are doing testing.  

Hang in there.  It gets better.  

Still feel it kickin

by Kellayann - 2017-11-29 21:47:33

I've felt mine from the very start and still feel it when it kicks in. I got my dual chamber implant at 20 years old. 9 years later and it still reminds me it's there. My doc and technicians say some feel it some dont, but it does get less noticeable over time.I used to stop eveyrthing I was doing when it kicked in- it'll get better. Think of it as a reminder or a happy awareness to your bodies ability to adapt.