Symptoms if lead breaks? and a zapping effect in middle of night

Hi all. New member to club - 61 yo female who was very active.  Had 2nd degree AV block diagnosed in March.  St. Jude 3 lead installed while on a holiday in Ireland 5 weeks ago after progressed to 3rd degree and heart rate dropped 30 and below.  Followed all restrictions last 5 weeks and had check-up back in States.  All okay.  Except my brain as I think I may be manifesting this stuff but here goes.  I felt a big time "zapping" effect in my heart area in the middle of the night last night which woke me up.  I don't have the defib, just pacer, so it concerned me.  Also when I woke up, I realized I was laying with my left arm above my head and I felt a dull pain in my arm.  I went back to the gym 2 weeks ago with NO upper body and then on doctors approval, started yesterday with some minor weight and pressure to the upper body.  Anyone out there ever had a zapping?  What are the symptoms if a lead breaks?  Thanks all. 

3 Comments

broken leads

by Tracey_E - 2017-11-29 11:10:15

Interesting choice of vacation souvenir! Sorry your vacation was interrupted. 

It's highly unlikely a lead has been dislodged from anything you did, esp this far from surgery. If it were to happen, you'd feel like you did before you were paced. When in doubt, give them a call and ask to have the pacer interrogated, or if you have a home monitor hit the button to initiate a download then give them a call so they know to look for it. 

More likely what you're feeling is the nerves knitting back together as things heal, tho that's usually more around the incision and pocket than in the heart. 

Thanks Much

by Moglow - 2017-11-29 12:10:33

I suspected as much and because I'm relatively new I think my level of awareness is heightened and out of whack.  Yes, great souvenir!  They were FANTASTIC over there at Cork University Hospital!  Thanks much for your experience and words. 

Sensations

by Moglow - 2017-11-30 10:18:40

Thanks Robin1.  I am back to working upper body, not yet full on capacity, but you're right in that it's important to get back the motion.  Thanks again. 

You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

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