Flutters and Pain
My symptoms were that sometimes I would feel like I was passing out but never fully did. Would wake up suddenly in the middle of the night thinking I was passing out and having a hard time breathing and not throwing up. Doctor suggested I wear a collar monitor for a couple of weeks. She received the report and called to tell me to get to the ER immediately. I guess I had pauses lasting up to 10 seconds a couple of times a day. I had no idea I had a problem. I consider myself so lucky as this had been going on for a few months. They implanted a Medtronic Micra (ventricular pacemaker) at the end of January. A few days ago I went for my device checkup. It was not a pleasant experience thought my heart was jumping out of my throat. Anyway since that day my blood pressure went up and remains high compared to previous records. There are times during the day I feel my heart thumping and some pain in the middle of my breastbone. If there is anyone here that has the same device can you tell me if this is normal. They say the device self checks every day but I have not noticed a pattern of when it does this. Would appreciate chatting with someone with same device and issues.
4 Comments
Thank you Gotrhythm
by RoseO - 2018-03-19 13:44:25
Thank you for responding to my question. It helped to learn that others feel or felt the same way I did with the checkup. I am such a novice with this experience and had to research what PVCs meant duh! I will certainly mention it to my doctor next visit. Again thank you for taking the time to write.
Glad I could help
by Gotrhythm - 2018-03-20 16:04:20
This group has been here for me, more than once, providing answers, and occasionally asking questions that helped me take the next step.
Not surprised you didn't know about PVCs. Not many people do who haven't had them. :-)
Hello! I have a Micra too.
by Lana - 2018-03-22 01:27:48
I was fitted with a Micra Feb 26. I too had very slow heart rate with fainting. My heart stopped during a tilt test. It has almost been a month. Feeling much better, I will have my first adjustment in two weeks. When I was still in the hospital after having it put in, a Medtronic rep came in to see me. She placed a device over my device and I could feel it big time! Kinda freaked me out. She said it was safely in place and working as it should. The first two weeks, I couldn't stop taking my blood pressure, every little twitch or pain had me in a panic. Today, i am better. Some days I can feel it more than others. I drink lots of water. NO coffee/caffeine, and I eat decent. If you would like to ask me anything, send me a message. I have found only a couple of people who have the micra. I understand your concern and need for communication! Stay positive, this club is incredible and very reassuring.
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99% of the time, I totally forget I even have this device.
Device checkup
by Gotrhythm - 2018-03-19 13:18:55
I don't have a Medtronic Micra. I have a St Jude pacmaker, but I've had experience similar to yours.
My first device checkup was a nightmare. It turns out that I feel--big time--every little step they go through. There are no words to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it how it feels to have someone else controlling your heartbeat, and unfortunately, the tech was new at the job. She had no idea there were people like me, and I didn't know most people feel nothing. My protests just made her feel threatened. I left so upset, I swore never to return--which looking back wasn't really the best way to deal with the problem.
After six years I've been through a lot of interrogations. I finally found a tech who realized I really did feel what he was doing and it really was unpleasant. He added a note to tell all future device techs about the problem. Today, I don't like it but it's okay, however I will have more PVCs for a while afterward.
You heart thumping? It's possible you are having PVCs. Cardiologists don't consider them a problem, and it isn't uncommon to have them, or have more of them, after a pacemaker. Sometimes I experience a brief sharp pain in the middle of the chest when I have one.
Over the years dealing with cardiologists I have found that the more direct and specific my questions, the better answers I receive. Tell you doctor what you are experiencing. Ask if what you are feeling are PVCs.
Hope this helps.