CRT-D Implant Question

Joining the club on Monday

by AgentX86 - 2018-08-18 12:04:53

No, you shouldn't feel the pulses. Some do, initially, because they tend to crank up the energy for the first month, until the heart becomes accustomed to be paced.  After that you shouldn't feel anything other than a normal heartbeat (usually nothing). It's very unusual but there is a possibility of something going wrong (leads break or positioned wrong) and you get a stimulation outside the heart.  This is rare and has to be corrected. If you feel anything, you need to bring it to the attention of your medical team (EP or PM tech).  It almost always just requires a minor tweak to the pacemaker settings but there is a very small chance it's serious.  Something to be aware of but it's highly unlikely.

You *will* feel it if the cardioverter fires.  It ruins the whole day for my brother (I have a CRT-P, so no defib capability).  It beats the alternative, though.

Puting it under the muscle sounds like a good idea but I think the recovery is a lot more difficult, since they have to disturb muscle, rather than just skin. Mine is just under the skin and, after six months, it's still sensitive to the touch and after exercise I have some pain in the pecs on that side.  I've had some pain there since I had the CABG surgery but the PM has made it somewhat worse.

Good luck Monday and be sure to come back and tell us how it all went.

thanks

by lefty2 - 2018-08-18 12:29:14

I appreciate the information. I just want the procedure  over with at this point. Hopefullty the recovery will be speedy.

feeling the pacing

by Tracey_E - 2018-08-19 12:40:43

You should not feel it. The pulse it sends is itty bitty, mimicking the signal the heart should be sending on its own. They will turn in it down at 4-6 weeks once the heart has a chance to get used to being paced and the leads have settled in, but even turned up it's still a very small signal. 

Feeling the pacing

by Queen50 - 2018-08-22 00:05:29

No I do not feel anything. I had mine implanted in March of this year although I didn’t get mine under the muscle. Best wishes. 

pacing

by dorothys56 - 2018-08-22 22:12:17

I just had my CRT-D inserted a week ago and for the first time I felt the pacing. It was very subtle and reminded me of the butterfly fluttering I used to feel before I had the implant. This felt a little faster and definitely not as pronounced,  but still took me by surprise! My 1st appt at the cardio implant clinic is at the end of Sept, so from what is being posted, I imagine they will make an adjustment. Strange sensation nonetheless.