Palpatations

I had a St. Jude CRT-P implanted :March 2019. I’ve felt so much better. However about a week ago I started having occasional palpitations and shortness of breath.  No where as severe as prior to pacer. Is this unusual and should I be concerned?


5 Comments

Concerned?

by AgentX86 - 2019-05-31 21:15:00

I would be "concerned" but not panicked.  That is, it's something to have checked out but it's not an emergency.  I would try to capture them with the remote monitor so your doctors can figure out what's happening.  Your PM might capture them anyway (mine doesn't capture PVCs unless there is a string of at least five without a normal beat).  So, if you can't do a remote interrogation when they're happening, you can try an upload anyway.  Of course your EP/cardiologist should know about your palpatations in any case.

BTW, my bigeminy PVCs started about the same time (3 months after implant).

Palpatations

by davbrn1765 - 2019-05-31 21:39:24

I just posted on recurring symptoms with myself. Based on experience, I don't think these devises are fool proof. Its good to have it, but it is also unatural to the body. Make sure you have regularly scheduled checkups with your PM rep. It may be that a tweeking is needed on your devise. I am still waiting on my first office check up with Biotronic. My in home monitor says ok, but I feel better when the rep actually checks it. Good luck.

Fool proof?

by AgentX86 - 2019-05-31 23:57:29

Well, nothing made by man is but I hope they're "good enough".  ;-)  I wouldn't survive long without mine (dependent with no escape rhythm).  If your monitor says it's OK, it's almost surely OK (at least not a faulty lead).  No doubt that you have something going on that should be looked at but it's not likely the PM.  Ask for a PM clinic appointment.  You should be able to get in fairly quickly.  If I wanted to go to the hospital (downtown), I could get in tomorrow.  I usually go to my cardiologist's office but they only run the clinic on Fridays, so... 

Note t self: I need to make an appointment to get my clock moved to DST.

Don't hit the panic button yet

by Gotrhythm - 2019-06-01 15:03:46

The important sentence in your post is "No where near as severe as prior to the pacemaker."

The pacer doestn't "fix" your heart. It just supplies beats that your heart doesn't. And it will not correct palpitations. If you had them before, you'll likely have them post-pacer. Also it will do nothing to cure heart disease.

Shortness of breath is another matter. Lots of causes for SOB that the heart might not be responsible for. Agree with Agent X. I'd be concerned but not panicked.

If you do not have a pulse-oxymeter, you might want to get one. Palpitations can throw off the accuracy of the heart rate count, but you can trust the O2. It will tell you if the feeling of SOB is accompanied by a measureable drop in oxygenation. Then you will have real data to take to your doctor.

Shortness of Breath

by TomL56 - 2019-06-02 10:49:13

Are you taking a blood thinner? I had a similar reaction weeks after my “first vent” and it was due to the medication I was taking. I had a PM and a heart stent put in 2.5 years ago.  Switched meds and felt fine after that.

Good Luck!

Tom

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