Electric Shocks

For about 7 months I suffered from, critical elecrtric shocks in my heart at night.  They came in a series.  I learnt later that the trigger for this was rolling on my side when I slept. I ended up building a box to sleep in to keep me lying on my back only.

Felt like the shocks brought me to feel like death was imminent. The shocks were like constant electric thrusting into my heart and lasted for an average of about 5 seconds  then a break until the next one.

I have resistance from the Hospital as to acknowledging or believing this chronic symptom. There is much more I can say and discus as to the wiring and the implant itself.  This refers to the fitting of my first pacemaker.

Can anyone out there help me with similar experiences and any cures that may have followed?

At the moment it seems that I am stuck for life with dreadful symptoms that no amount of PM adjustment can cure.  


3 Comments

Shocks

by Theknotguy - 2019-07-11 13:34:03

Unfortunately you live in the UK so options I could give you in the US probably won't work in the UK.  And I do understand your frustration.  

I'm one of the extremely rare individuals who can feel my afib.  Good because I know when I'm in afib.  Bad, because I know when I'm in afib.  Afib with RVR is no picnic.  What this also meant was post pacemaker implant and while they had the voltage set at a higher rate I could sometimes feel the tickle of the electric shock followed by the hard thump of my heartbeat.  It would sometimes wake me up at night.  About 60 - 90 days or so with the pacemaker and they dropped the voltage.  So I don't feel the shocks as often.  Now it's usually when something is going on with my heart and the pacemaker is responding.  So, yes, some people can feel the electrical shocks. The shocks weren't really that bad and they happen only occasionally now so I can live with the situation.  

In the US I'd suggest you go to your medical insurance provider and ask for a case manager.  With our medical insurance they have a team of doctors and nurses who can offer advice and make recommendations.  I don't know if the UK has anything like that, but if I were in your case, I'd be asking to talk with the big guns to see if they can do anything for you.  Based upon your description, your life doesn't have the best quality and it's hard to live that way.  Yes, you are alive, but.....

At the moment that's all I can offer.  Perhaps some of the UK members will chime in and have an alternative solution for you.  My wish is that things will get turned around quickly.

jolts

by ROBO Pop - 2019-07-12 13:21:16

 

God, where do some people get this garbage. As one of over 30 million people who enjoy Atrial Fibrillation, I can attest that feeling the irregular beats is the most common symptom we deal with and can be quite annoying. I don't know a precise number of patients who feel it. But for sure that is in the millions. Hardly think that makes it extremely rare. Still I have no idea why A-Fib was even broached in answer to your question. Maybe we should sddtess other ailments like hemmorthoids as well?

I've had devices for 13 years and still feel that slight tingle, which could be easily mistaken as electic shock, nearly every time I lay on my left side. It has to do with a change in pressure, not pacing. I'm paced 100% in both Ventricals so why would I only get shocks when I lay on my side?

Most people are progrsmmed for demand pacing and their pacer rarely kicks on as ondicated on their interrogation reports. It'll ususlly say pacing <1%. If thats the case with you it's almost certain you're not even pacong when this occurs.

You can always ask them to turn the pacing way down and see if you still experience it but I seriously doubt it has to do with your device

Just because you don't understand what's happening doesn't mean it's your pacer

Reply to Answers.

by Wolfy - 2019-07-16 10:38:22

Thank you for your replies I can only say that the feelings of shock are entirely subjective and known only to the patient suffering the terrible symptons.  I do not think it wise to use your own symptoms to deride of even deny the suffering of others.

I keep this post open seeking genuine help or advice from any one who has suffered silmar agonies as I have, which brought me very close to death I may add.

Thank you Theknotguy for your interesting answer and to that I can say my original pacemaker was fitted in a way that allowed it to move condiderably in the pocket it was set into at the time. This pacemaker movement was rapid when I was at work because of regular action of the arm and chest muscles.

The electrocutions came at night wilst turning on my side during sleep. Obviously when the heart was subject to different presures within the body. These were paralysing in nature and ecruciating as if the heart was being held in a grip wrang out and squeezed. I wonder if anyone suffered similar.  The electic shock symptom vanished after a new pacemaker was fitted. 

Wolfy 

You know you're wired when...

You have rhythm.

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Your anxiety is normal. It takes some of us a little time to adjust to the new friend. As much as they love you, family and friends without a device just cannot understand the adjustment we go through. That is why this site is so valuable.