Hiccups and shortness of breath

• by fullercm
• 2023-08-14 11:55:21
• Complications
• 323 views
• 2 comments

HI Everyone

I had my BiV pacemaker put in June 1 this year so 2 1/2 months post op.  The last couple of weeks I had a recurrence of shortness of breath when bending over and also I could not seem to stop myself from lifting which also caused some problems with shortness of breath and pain under the ribs.  Then I stopped lifting etc but found that I continued to have this pain in my diaphragm and I could not catch my breath at times.  I know when my anxiety kicks in and this is not anxiety, not at first anyway.  My anxiety  has been pretty good over the last few months and I would get easily overwhelmed and then could not catch my breath, like it was being blocked in my chest.  I would have to work hard to calm my diaphragm area to relax it andjust allow myself to breath calmly.  So, this week I am not experiencing this.  But the last few days I have been experiencing hiccups - three times yesterday, a couple of times the day before that, and once the day before that.  I very seldom ever get hiccups.  Have not had them for months.  I am not feverish but do feel hot and flushed from time to time over the last week.  Should I be concerned?  Concern is endocarditis (secondary concern is phrenic nerve being too close to the wire perhaps?).  Can endocarditis show up after two months?  At my 6 week checkup I asked for a cardiologist due to other symptoms and he wanted an echo and this showed a small amount of water on the heart.  Could these symptoms be a result of the water and perhaps water on the heart is increasing...  I know we are not doctors, but wondering if this sounds at all  like I am heading for a bigger infection or other problem. Thanks