Heart skipping and jumping after new pacemaker

Hi,
I am a new pacemaker club member. I got a pacemaker for Christmas this year- unexpected and not really wanted except I had no choice. I got to under go surgery twice as the first day, the upper lead didn't stay put. Back into surgery the next day and after some time they got it to stay. I guess that only happens in 1-5% of the patients. Lucky me. I am home now and recovering and my question to everyone who has gone through this is-
is it normal to have heart palpatations, skipped beat feeling or a flutter about every 20 or 30 seconds? It is driving me batty. I don't know if it is the pacer or my heart just not liking the wires in it. I sort of had the same thing for a few months after my gallbladder came out in 2005. They said my vagus nerve (not sure if I spelled that right) that runs near the heart and esophogus was irritated from the surgery. I suppose that could be the same thing again. Should I call the pacemaker clenic and report it? I just had it in the 18th so I haven't even had my first check up yet. Thanks for your help in advance, I am glad to have found you all. Vicki

5 Comments

Welcome.....

by Angelie - 2009-01-05 03:01:30

Your body's still got some adjusting to do. The leads are still getting fixed into your heart tissue, and your heart is still getting adjusted to having these wires in your chambers. It'll take a while for your body, as a whole, to adjust.
If you have any questions at all, you shouldn't hesitate to call your pacemaker clinic. You now are one of the elite pacemaker patients, and follow-up is one of the most important issues with pacemakers. It's all a part of the total package, and it's what you paid for.
For some reason, doctors felt you needed a pacemaker. We all get them for different reasons. The most common reason for pacemaker placement is bradycardia, or a slow heart-rate. Pacemakers do not, unfortunately, prevent or cure palpitations, and sometimes can cause them to become worse. That is why it's very important to tell your pacemaker doctor/clinic of any symptoms that you're having. Pacemakers also do not cure atrial fib, or flutter, but I don't know if you have that or not.
It can take MANY months to get the pacemakers programmed correctly to fit your lifestyle and your individual needs.
Please take care of yourself, do be patient, keep your doctor informed of any problems that you're having, and welcome to this site.
-Angelie

new pm

by arty - 2009-01-05 04:01:05

Hi sandy, I got mine New Years Eve. [ the town even put on a fireworks display for me ] No problems yet but still a bit stiff in the R shoulder.
Arty in Oz

Heart skipping

by rsample - 2009-01-05 08:01:11

Hello Sandy,
I am 49 and have had my pacemaker for just over a year. I also had a lot of flutter at first. It is now not a problem. Give it some time and of course alert your doctor.
Rob

Dr should help...

by Jade - 2009-01-07 12:01:56

If your vagus nerve was irritated and it is causing you to be uncomfortable or have anxiety, a Dr. should prescribe an anti-anxiety medication.

You need to be healing, not feeling something every 20 seconds.

From reading about vagus stimulation, I would bet that would make you feel yuccky.

I got mine on Dec 19, 1 day after you! How are you doing? I started back to work Monday and I think that it was too soon.

Could be this??

by Katie - 2009-02-04 01:02:59

Hi Vicki,
I too got my pacemaker for Christmas.
I have been getting the same feelings (skipping beat etc.) I am still looking into things with my Pacemaker clinic but one thing that they did adjust for me was this... The computer in the pacemaker was set to "test" my heart every so often. The ventrical lead would let my heart skip a beat, then correct, then four minutes later do the same. This was set to happen several times a day... They have turned this setting off for me as my heart is completely reliant on the pacemaker. They also adjusted the low and high settings. This seemed to help my symptoms somewhat.
Katie

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