Hi
My Medtronic dual chamber pacemaker was implanted on 4th Feb 08 for secondary heart block. Since the implant I haven't felt good - very tired, breathless, racing pulse with only slight exertion and feeling my heart pounding in my neck and chest all the time. My cardiologist seems to want to find all sort of reasons for me feeling like this, other than the PM. I would stress that I had NONE of these symptoms before the PM implant just some palpitations which is why I had the 24hr ECG, which showed up problems only during the night. Have had all sort of tests - xrays, lung function, CT scan of my lungs. exercise ECG - all normal. Also had an angiogram just before PM implant and my arteries are fine.
At my first PM check this week, the technician reluctantly talked to me about the rate response switch - which had been switiched on at the low level. At first he decided to he was going to turn it up to medium - but to me this just did not make sense as it seemed like it would make my pulse go faster! Anyway he then decided he would turn it off. Doesn't sound too scientific! Since then my breathing has improved and I seem to be much less breathless but not quite back to normal but I have probably lost fitness over the last seven weeks because I have been in slow motion. During my PM check I noticed that the pouding in my chest had stopped and my breathing was much easier so I asked what he had done and he said that everything was turned down (off) and he was surprised I had noticed. Well I did and it felt like the old me for a few minutes! By the way the PM had been pacing less than 5% split between the two chambers.
Sorry this is so long. So really I am asking a question about the PM settings and can something be done to stop this horrible pounding in my neck (just above my throat) and the flutterings in my chest?
Sue