New pacemaker - ?Pulled leads.

[lifegoeson]

Hi,

I just had a pacemaker fitted 11 days ago and have found the info on here invaluable. It’s been a great source of comfort so thanks to everyone who posts.

I’m concerned this morning, because I woke up on lying on my front, leaning on my elbows, shoulders up to my ears and with my head sort of half on the pillow. No idea how I got into that position as it’s not one I would naturally be in.

When I woke up I felt a few short stabbing pains in my heart and am concerned that I’ve dislodged a lead. There were about 4-5 pains then it settled. My pulse was a constant 52 while it was going on. I still have random pain on the site of the pacemaker so it’s hard to know what’s new and what’s been there all along!

Has anyone else scared themselves by doing something similar and was it ok? 😬

[CDreamer]

You need a chest X-ray asap to tell. See your doctor or ring 111.

I’m not going to give you assurances that I am not qualified to give but will offer personal experience.

I had a pulled LV lead & had to have a revision - the sooner that’s done the better. Mine took 6 months to arrange and it was not fun.

Hopefully this has not happened to you - but get it checked!

[lifegoeson in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for your reply. I’ll try some of the numbers they’ve given me to call if I have concerns. Not great being the weekend! 😬

[lifegoeson in reply to CDreamer]

What did it feel like when you had the pulled lead?

[CDreamer in reply to lifegoeson]

my lead started to trigger my diaphragm- so badly it was like having really strong hiccups so that I couldn’t breath. I contacted the pacemaker clinic who saw me almost immediately and switched that lead off. The LV lead is the one most likely to disconnect. What type of Pacemaker have you got? 2 or 3 leads?

[lifegoeson in reply to CDreamer]

Sounds pretty scary! Glad you got it sorted out and great you got it dealt with promptly.

Mine is a 2 lead Medtronic - no idea which model.

[CDreamer in reply to lifegoeson]

It’s the third lead which is more likely to dislodge as the two RA & RV leADS are both placed inside the heart in a different way but I still think it needs checking out.

[lifegoeson]

I called Coronary Care and they said, by my symptoms, they don’t think I’ve pulled a lead out. Luckily they’re there if my symptoms change or if I need more advice. Hoping that will be it 😬

[BobD Volunteer]

Personal opinion is go to A and E and get a chest Xray to check. I had chest pains (actually on rght side)a few weeks after mine and went to GP who sent me straight to A and E with a letter. They did X ray said all OK and likely muscular skeletal and sent me home with painkillers.

[baba]

Please get it checked. If the lead has moved and gets embedded in the wrong place it needs sorting asap.

[lifegoeson]

Thanks for all the great advice! It’s settled and I’m asymptomatic but I’ll still get it checked - definitely not worth missing something obvious for a bit of inconvenience!

[Suesouth]

I had mine fitted in December, it was painful for several weeks and even now I still get twinges! As long as you do t lift your arms above your shoulders it should be ok!

[bassets]

Let us know how it goes? Best wishes.

[Deejay62]

I use to get that twitching on my diaphragm and I was told it was the device hitting a nerve they sad it’s not dangerous it’s just annoying. They would do adjustments if it happens all the time.

Contact your device clinic, I assume you’re under one, and speak to them about your symptoms. I was told to go up and see them on that day when it kept happening to me. Things have changed so I don’t know if it’s still the same. I have a 3 way lead. I hope it gets sorted out.

[Hdev]

I also have a 2 lead Medtronic PM,,,at the first checkup 3 mos after placement,,,the tech discovered the bottom lead in the ventricle had dislodged somehow and was just hanging and nonfunctional,,,my EP decided to leave it that way rather than do a revision and repair it,,,I now pace if Pulse goes below 60 with just the upper lead,,,something I am not happy about,,I swear the occasional pinches and stabs I get are from that dangling lead but the EP says No,,,,my imagination? Who knows,,,ai just feel it was a botched job because my PM has moved almost into my armpit at this point and I also have pinching under my collarbone where the wire routes,,,it’s been 3 years this way! I hope yours turns out better,,please have it checked!

[lifegoeson in reply to Hdev]

I’m sorry to hear you’ve had such a bad experience. We all just hope that the pacemaker is going to be the solution to our problems but seems it’s not guaranteed. Hope they decide to review it for you soon. It doesn’t seem to be helping you much just now.

[lifegoeson]

Update.

Thanks for all the great advice. I really appreciate all the replies.

I contacted CCU and they weren’t worried, I contacted my Gp twice and they weren’t worried. However, I couldn’t get the thought out of my mind that something was amiss so I contacted the Medtronic technician. She got me to reset the Carelink Relay Communicator thingy and called me back when the info came through. No abnormal readings, no indication that a lead was out of place which is good news. I’m due to go in for the ablation on Monday so they can look a bit closer then. Still getting odd pains but everyone thinks it’s just the tissues settling. It’s not the walk in the park I was hoping it was going to be 😂