Pain around pacemaker site

Oh dear...that sounds painful and frustrating, Dorothy. If I were you, I would to Emergency. They see people with heart issues immediately. Hopefully they call a cardiologist and that you are not just treated by a resident. Maybe go early in the morning on a weekday.

Dorothy, I agree with Robin that this is something that should not be ignored. Whether the cause is the pacemaker or not, cramping in the chest area requires attention.

I'm bringing fellow members @cmensinger @yoanne @exboater @eileena and @lmclaugh into this discussion. They all have experiences with pacemakers and may have some thoughts to add. You may also be interested in this discussion:

- Pacemaker recipients. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pacemaker-recipients/

Dorothy, have you considered getting a second opinion from another cardiologist? If the cramping continues, I too recommend going to the ER.

Just this week I have decided to pursue a 2nd opinion. I have an app't with my PC and I want a 2nd opinion.

hello dorothy,
I definitely agree with the answers, you got.. I got my two chamber pacemaker 17 months ago. I had a check after 11 months. I was told everything o.k. At that moment they did not an echocardiography, otherwise they should have noticed that I was NOT o.k. I was developing a heart failure. I knew that I had a lot of A-Fib's (nothing to worry about, I was reassured).40 percent of the recipients have A-Fibs.)
These A-Fib's induced a ventricular arrhythmia. , leading to the heart failure. Like you it was very difficult to get an appointment. The nurse only found a date in MAY!!! So I had to wait 4 months. My family doctor got an earlier date. I had to wait ONLY 2 weeks. Honestly said, I was an emergency. I learned that a pacemaker can also cause problems or complications, so do not hesitate !!!
I did not have your discomfort around the site of implantation. In this context maybe an interesting tip (not for you). I am left handed, I was sedated before the implantation . The cardiologist did not discuss or explain, what he intended to do. otherwise I would have asked him to implant the device at the right site. a couple of weeks ago I had an unpleasent experience, I washed my curtains and put them back on the rails( correct american?), of course with my left hand. Afterwards I had a long period of irregular heart beats,( one hour.).
I hope you will get an answer soon.
yoanne.

@yoanne Thank you for sharing your experiences with a pacemaker. You have proven how important it is for patients to advocate for themselves and seek another opinion and/or to go to an ER if needed.

Hi @dorothynoz45,

How are you? Did you get any more insights after your appointment?

Kanaaz, I do apologize that I have waited so long to respond to your kind inquiry about my pm pain. Progress is slow, isn't it? An x-ray shows that I have AC joint arthritis. I have waited 3 weeks tomorrow to hear from a dr who is going to give me some kind of nerve ending tests. Next week I see an orthopedic dr The pain hasn't bothered me recently although I could hardly sit in church about 2 weeks ago because of it. It is definitely related to activity although the pain seems to be directly over my pacemaker site. I just can't figure and why did the pain start at the exact same time I received my pacemaker?

Thank you again for asking. It takes time and I'm going to guess that most of us are short on patience. Oops! I sure am.

I had a Medtronix pacemaker implanted in February 2019, so I am still getting used to it. Wondering if anyone has had sharp pain, stabbing pain at times, around the pacemaker site. It is not on the incision, rather it is "around" the site, especially near the shoulder and pec muscles. Feels like someone is stabbing me with a knife at times, and seems to generate in the area where I can feel where the lead attached to the pacemaker unit. My battery life has dropped significantly in my 4 months, and is now down to 4.5 years for replacement.

I had Medtronic implanted Sept.2018 at MayoClinic. I also have had sharp pains where you do..even into my shoulder. I still have achy feeling right over PM but sharper pains have diminished in past couple months. I always feel it.. it never lets me forget its there. My local EP even said she can’t imagine having a PM in her chest..wow...she realized immediately what she had just said to me!
As to being notified about MEDTRONIC warning...( mine is on list) my Mayo EP nor local EP notified me. I read it on a tweet in May from an EP at the HRS conference. My wireless reading shows an appropriate loss of battery so far. I am really nervous about a planned European trip later this year and won’t be taking my bedside wireless monitor. I have been reassured by Medtronic rep that when I get back home, it will download automatically precious days away from it. Easy for them to say !

I also have a medtronics PM, that is on the list....the last time I was at the cardio docs office, not a soul there knew anything about this fda warning until I handed to them....I actually had to force them to set up mine so it reports the battery use every 30 days....If I were to see a drop on battery life I think I would have to insist on changing this out. at their expense of course...good luck hope all works out for you.....