Hello,

Thank you for your query.

Stressful dreams can result in an increase in the heart rate and BP. Depending on how the defibrillator/pacemaker has been programmed, sometimes this can be interpreted by the device as an arhhythmia and the device responds initially by pacing the heart and later by giving a shock internally to restore the heart's normal rhythm.

However, the burning pain felt over the site of the device may not be related to this process. It could also have been a nonspecific muscular pain.

The device can be interrogated by telemetry at the centre where it was implanted. The event, if any, would be stored in the memory of the device and the exact problem can be easily identified. If there was an actual arrhythmia precipitated by the stressful dream, then the pacemaker's response to the arrhythmia and the result also will be evident. If it was not a true arrhythmia, the device can be programmed to avoid misdiagnosis. Your husband may also benefit from optimization of the medicines to avoid increases in heart rate and BP. If no event has been recorded, then the whole episode is probably unrelated to any significant cardiac problem.

Thus, my advice would be to arrange for an interrogation of the device at the earliest.

I hope this answers your query. If you have any further clarifications, feel free to contact me again.

With regards,
Dr RS Varma

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