This is my first time on this website. I originally had a pacer implanted in 2001 for neurocardiogenic syncope. I was 21. I just had it replaced along with a new lead put in because the old lead was faulty. There were numerous complications during the surgery (that last almost 4 hours), the biggest being finding the actual pacemaker to replace it. They ended up making a second 5 inch incision on my left breast and digging about 5 inches down to find it. The surgery was about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I'm still in a lot of pain, but the surgeon seems to think that i should be in no pain at all anymore. He also told me that he took no precautions to ensure that the pacer did migrate again. I bounced back from the first pacemaker surgery, returned to college immediately and never thought twice about having a pacer at such a young age. This one is entirely different. I'm in constant pain, still bruised and swollen and I think I'm suffering from depression. Has anyone else had these problems?

 

 

Dear Jen.

I can't believe what you just had to endure. Hugs. Hugs. Hugs. Hugs. Hugs.

This 2nd surgery, did the same doctor do it? Why couldn't they simply look at a chest Xray to see where it was BEFORE they started digging???

I'm assuming your 1st pacer was under the muscle somewhere deep within your breast???

And your doctor telling you that you should not be in pain? What planet is he from? My gawd girl...run and get a 2nd opinion asap.

I too had a lot of complications with my pacemaker, but instead of typing it all out here, it is in the Pulse Newsletter which is up in the upper right hand corner of this screen. I was featured in their last issue!!!!

Depression....my middle name was depression for a very very long time. It is only human/normal to be depressed and/or anxious after experiencing what you went thru....most people have some kind of depression or anxiety after having a device implanted. If you think you need help with this, perhaps you should talk to your family doctor. They are there to help you and will certainly understand.

All I can tell you or suggest to you is get that second opinion and remember: you just found a group of people who will jump right in to help and support you.

Stay strong.

Pookie

 

The doctor that originally put in my pacer was in WI, where I am from. I moved to another state when I went to law school so now I have a different doctor. My doctor wasn't able to do my replacement surgery because she was in Haiti helping with the earthquake victims. So the doctor that actually ended up doing my surgery, I only met the day OF my surgery.

They did do a chest xray but according to the doctor, could not tell how far down it really was. The pacer had fallen down into my breast. And he said that was the reason for the second incision and all the digging. He gave me prescription pain pills for the first 5 days and then said that if I needed more then that, that I obvously was addiction to them because no one should need them longer then that. This was two seconds after he said that my surgery was the second most complicated of his 20+ year career.

I go back to my doctor on the 16th and cannot wait to grill her. Whether of not I'll be able to last that long just taking motrin remains to be seen.

I just keep thinking, this was supposed to be a simple surgery with me back at work in just a few days. It's been 2 1/2 weeks and I'm only planning on going back to work on Monday partial days and I'm not even sure I will be able handle that.

My original pacemaker surgery had its problems too, the numbing medicine part of the conscious sedation didn't work...I felt everything. This time they put me under general.

 

That is so crazy. I am so sorry for what you had to go through. That sounds really ruff. I hope you feel better and you do not have to go through anything like this again.

 

Welcome ~ you should never have had to endure what you have gone through. In this modern world, and we definitely are not a third world country, you should be given a large explanation of the complications you are having and went through. Undoubtedly, this is a male Dr. without "boobs". "Dug five inches down? Why didn't he go from the underside up? Wonder if he would become "addictive" to pain meds. if someone "dug" around his "private parts" for hours? Of course, your Dr. will have to "stand" behind this doctor since they are in the same "cahoots" (office)?

I get so sick and tired of other people or "they" telling me what I feel, what I should take/not take. If you have a "gut" feeling and know your own body, your doctor should appreciate whatever you tell her and what you have had to endure in pain.

So sorry this has happened to a fellow human. I don't think they even treat "lab animal species" like you were treated!

Hang in there, warm, good wishes to you along with a lot of huge bear hugs ~ Carolyn G. in TEXAS ( :

 

Thank you to all of you for your comments and support. I have hope that my doctor will listen to me because she has in the past when I wasn't please with a dr who saw me when she wasn't there. What bugs me the most is that trying to ask this man questions and get an answer impossible. And I'm a lawyer...I ask questions for a living!
I don't know why anything was done the way it was, all I know is that it was and I hurt A LOT!
And Carolyn...please send some of that warm weather from Texas up to cold, snowy Iowa!!

 

Hi, I guess your message would ruffle anyone's feathers. It sure sounds like the usual lack of coordination of pre-surgery paperwork. No way should you be handled that way. I had a 4 1/2 hour back surgery with some complications as it had to be done without a MRI because of PM. The followup by the Drs & hosptial staff was excellant, even called me at home on a Holiday by my Anethesist

I would be very carefull and follow up with "your" record of progress and also of pre-surgery X-rays. With your vocation I shouldn't even mention - - - - -. Good Luck in your recovery!! donb

 

Hi Jen,

I will just comment on pain. This Tuesday will be six weeks since my surgery. My complication was after my first implantation on the day before a lead somehow was dislodged and they had to do it over again. Two days, two surgeries. During the second, I was very uncomfortable due to the pain which they tried to compensate for but to no success.

I was in pain for the first five weeks and I consider myself to be in fairly good shape due to the nature of my retirement job - lots of physical work. My doctor did not hesitate to allow me pain medication (fortunately) and finally this past week I have been able to ease off of them. There was no way that I would have been able to go back to work.

With the ordeal that you had to go through, I am really surprised at his attitude. I can understand what you are experiencing with pain. Depending what was cut during the surgery affects the amount of pain you have and seeing as people are different, some suffer more than others. You and I seem to be in the pain group.

From my experience, patience was the hardest part because I thought the pain should have subsided earlier - but it didn't. It does get better, however, and now I am finally beginning to feel relief. Time heals all as they say. I hope your relief arrives soon - it will.

Timberhitch from Wisconsin

 

Thank you for all of your comments. I ended up in the ER on Sunday afternoon when a friend took me to urgent care because I couldn't stop crying from the pain. Urgent care took one look at me and sent me straight to the ER. The ER doctor was great. She got the pain under control (got to love morphine) and took a chest xray (now actually know where the pacer is now) and also did an ultrasound of my breast because she was worried of clots. Everything came back clear. But I told her what the surgeon said about pain pills. And she said that was the stupidest thing she'd ever heard. And then said the thought of what they did to me made her knees buckle and she didn't understand how anyone could be expected to heal without pain pills. It was nice to be validated and to get some pain relief. She also suggested I follow up with my family dr for pain management because obviously the surgeon isn't going to help me. So I have an appointment to see her on Thursday.

And I just made it worse today when I slipped on the ice outside my house and landed full force on my left side. I am so ready for spring!!!

Thank you all for your support. It really means so much to have people who actually understand what I'm going through. I'm so glad I found this site!
Jennie