new pain

My PM went in on the 23rd. It will be 3 weeks on Tuesday. I am having some pretty intense pain on the inside where the leads attach to the PM. I am farely thin & you can see the bumps where they attach. It is a constant 3 on the pain scale that jumps to a 6 or a 7 when I move sometimes or when it is bumped. There is no swelling, redness, pus, or anything that would show signs of infection. It is just very tender on the inside, and only on the edge where the leads attach to the PM, the rest of it is fine. Hardly any pain at all. It has been this was for 2 or 3 days, should I be concerned or is it a normal part of the healing process? Thanks! =)
Jessi

7 Comments

hi

by pacergirl - 2010-03-14 09:03:33

I went through this with my very first pacemaker. I was also quite thin and had no padding what so ever. It hurt a lot. But after a period of time my body created a padding around the pacemaker and the lead connections and I quit hurting. It was so bad at first that I would actually bruise myself. It took some time, but it did stop hurting.
PG

I can relate Jessi

by Dwight - 2010-03-14 10:03:33

Hi Jessi that sounds just like me. I have had mine for 2 months now and it still hurts. I am steadily adding more strenuous activites while at the same time listening to my body and understanding my limits as I make my progression. From what I see after reading on here is that we need to give it at least 6 months before it starts feeling normal in there, especially with a low body fat content. However, if it really starts to hurt you bad or something just doesn't feel right, be safe and go have it checked out. They call this minor surger with minor pain, Ha Ha Ha, I wish they could wear mine a few days.
Take care,
Dwight

New Pain

by harley63 - 2010-03-14 11:03:09

Hi Jessi,

Do what your gut instinct tells you to do. If going to have it checked out makes more sense than not.. then get going!! It can simply be part of the healing process and it could be something more. Hopefully you have a followup appt soon with the MD??

Please keep us updated on how your doing.

Cheering for you..
Harley63

Phases of healing

by ElectricFrank - 2010-03-14 11:03:24

It's been 8 weeks since my replacement and the incision has been a bit red and irritable the last few days. I noticed that clothing rubbing against would let me know. So I got out my trusty magnifying glass and took a close look. Sure enough there are the top edges of black stitches showing. So I used a pair of tweezers to gently pull on some of them and they came out. Today most of the redness is gone.

I had this happen at about 3-4 weeks as well. I remember the cardio mentioning something when I was in OR about internal stitches. My guess is that the internal ones take longer to partially dissolve and surface. They can then snag on clothing and irritate the area.

With a new implant there is also the internal damage to tissue where the pocket was made. Muscle activity can force the pacemaker body into the edge of the pocket and it hurts. The rough edges where the leads attach are even worse.

Keep in mind that a reasonable amount of inflammation around an injury like the incision is a good sign that your body is dealing with the assault. It will all settle down in time, but even then you will move in some way that lets you know.

You have an advantage being thin. If an infection occurs you will be able to see and feel it sooner.

best wishes,

frank

excerise

by pamila51 - 2010-03-14 11:03:51

Hi I have had my pc since 9-16-09 is it safe for me to do upper cardo exerise ? Also another question which has nothinf to do with exercise my pc rate is set at 60 my pulse rate goes anywhere from 64 to in the 80's is this normal, I am not doing anything strengous either
Pam

excerise

by pamila51 - 2010-03-14 11:03:59

Hi I have had my pc since 9-16-09 is it safe for me to do upper cardo exerise ? Also another question which has nothinf to do with exercise my pc rate is set at 60 my pulse rate goes anywhere from 64 to in the 80's is this normal, I am not doing anything strengous either
Pam

Pain Issue

by timberhitch - 2010-03-15 12:03:21

Hi Jessi,

I posted before on the pain issue last Wednesday (the 10th)(Surgery Again). Though my pain may be different than yours, it might be something to talk to your doctor about if you still have the pain down the road. Hopefully, my last surgery to move the leads and reposition the internal stitching will solve my problem but it is too early to tell. Good Luck to you.

Timberhitch

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