Anyone allergic to pacemaker?
Has anyone ever been allergic to the metal incasing the pacemaker? What are your symptoms. Thanks.
2 Comments
PM alergy!
by donb - 2010-07-10 06:07:08
I searched that subject thoroughly as my 3rd PM was giving me site problems. It didn't feel like a good fit andhad more pain than privious replacement. I had puffy area on the top of that PM, right where the terminals attach to PM body. Over the period of about a year this puffy (scar tissue) built up around the PM with itching & pain.
I was doing Cardiac Therapy doing a lot of arm exercising which only agrivated the problem. My cardiologist just said to wait & see. Well, Medtronic & St. Jude offered allergy test kits which showed allergy to soft plastics as used for lead terminals. Well soon after a dark area showed up near the top terminals which is the beginning of erosion. It was very important for PM removal as infection can be very serious. I was put on Cipro antibiotic before, during & post removal with no infection.
My left site was such a mess as the leads & excess coiled up with the terminals eroded again.
As I had a complete right chest 4th PM installed with new leads after being without for 2 months. I had restoration done by Plastic Surgeon twice on my old site. They cut the excess leads and terminals off and did a padded reconstruction (only because I insisted). After months things got back to normal. All in all I believe once scar tissure gets building up and with constant irritation along with maybe a poor fit was my condition to cause all this.
Might also mention that one of my original leads had a slight insulation fracture when that 3rd PM was installed
which very well could also started the erosion. Go back on Search as there's other postings on this subject which I should have used and speeded up my treatment and no Dr. is ever going to call me a Wimp again. BE carefull not to get infection going!!! And, Good Luck! donb
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allergic
by Pookie - 2010-07-09 08:07:52
Hi.
I am pretty sure there have been a few cases on the subject you are referring to - if you use the search feature you might find some information there.
But I'm pretty sure someone will answer your post soon, the site has been kind of quiet the last few days.
Take care,
Pookie