lead dislodging

Does anyone know if a dislodged lead can be sucked up thru the veins and along the armpit and down the arm? I was told to watch for uncontrolled hiccups, that may indicate a dislodged lead. i haven't raised my arm above my head, but have raised it to shoulder level, had pacemaker about a month now, and have something weird going on under my arm.

3 Comments

get it checked out

by Hot Heart - 2010-07-23 06:07:03

hi tracy welcome to the club, ive never heard of a lead being sucked up by the veins, i think theyre fairly well established in the general position at the op.

The feeling under your arm could just be nerves knitting back together, but if in doubt get it checked.

HH

Actual Hiccups or Hiccups in Diaphragm?

by cruz - 2010-07-24 01:07:34

Do you mean hiccups or what they use the term "hiccups" for? I have had hiccups (of varying degrees) since before I was released, same day as implant. The EP's tech was called in about 10:30 pm to check and he did setting adjustments. It's a hiccuping in my diaphragm and you can see it from across the room. It's VERY annoying. In certain positions, such as on my side, it will start up and if I shift positions, it stops. I've discussed this with the tech on 3 different occasions. They've checked the leads and say everything is fine and that's it's a lead touching a nerve. Their solution is for me to shift positions. It's like the old joke: Doc, my foot hurts when I do this and the doctor responds, "then don't do that." The doctor said the lead is not in the "ideal" position but was the only way to get it attached w/o doing a different surgical procedure where they would have to go in through my back.

hiccups

by TracyS - 2010-07-24 03:07:17

had hiccups once after getting the pm, was just stating that it was something I was told be aware of (could indicate dislodged lead). I have something under my arm that feels foreign, that's why i was asking about possible lead "travel" i guess you might call it. It's odd, and hard to explain.
I still have issues with sleeping on left side, but because of residual soreness, and of course feeling something there in the way that used to not be there.

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