Blood flow in left arm

I'm a 29 year old female, and I just had my first pacemaker placed yesterday. They placed it within the breast tissue. It's a little painful, but I am more worried about my left hand and arm. When I get up to walk my left hand turns purple. This morning when I woke up, the veins in my left hand were very full. This goes away once I am an sitting and my arm is level. My doctor told me to take an aspirin once a day. Has anyone else had this problem?

7 Comments

Thats weird

by lahbigbro6 - 2011-02-23 03:02:28

I am female and the pacemaker was put in upper breast tissue. I never had any problems with left arm or left hand. Not sure what that is. I also had no pain. Does your left hand feel numb ? Keep asking the doctor whats up, until he gives an answer to you ! Good luck and get back to us.

blood clot?

by TMK - 2011-02-23 04:02:34

I had the same experience after having my ICD implanted 5 years ago. Turns out I had a blood clot in the upper part of my arm. Had to take blood thinner for about 3 months until it cleared up. Might want to ask about that. They did an ultrasound on my arm to determine it.

Blood Clot?

by pacergirl - 2011-02-23 10:02:30

I too suspect that you may have a circulation problem... in fact a DVT. in other words a blood clot. It sounds like what happened to me in '05. I suggest that you get an ultrasound and a 2nd opinion. I have some long lasting effects from my blood clot and I don't recommend that you wait too long to have it checked further.

Good luck,
PG

is it blood or lymph fluid?

by Hot Heart - 2011-02-24 07:02:42

Hi! Could it be lymphodema, lots of people get this when they have breast surgery if the lymph glands get damaged. I've got it in my legs after damage from liposuction. If it does turn out to be lymphodema, ask your gp to refer you to a specialised lymphodema nurse, they are brilliant. Hope things improve for you soon. HH

Saw the Dr. this morning

by michelefromthemitten - 2011-02-24 09:02:02

I went into my EP today and was told that since the wires were placed in a superficial vein, I should not worry about DVT unless things start to swell and turn red. He said that the vein in which they placed the wires was very small, and it is going to take a while for it to adapt to having 2 wires shoved through it. In other words, the blood returning to my heart will need to use another pathway, or I will grow a new vein to compensate. Things seem to be improving, but I will watch it closely.

Getting better!

by michelefromthemitten - 2011-02-25 11:02:12

My leads were placed in the cephalic vein. (This is not the common placement, but there is less risk with lung perforation and DVTs) The Dr. said I probably do have a little clotting where they punctured the vein, but this is normal. He said that cephalic vein blood clots do not migrate. The blood clots generally resolve on their own and do not require any specific medication. He also informed me that even if the entire vein clots off, my body will adapt just fine, it will just take a while. I will grow new capillaries and the blood will go other places.
My hand has returned to normal color and the veins seem to be working well!
Thanks for all of your help!

???

by Pookie - 2011-02-25 12:02:09

Not to be rude or ignorant....but can we really grow a new vein????

I'd still ask for an ultrasound because I have a friend who's leg was always paining him (he plays a lot of sports) and to make a long story short - the pain was coming from a blood clot. His leg never got swollen, never got red either, it just was really sore. He had a dye test and that is when it was discovered that it was indeed a blood clot.

Take care,
Pookie

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