Recovery/Listening to Doctor

I am a 24yo female. I recently had my dual-chamber pacemaker replaced. I had my previous machine for a little over 5 years. I now have my new St.Jude Pacer. I had it placed under my pectoral muscle due to my figure(athletic and slim). I have had more pain with this procedure then with the two previous ones. Is it due to scar tissue? I also have noticed a shortness of breath and severe chest pain. I was admitted to my local ER 24 hrs after surgery due to burning sensation and pain. I had an infection starting. I was set up on antibiotics and sent home. My pain rating has not changed. They used "Derabond" to seal the incision site. I am at one week post surgery. I have more pain then ever. My doctor thinks that i should just keep up with pain medication and deal with it. I dont know if this is right? I understand that i am young, active, and very physically fit: but can i still have problems? Should i be segregated out because of my age, fitness level? Should i just listen to me doctor and wait to get better? I have been running a fever but he thinks no problem. I dont know what to do.. Any suggestions? Aterial fib, syncope, and tachacardia are my diagnosis.. what should i do?

4 Comments

Infections are serious with pacers

by ElectricFrank - 2008-02-23 01:02:13

This is something to let the docs trivialize. The insertion point of the pacer leads (even if they used the existing leads) provide access to a major vein for infection. A blood infection can be very hard to treat especially the type that are present in hospitals these days. I don't want to scare you, but they can be fatal in just a few days if they get out of hand. They can also damage the heart. If you have any fever or chills get to the emergency room and check it out. I would insist that it be written on your records that you are concerned about an infection. This puts them in the position of having to cover their backside by dealing with it.

frank

pt rights

by sistermary7 - 2008-02-23 04:02:45

Dear Melissa,
Keep a note of your signs and symptoms written down,keep your vs also written down morning, noon and at night (three times a day) or if you feel a change in your vs ie: fever going up,chest pain etc. Keep up with how much meds you are having to take to counter act your pain and fever. Once you have a written time frame down for about 24 hours if you do not feel any improvement go back to the er and have the er doctor look at your notes. tell them this is not normal for you especially running a fever and ask if they would they get two sets of blood cultures on you. Even if you had a set run before they may not have show the infection yet. Be sure to let them know if you are on an anitbiotic you also need to let the er doc. know that you are getting nowhere with your current doc and ask who is on call for their group. tell him you need another opinion. If they give you any grief, ask him point blank "what about my pt rights, I am telling you there is something very wrong here, I have documented my vital sings and concerns and I need help before something really bad happens to me." tell them again that you are not feeling right! If they refuse to help you go to another hopit er in your area.That is your right too, Just make sure your ins. will cover. Don't go AMA from the ers or your ins will not cover any of the visit. The other way to get there attention sometimes is to take an ambulance in. I know this all sounds drastic but I am telling you from a er nurses point of view these are your rights and some one needs to listen to you. I don't like the sounds of what is happening to you. Good luck and please keep us posted.

Infection?

by bionic_laura - 2008-02-23 06:02:34

I got an infection on the part of leads in my heart after my last PM was implanted. I had shortness of breath and a fever. I also had the general feeling something wasn't right after the surgery as it hurt more than when my other pacemaker was implanted. When I told my doctor this I was told to go to hospital where they did loads of tests and they admitted me for treatment.

If you still have pain and shortness of breath I would go back to the doctor. You have had this surgery before so I would explain to him that this time it feels different you are in more pain. I'm surprised the doctor isn't worried that you are running a fever and have chest pain and shortness of breath. With me these were symptoms of infection.

I would say if you're not happy insist they check you out more thoroughly.

Hope you get some answers,

Bionic Laura
28 year old!

Not Right

by heckboy - 2008-02-23 10:02:15

An under the muscle implantation would hurt more than a traditional one, but nothing else you say should be happening to my thinking. Are you resting? I was feeling great a few days post-op and then had to do a little scrambling around my house preparing things, rushing to the answer the door, etc... and I felt like crap afterwards... th pain came out of nowhere.

I think they used Dermabond on me too and put tape across the site (does that sound right?), but I had less pain than my first PM.

Keep pushing for an answer. Dr's are predisposed to patients imagining all kinds of things after a surgery.

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