Lead displacements

Hi everyone.
So i'm 11 days post implant now and trying to get back to normal as much as possible, i havent lifted my left elbow above shoulder height but i'm still terrified of causing one of my leads to displace. Any advice on how likely this is and how i would know if i had done it? if it did happen would they need to go in and fix it and would it cause me any long term damage? i still have 2 weeks to go before my first check up and 3 days after that i'm due to go abroad so i am VERY NERVOUS of something going wrong!

Thanks

7 Comments

very unlikely

by biceps72 - 2011-09-18 07:09:16

Those leads aren't that easy to displace. In fact they are kinda hard to displace according to my Medtronic tech and cardiologist. I worried too so I wore a sling when I was sleeping. Just be careful, keep your elbow down, don't lift with that arm-- you will be great!!

probably fine

by Tracey_E - 2011-09-18 10:09:20

It's highly unlikely you'll do any damage at this point! The way you'd know is you'd stop pacing so you'd feel like you did before. If you feel ok, you are ok, don't overthink it.

Remember...

by donr - 2011-09-19 09:09:09

Moby Dick? Did Capt Ahab's harpoon come out of him while the rowboat full of whalers was taking a "Salem Sleigh Ride?" The answer is "NO!!!!!" And the harpoon in the inner wall of your heart will not come out either, if you don't do anything stupid. Those things are designed to stay put. Coming out early in their history is a rarity. There is absolutely NOTHING magic about the end of the 6th week. Have you ever cut yourself? Did it take 6 weeks to heal? No, it didn't. Since this event takes place inside your heart, where no one can see it to check on it and it is so critical to life, it's worth a little extra care. So, we wait 6weeks before allowing us PM hosts to start doing stupid things! Stop for a minute & look at the scar over your new little buddy's pocket - pretty well closed up, isn't it? Well, I'll betcha that the sites where your leads are look pretty much the same way.

You are obcessing needlessly over something that is well under control.

OK, let's define "Stupid." Diving off the dresser during whatever you do in the bedroom; swinging from the chandelier like an Orangutang; kick boxing w/the Thai National Champ; entering the national arm wrestling championships; weed eating an entire football field; hiring on as a lumberjack to operate a chain saw w/ a 36 inch chain bar. becoming part of a professional tug-o-war team; riding a motocross bike in a championship event.

Get the idea? For us "Normal" people, nothing we do in our daily living is gonna pull those leads out. Just lkeep that elbow down & follow the weight lifting restrictions given by your cardio & you'll naturally do what is necessary to keep safe. If you feel Ok, you are OK!

You keep this up, & I' gonna have come see you & you won't like that!

Don

Sarah I fell into a wheely bin! lol

by Hot Heart - 2011-09-22 11:09:27

Dont ask!!!!!!!!

But i didnt damage my leads. after 11 days they are probably already held well in by scar tissue. just dont go swinging on any trees or wardrobes! lol

Seriously though, we are all scared at first, i used to swim really carefully, now thrash my arms about doing backstroke, am no good but love it!!

when ive had drains in after operations, within 2 days they are totally unmovable, so that tells you how fast most of us heal.

In time you will get your confidence and everything will be fine!!!

HH

lead displacement twice

by bamafan - 2011-09-26 05:09:00

Sarah:

I have had lead displacement twice this year since my April pacemaker this year. I am now one week post my third surgery to have the lead placed. First, if your lead is out of place, you are aware of it. I had involuntary twitching of my diaphragm from stimulation of the phrenic nerve. I also had heavy beating over my pacemaker site to the point that I could see the beating through my shirt. If you are not having obvious symptoms, it is likely your lead is in place.

lead displacement - yes

by lady4law - 2011-10-05 12:10:26

I am awaiting surgery for this very reason. However, my PM cardio, not only had never heard of the leads migrating, as they did with me, but was unable to locate it EVER happening to anyone. My leads have migrated into my NECK!

She contacted a specalist, that mainly performs heart transplants and even he has never seen the leads migrate into a patients neck. Which of course, scares the heck out of me.

I developed breast cancer shortly after having my PM implanted. I had 3 surgeons present to perform a bi-lateral mastectomy, where my PM was relocated from the left to right sides. (for radiation). Al in all, over the last 4 years I have had 12 surgeries due to infections and reconstruction. My cardio believes that the leads migrated due to all these surgeries.

Bottom line, extremely rare, unless you are unlucky and develop some illness that requires surgery (s) on your chest.

Just be careful!

by PammyMac - 2011-11-11 05:11:35

I had lead displacement 1 week after implant, all previous symptoms returned so you would definately know. It's not worth it so just be careful and dont lift that arm up too much!

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