Pacemaker Dislocated/Severe burning

My pacemaker dropped!! I had 3 surgeries at this site (long story) I have been in pain for 3 months- I went to my cardiologist in Jan. he wanted to wait to see if the tissue around the pacemaker would heal. I have excessive scar tissue due to the previous surgeries. The burining is unbearable. They think the pounch has been stretched and is pulling ( my pacemaker is to the left of my arm pit!!!!!!!It . I am going today and I have no idea what to expect- Has anyone experienced this????

8 Comments

burning pain

by jessie - 2008-03-31 01:03:09

i have experienced the burning pain but it is in my leg and it is apparently from damaged nerve endings from when i was intubated and ill and they thought maybe i was in one position too long. thank god it doesn't last for long and so i am not bothered too much from it as it comes and goes and is not there a long time. keep on the doctors tho. you have to be your own advocate. i found that out the hard way. jessie

Why do they think it moved...

by Swedeheart - 2008-03-31 03:03:53

Did your doctors give you any reason for why they think your "pocket" has stretched and your PM moved? Was it due to all the surgeries in one place? Or did they occur in rapid succession so nothing had time to heal? This sounds miserable... I hope they can help you! Please let us know what they decide and how to repair this!

Good luck.

Swedeheart

Pacemaker dislodged

by kathy22 - 2008-03-31 05:03:48

Thank you for the comments - I was misdiagnosed in 2000 - I used to faint every 3-6 months for years - Dr.s always said it was stress. In 2000 my condition become so severe that I was fainting every 5 days. I was admitted to a 'local' hospital that I will now call a first aid station where they inserted a pacesetter for bradycardia. I was in severe pain so the idiot surgeon opened the site took out the pacemaker, cleaned the pouch (never was infected!!) Two weeks later I went to a medical center in New York City and was diagnosed with NCS and had a third surgery to insert the Medtronic PM. I still have my "spells" every 6-8 weeks - I have to live with it. I was carrying heaving books from my car after Christmas vacation (I teach) and I felt a burning at the site of scar (always was sensitive anyway) the next day the burning started. I went to my cardiologist who wanted me to wait a few months to see if new tissue would form around the PM. I just came on from NYC and I am having surgery on Thursday - the dr. is going to put a new pacemaker on my right side and "clean the left side" I may have some problems with the leads. The pain/burning on the left side is so severe - I want it out ASAP . I would never recommend anyone to the idiot doctors I HAD in the Hudson Valley!!! Kathy

Sorry Kathy...

by Swedeheart - 2008-03-31 08:03:11

Wow, it sounds like you have had troubles! I am sorry you have had so many issues trying to get your PM implanted properly.

With your new upcoming surgery ~ be sure and ask the surgeon (hopefully an EP...) how many procedures like this he/she performs a year. Make sure they do a lot of them! Also ask what the hospital infection rate is, (you want as close to 0% as possible...) I would also have long discussions about why the PM isn't taking care of your fainting issues. It doesn't seem to me you should have to "live with it"... get a second opinion if necessary. You have been through plenty already!

You will be sore on both sides, so be sure you take all the necessary time off from work. No more carrying heavy books until next fall, etc. It will pay off in the long run.

I wish you the very best, and hope they can correct the problem this time!

Swedeheart

WHAT IS AN EP?

by MHCHAMPION - 2008-03-31 08:03:16

Hi,
I've been on this site now for several months and keep seeing the abbreviation EP. What does this stand for?

I was seeing the same Cardiologist as my husband but when it was decided I needed the PM that Dr. referred me to one of his partners, also a Cardiologist who is the one in the group who does the PMs and ICDs. The second has been my Dr. since the PM implant 1 1/2 years ago. Every six months I see a lady, a technician, I suppose who does the checking of the PM also in the same group.
She is NOT a dr., I know that.

I'm fortunate, I do believe that I live about 10 miles from my great doctors and a very fine hospital with a great Heart Center when needed for hospitalization.
Thanks for the info.
Margaret

Pacemaker moved !! HELP

by kathy22 - 2008-03-31 09:03:28

I want to add to the above post- the pacemaker surgeries were in 2000,

Pacemaker Problems

by BOB 1 - 2008-03-31 12:03:21

I’m not being critical, just asking questions? After 8 years on this road and all these problems do you still have the same doctors?

But that is neither here nor there. The first pacemakers were made of stainless steel but too many people were allergic to the nickel in stainless so they switched to titanium which is more readily accepted by the human body. However, about 4% of the population is allergic to titanium. Is it possible that you are in that group?

Bob

Pacemaker dislodged/Surgery Thurs.

by kathy22 - 2008-04-01 08:04:39

I went to my cardiologist in NYC yesterday - the Medronic pacemaker that was implanted in 2000 (see above for reason for 3rd surgery). I have a mess on the left side - the burning is from my collar bone to the top of my breast. I cannot move from one position to another without severe burning/pain - I am having surgery this Thursday to put a new pacemaker on the right side and "clean-up" the left side which may now be infected. I have been seeing this cardiologist for 8 years and have done my research - he is the best. Please let me know if anyone has had surgeries on both sides - I really don't know what he will find when he opens the side that burns so much. It is swollen and he said I may have an infection. I am currently on a medical disability for other medical problems I have, so I can rest. I can't remember how long it took to recover when I had the first surgery. I am getting so nervous. Kathy

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