Can leads move 5 years after being put in?

I haven’t been on here for quite some time. I had to hav a pm put in 5 years ago this month. A month and a half after I had to have a lead revision because the bottom lead dislodged and went through the heart wall. Excruciating pain, nurses telling me it was just muscle spasms or my body getting used to the pm. I was put on pain killers and muscle relaxers.  Wasn’t until I called crying in pain and cussing the nurses out that anything was done and that’s when the revision was done. Here it is 5 yrs later and I’m having dayshavu(however it’s spelled you get the meaning). Can leads move after 5 years?  Anyone else have this issue?

5 Comments

Pianowormy, this sounds excruciating!

by SweetSuz - 2018-01-07 11:58:01

Dear PM Club "friend" -- Your past situation you experienced sounds simply excruciating! while I have no experience in that regard (as of yet ;-) ), surely, your cardiologist or Electrocardiologist/group who placed your pacer would answer this question? Is it time for a check-up? Do you need an immediate follow-up, rather than waiting for any pre-scheduled appointment you may have?

While this forum certainly can be helpful (a member just answered my query which got me to thinking and considering differently than I had, so I'm proceeding w/probably more knowledge to get to bottom of symptoms I'm having), asking your question of a cardiologist, sharing your past horror and getting xrays/whatever tests to check your leads, etc., certainly seems prudent!

All the best in your quest. Hope you get just the answers you need -- and, report back here, with success!!

Get some help

by Gotrhythm - 2018-01-07 15:58:14

Loved your creative spelling of deja vu! LOL. Humor aside though, chest pain is a danger sign and is nothing to mess around with. I'm sorry you weren't taken seriously in the past when you should have been, but you need to take the pain seriously now.

I have no idea if the cause could be another dislodged lead. Whether it is or not, you need to be seen. Call your cardiologist and/or go to the emergency room.

Pacemaker

by Lindaosc - 2018-01-07 17:43:43

 I am only three weeks post op,  but I would definitely call your cardiologist and ask. What you went through previously sounds terrifying. Keep us posted. Good luck. Linda

leads

by Tracey_E - 2018-01-09 13:48:57

After the first year the leads are held in so tight with scar tissue that it takes a special laser to get them out. Something for sure isn't right so you need to be seen asap, but it's unlikely it's the leads moving. I've heard of pericarditis coming back but not so many years later, more like months later.  Don't ask us, ask your doctor!! Chest pain, or any very bad pain, should never be ignored. 

Can leads move after 5 years ?

by Irob - 2018-01-25 10:34:19

Wow that sounds very frightening. I had my first pm in 2007 with twin leads for vasovagel syncope (postural hypotension).  After ten years i,ve just had a replacement fitted due to dead battery but the leads remain the original. The regular checks and tests show the leads to be in good condition after 10 years and also the doc says the corkscrew end fittings in the heartwall grow deep integral with the muscle and difficult to dislodge or replace. I assume yours was not installed correctly or the corkscrew fitting itself failed in someway. I,m sure it was a rare occurrance and hope you never experience it again.

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The experience of having a couple of lengths of wire fed into your heart muscle and an electronic 'box' tucked under the skin is not an insignificant event, but you will survive.