Bleeding from the incision - but ok now

I was just a little over two weeks out from my PM implant and being careful with what I did with my left arm and side. However, I got down on the floor to hook up a cable under my desk and when I got up, I noticed I was bleeding profusely from one corner of the incision. I got a clean rag and held pressure for quite some time to no avail. The blood was dark and brownish. I was home alone, so I drove myself to the ER since the hospital is just a couple of blocks away. Of course, to add insult to injury, I backed over my mail box as I exited my driveway. One of those days I guess.

The doctor said it was old blood that was pooling. They drained it and put me back on strong antibiotics.

A couple of more days and it will be three weeks since the implant, is soreness still normal?

I didn't get much advice from my local doctor so I've taken it on myself to take fairly easy until my one month checkup. I figure I don't want reopen the wound again. I've also found that although I feel great in the mornings, the stress of work can really have me feeling extremely fatigued like I was before the PM implant within 4-5 hours.

Any thoughts on all of this?

Thanks

Dan

2 Comments

A good laugh......

by auntiesamm - 2007-10-09 02:10:00

Hi Dan,
Welcome to this community of wonderful people who care so much about one another. You have come to the right place. I am sorry but I really had to laugh about backing over your mailbox. Murphy's Law in action! Sometimes it seems like everyday is "one of those days".

I've had my PM for 18 months and my incision had a small stubborn area of infection on it. I was on antibiotics and told to not touch the steri-strips - they would come off eventually. Well, eventually was a really long time and when my incision was healed I took them off. The glue they use is really strong! The other precaution is not to raise your arm above shoulder level for at least 6 weeks. Seems to be a pretty standard warning from the cardios & EPs. It is hard to do because our movements are so spontaneous.

Good luck as you continue to heal and adjust to your marvelous little gem of a computer. Other than what I described above I have had no problems with my PM and am very, very grateful to have it. Technology is all on our side in this case. God bless you.
Sharon (So. CA)

Trumpetplayer

by scpck - 2007-10-10 12:10:58

Mine bled like that too. When I woke up after the implant the nurses were holding ice bags and putting pressure on the incision for about half hour. I went home 2 days later bruised from shoulder to bellybutton. Then I noticed a piece of what I can only call white string at the arm end of the incision acting like a wick draining that dark red hematoma blood. I clipped that off thinking it was a suture but the doc told me he didn't use sutures). Hmmmm. Maybe it was gauze packing?So anyway after about 4 weeks it stopped leaking. *I* was concerned even if he wasn't. So I got a new tube of triple antibiotic ointment and applied it 3-4 times a day and covered with a clear bandaid.

I now have a lovely scar hardly vvisible. So I guess I worried over nothing.

P

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