Incision

My PM was installed Feb 27th/08. I am 60 yrs old. I suppose like all of us dealing with this has not been easy. I am faced with coming to "grips " with the aging process and what is worse my mortality. My problem today is this. I have burning and discharge at the site. The discharge seems to be coming from an area blistering just above incision line. Needless to say I am very concerned about infection. I went to an ER last night and the ER MD was just as puzzled as I am about this. Has anyone else been through this ?

3 Comments

Run Don't Walk

by TwoCents - 2008-03-08 04:03:14

I too am 60 years old and it's been an interesting journey. I've had a pacemaker for 7 years now, I'm on my second one and I am pacemaker dependent. Mortality is definitely on my mind, but, hey, I'm glad to be here and plan to make the most of the next years of my life.
Now to your problem. Hopefully, the ER physician took some sort of steps to address this problem, like contacting your surgeon, cardiologist or primary care doc. If he/she did nothing you need to take charge immediately and contact the doc that is involved with this part of your care. I know it's the weekend, but bacteria don't know what day of the week it is and they don't take time out to go golfing. It's possible you may have an infection which can be serious, especially since you describe a "discharge". It could also be a reaction to the "antiseptics" that were used during your procedure, but don't take the chance. It is imperative that you push to talk to your doctor now. Sometimes, we get intimated by the medical professionals and we don't want to "bother" them during off times. I'm here to tell you that I listened to my instincts once and overcame my reluctance to "bother" on a weekend and it saved my life. Please keep us posted.

Best to you--Two Cents

hi bobbie

by jessie - 2008-03-13 11:03:27

hi i am 66 and i am from ontario but have been west several times to visit family. we are in florida right now. i was 64 and i received my pacemaker that summer so it will be 2 years soon. yes you do face certain things and mortality for sure but the alternative was worse and i am going to make the most of it. i hope you have found out the reason for the drainage and everything is being dealt with. in the meantime welcome to the pacemaker club. you keep coming back and it will really help in the long run. we all know what is happening here and hopefully can help in some way jessie

Thanks for taking time "Two cents" and "Jessie"

by bobbie48 - 2008-03-16 03:03:54

My incision wound reaction appeared to originate from a severe allergy to the steri- strips(which were used in place of sutures)over my incision. The blistering around the incision was like a first degree burn. I do not think the cardiologist had seen this before. He put me on prophalactic antibiotics for 2 weeks. I was to clean the area with normal saline and to keep it dry. This appears to be working. The blisters are drying up, the reddness is disappearing, there is no discharge from the site. I am somewhat relieved.
Having said this, my healing process has not been what my docters and nurses led me to believe. I am now 2.5 weeks past PM insertion and I was told by my medical people that "some patients are back to work within a week". I have a desk job and tried to go back to work half days last week. I found the following: I have no stamina. Secondly, I have a very stiff and sore neck. Thirdly I have a weak and sore left arm. Is this normal?
There are appt's booked for me on Tues. commencing Tues next(almost a full day). I am nervous that I will not have energy for this. How long did it take you to comfortably resume normal activities?
And jessie, I am a Manitoba person!

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