can you pull a pacemaker wire out accidently

the first week after my pm i felt so much better now i feel like crap. i think i might have pulled a pm wire loose. i feel so tired and sob extreme fatigue and my heart is doing flip flops. i have and appoint. in 2 days with my cardio. if the wires are all intact then i dont know what is wrong . im alive but im not living

4 Comments

Wires.....

by Pookie - 2009-03-31 04:03:02

Dear Pattycake.

Yes, unfortunately, our wires can become "dislodged" either by us moving more than we should OR sometimes at no fault of ourselves the darn things don't embed and then we have to have another surgery.

One of my wires fell 3 times all within 10 days of the initial surgery. Then 6 months after that, I had to have yet another surgery to remove the actual pacemaker from my armpit. It does happen.

I truly understand your comment when you said you are alive but not living...but try and find some faith and hope that things will get fixed and you'll be on the road to recovery before you know it.

I wish you the best.

Hugs.
Pookie

leads

by kcruz - 2009-03-31 07:03:22

I am sorry you are feeling poorly, it is always a possibility but usually happens if you are doing movements that you aren't suppose to after surgery, ie lifting more that 10 lbs, raising you hand/arm above your shoulder or twiddling the device in the pocket( yes there are those that twiddle). I think most of us at this site would agree that you need to follow up with your doctor, but also not be so hard on yourself too, the recovery process can take a bit.

Me too

by sputnick - 2009-03-31 08:03:24

I felt just like you at the beginning. I felt fine for bout 5 days then felt fuzzy headed and had palp's and felt like my heart was doing flipflops!
I was a nervous wreck and made arrangements to go and have the pacer checked cos I was sure, like you that the leads had shifted or the pm had stopped working.
Everything was deemed fine with the pm , and also at my 1st checkup (3 weeks ago)
I am now 9 weeks post pm and still sometimes get strong, thudding palps.
My pm tech. said that cos I am vent paced almost all the time, it feels different to normal heartbeat cos instead of elect charge going from top (av node) of vent., it is radiating up from lead at bottom, and is also feeling stronger than my weah hbeat from b4 pm.
However, if you are worried ring your doc and have a word
Best wishes, Jan

Wires

by E Bunny - 2009-04-19 02:04:06

Hi, that is a big YES! I had my dual chamber PM placed on 4/16/09 and when they checked it before leaving the hospital on 4/17 they discovered that the bottom lead had moved. They shut off the electricity to it and I will need to have it rewired or whatever they do in a case like this. I will wait for them to call and schedule a date. I was bummed out but today was such a good day I have decided to just trust it will all work out and soon.
Cindy

You know you're wired when...

Friends call you the bionic man.

Member Quotes

My pacemaker is intact and working great.