Most Recent Messages in Complications

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To TraceyE

Hi Tracey-
We chatted back in September. I had my ICD put in under the chest muscle with the plastic surgeon assist
- just like you... Anyway, the ICD has now slipped out from under the chest muscle and seems to be making it's way through the tunnel back to where the incision is under my arm. My body is trying to push it out like a giant splinter! It has been very uncomfortable and I'm thinking it has to get better than this.

I will be going back in on Wednesday for the card...

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Heavy heartbeats

Is anyone familiar with periodic heavy, thudding heart beats with the pacemaker? It is really disturbing to me. It happens frequently; when I am active and when I am idle. I don't like going back to the doctor so I thought I would start here.

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Pushing out of the skin

Hi all,

I have recently had a new pacemaker implanted (2nd surgery in three years) as my last one pushed its way to the surfave and it became adhered to the skin. There was no infection thank goodness and they had to go in and take it out and re-implant the pacemaker (this time under the chest muscle). The first three months were great then I slipped going down the stairs and it seems as though it is pushing its way to the surface of the skin again! This will be my 3rd pacemaker surg...

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Pneumo thorax

Just got home from the second pneumothorax event following PM implant less than a week ago. Both times were a 90% lung collapse requiring a chest tube plus vacumn evacuation. I am hoping the "seal" holds this time. I haven't seen comments from any others having had this complication from PM placement. If there are any, please advise what long-term experience has been. The surgeon said that since there was a physical cause e.g. he nicked the lung, the risk for future spontaneous collapses is...

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cardiac dysrhythmia

would anyone know what this could mean? cardiac dysrhythmia

I am wearing a cardiac event monitoring kit for 10 days
and I am a little upset
Thank you

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Pacemaker induced Cardiomyopathy

I have been 'paced since age 43, now 69, very active but with last two implants defibrillators with frequent 'firings'. Last defibrillator has been set to avoid this little annoyance however last check-up following UltraSound indicated reduction of heart function to 40%. It appears that after consultations that I will have third ventricular lead inserted to offset the pace induced weakened heart muscle. If am confident in my physicians who are @ Arrhythmia Specialized Hospital - Lankenau, in P...

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i don't feel comfortable

it's day 12 after the pm implantation. when i sleep on my left side..it hurts my shoulder as if the metal is pressing. when i tried to move my arm to reach my right shoulder..sumthing is pressing above my armpit i guess..n i found out dat there is a bruise above my armpit..where i can feel a metal in it. is that the lead? i don't feel comfortable on my shoulder during the day..after 12 hours i would feel shoulder ache? are all these normal? how long is it going to end?

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thumping/ Tammy

Thanks for the reply. Yes I am being paced, had check up and AV node which had been ablated was working again so doc reablated it and I am now set to pace between 80 to 120.. I see him again Monday.

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broken lead

Hi - I recently had a new pacer put in in Sept., the following day I had symptoms of feeling as thou I would pass out and that my bp was dropping whenever I would raise my surgery arm to shoulder height, I called Dr. to tell them of this and they ignored it. After 20 days of feeling these symptoms they finally saw me and I was rushed in for emergency surgery as one of the LEADS WAS BROKEN. Please, if you have these symptoms make your Dr. aware that it could be the lead, don't take chances. Now...

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problem sleeping

I have had this pacemaker for about a year and from the day it was put in, have had difficulties sleeping. Sort of a wired feeling like when drinking a lot of coffee. Are there any change of settings that may stop this and allow me to get better rest at night?

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shocks when grounded

Was trying to fix the toilet and when put fingers in water, received a steady jolt of electricity. Has never ever happened before. After putting on shoes, no shock. Would this suggest a problem with the pacemaker that needs attention? Clearly grounded out.

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constant pain

I have had my pm/dif since march 2009. I have been in pain everyday since. My doctors say i may have nerve damage where the device was put. I can't lift my arms for very all. It takes me for ever to sort thru my closet, because it hurts my arms to sort through the hangers. I have sharp pain thru out the day, daily. My doctors say they don't want to have to reposition the device, because I could get an infection. They said I could see a plastic surgeon, because the incision kilod. Also my bp...

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Wenckebach (pronounced: Winky-Bock)

I was diagnosed with Wenckebach yesterday in the ER after thinking I had the flu for 2 weeks. It is second degree heart block. When I hit 100 BPM, is when I experience the problems. I get sweats and feel out of breath, mostly when I either climb stairs or walk for a little while. When I had my pacemaker placed in July, They only put in 1 lead because of my Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava. Not too sure what they are going to do, as I may need the other lead put in. I see the EP on Thursd...

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What does this mean?

Got pm checked last week, I get it checked every 3 months over the phone. The last report I got was that my pm didn't need to work at all, now my most recent last week said that the pm was working 61% of the time. Does that mean my heart is only working 39% of the time on it's own then? I do have CHF, moderate tricuspid regurgitation, and atrial fib, is this possibly a sign that my heart is on the decline worse then what it has been? Thank you for your time!

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At wits end!!!

Hi Everyone,

I have to say that my doctor and I are at a complete loss with my heart issues, this pacemaker, and its settings. I had it implanted on June 4, 2009 and we still have not found the proper settings and I continue to feel bad and I am getting worse.

After waiting 4 weeks after implantation I began riding my bicycle again (I am a competitive cyclist) only to find out that I had zero endurance and my heart rate was all over the place, I explained this to the doc...

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pacemaker/defibralator and auto anti-theft devices

My mother in-law needs both of these in her chest but she is concerned about its resisitance with anti-theft devices on cars or any other places these devices are present.
Can someone please provide any info or input on what she needs to know in this regard? She is very concerned about this. She is 72 years old and would regret greatly giving up driving
Thank you

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pacemaker,jaundice,blockage in liver

I spoke with the doctor and there are several masses blocking his liver duct's presumed melignent. They are sending him a=back until he can have a biopsy in 1 week. ou would think there would be urgent basis. But there is a waiting list. No one can find any informationon his pacemaker. I'm trying to contact the institution he had it done at. I know they won't give me any info. I've called lawyer'[s. I didn't tell my husband that they think its cancer & there are several masses. He is in too m...

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pacemaker/umbilical herniation

My husband had the ct scan done. Had been severely sick since. Bloated,turned severe jaundic,hypo-glycemic. Then in that week the bely button herniation. I've been checking the internet & my nursing books. But anything someone could add would be appreciated. He is in hospital & they want to send him home. Blocked liver duct, cancer?But it all seems to tie into the pacemaker when checking the web. I think he should be sent to Toronto. they have him in Kingston east caner hospital learning dr. w...

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re update on cheast pains

hi everyone may i start buy thanking everyone for there advice on here about hubby and his cheast pains ,well finaly got him there to be cheacked over turns out the pains he decribes he is getting could be angina ,they have given him a spray for under his tounge we are due to go bk to see cardio doc in 2 weeks time , now my question is if it turns out to be angina how does this affect his pm and mitral valve repalcement or is angina somthing on its own ,now i have more to get to understand can a...

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loose leads

well y leads were not loose the pm just needed a major tune up much better today thanks to all

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You know you're wired when...

Your signature looks like an EKG.

Member Quotes

It is just over 10 years since a dual lead device was implanted for complete heart block. It has worked perfectly and I have traveled well near two million miles internationally since then.