Most Recent Messages in Complications

it just keeps getting worse!!!



woke up fri with readness and warmth over pm area... white fishline like stitches across entire wound and hole in middle of incision... went to surgeon, Dr worried about pocket infection.. back on antibiotic for 2nd time in just 4 wks with the threat of hospitaliztion for iv vanomyicin if not improved in a few days! I'd like to feel better already!!! anyone know what is involved if there is a pocket infection?

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Heart races doing small things

Well, never thought I would be posting on a Pacemaker site,but here I am. I am 56 female and got my daul pacemaker Dec.5, just 2months now. First problem ,it is so close,really past my armpit,(feels like when you are carring a book under your arm and trying to reach across for something)I went in to have it checked they said ,could not have moved but they feel it twisted.I complained of every time I moved my right arm(I am a left handed so placed it on right side).My heart beat so fast and felt...

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pain around pm

I received my pm on 11/24/08. The last couple of weeks, just every once in a while, I get a sharp pain on the right side of my pm. It's hard to describe what it feels like. I guess the closest thing would be like a shock. It's enough to bring tears to my eyes. It doesn't last long, but it's definitely noticeable.

I go next Wednesday for my first in-office interrogation. Any ideas what could be causing this pain?

Susan

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incision nad placement issues

had my pm changed out on 1/22/09. incision not healing well, very wide like its being pulled apart...(wound nurse said by "large breasts pull on it???") the area feels very taunt and pacer outline can be felt and seen, seems to close to surface.. can feel it when I move. my first one did not feel this way! should I be concerned? my first one onlyl asted 3 rs due to 100% pacing

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Less PVC's after PM Surgery and Collateral Damage

Good morning PM Gods and Goddesses,

Before my PM implant surgery, I had some pretty nasty and frequent PVC's for ~4 years. The PVC's thumped hard, and made me catch my breath. I received my PM 8 months ago, and from the moment I got out of surgery, the PVC's were 75% fewer and 75% less forceful. Frankly, I'm loving it, but it makes me go "Hmmmmm..."

Even after my PM was removed, same. PVC's much better. 8 months later, still the same. Instead of a hard thump, I just get a m...

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And Now I Have A Dangerous Staph Infection!!!

Since late September, I've suffered almost unending fevers with violent shaking chills little different from convulsions.

After repeated hospitalizations, it's been determined that it's a staphylococcus lugdunensis infection of the old pacemaker lead [which was left in place].

I understand that this is serious enough to cause endocarditis, which can have fatal consequences.

I have been put on a portable vancomycin drip until it can be removed.

I've nev...

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Pacemaker Site Repair

After two months of No PM on my left side after three replacements now I have new leads and PM on my right side. There was a lot of scar tissue and a puffy pouch from irritation which was partially repaired when my PM was removed. There were also questions as to Alergy, Infection or Irritation as the site showed erosion.

The operation removal of PM leaving the leads in still left the infection question. Tests showed negative. Now after a couple of months and an AF episode anothe...

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Heebie jeebies

Hi there, fellow bionics, can I share some concerns? In addition to reasonable heebie-jeebies at starting my new battery-operated life, I find myself with serious doubts about getting the straight scoop from my cardiologist... and even more serious doubts about the performance of my new Boston Scientific pacemaker with Guidant and Medtronic leads.
A month ago, during the PM implant procedure, I woke from up in the cath lab to hear the surgeon complaining he had lost the lead. So thu...

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computer battery?

so last night my partner and I were watching some tv on my lap-top through netflix. And I had the box portion of my battery charger laying on my stomach near to my chest. After a little while I started feeling sick and faint and we quickly removed the charger because we thought that might be the problem. I started feeling better soon. I've had similar problems when using electric heating pads. I know everything says computers and heating pads are not supposed to interfere but is it still possibl...

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Watch out for Thoracic Impedence devices

Last Nov. my now ex Cardiologist hooked me up to his brand new BioZ machine. It sends a a small dc current thru your heart/lung region and measures impedence looking for signs of fluid build up from heart failure. I have an approc 70% ejection fraction, and he knew it, and I have absolutely no symptoms associated with heart failure. I think he was putting all of his patients on this new test just so he could bill for it. As soon as the current was turned on I went into severe Atrial flutter and...

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PM & 2 leads replaced on 2/12/09 Do Not Feel Right

I need some help. I just had my 3rd pacemaker put in and this time they also replaced the 2 leads on Thursday 2/12 and was discharged 2/13 around 1pm. I just do not feel right and not sure if i should be concerned or not. And in 2003 when i had it replaced I was 6 mths pregant so I really cannot compare the 2.

I am a bit light headed when I am sitting and standing, The site hurts and it will I know that. When sitting up I get a flutter feeling it comes and goes. My hands, ankels,...

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Circulatory Weirdness in Left Arm

I had a 2-lead Medtronic put in on Tuesday and I have some circulatory weirdness in my left arm. In certain positions (standing and sitting straight), The left hand and forearm turn red and I get numbness and tingling in my fingertips. There is only mild swelling in the hand (a feeling of "fullness" in my hand). They did two ultrasounds which found nothing. The surgeon hypothesized that the two leadwires were obstructing bloodflow. He discussed another procedure where they rewire the leads to th...

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I'm finally home from the hospital

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your encouragement to go the the hospital on February 2nd. Turns out it was a good thing. The screw on one of the leads from my pacemaker poked a hole in my heart and I had blood in the sack around the heart. They called it pericardial infraction or something like that. I'm sure I misspelled it, but hopefully you'll know what I'm talking about. I was in the hospital for 12 days!!! I had three echocardiograms, about 6 IV pokes (4 times in one day because...

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Back Pain?

I had everything implanted in February of 07. I am 100% paced on the bottom half and 37% paced on the top of my heart. I'm also 48 years old and had no simptoms before my fist "episode". All other blood work looks great and shows no sign of anything wrong.. My heart simply beats in all kinds of rythms with no pattern. (No there is no family history anywhere) I wasn't supposed to "make it" but God just isn't finished with me yet! Yeah!!!

My question is about back pain and exercise...

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Pain in chest, head, neck, even teeth!

I NEED HELP! This is for a friend of mine... I was wondering if anyone has had an irritating pain in their chest after the pacemaker implant. The pain starts as the day progresses, going from where the 2 leads are implanted, sometimes going up through the neck, and sharp pains in the head. Even her teeth are hurting! Has anyone had these complications? It's been 2 months today since the implant. She feels 'off'. She is an active woman, playing tennis, and taking care of her health on a regula...

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swelling

hi everyone well what a day ,hubby had mitral valve replaced last june and pm fitted in oct last yr ,and since then we have noticed he has a swollen left man boob and its sore to touch no redness he always been a verey slim built man and even i can see the difrence in it and it is swollen ,we saw consultant at hospital today and what a waste of time that was the cardiologest said he needs to get his postrate cheeked out even though he doesnt have trouble with waterworks ,he had a 24 hour ecg on...

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Blah!

Hey fellow pacer girls and guys. I endend up in the ER yesterday due to my "mysterious symptoms". This was at the hospital more local (where I do not go for heart follow - ups) at 2 pm due to chest pains, pressure, and everything else. I had finally had enough, so I went to the nurse several times and the third time I went to the ER. They ran about 2 million blood tests (looks like I was shooting "illegal drugs" :)), an EKG, and chest X - Rays. Again, nothing was found, but at least the doctor t...

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Itchy Pacemaker

I have had this device installed for nearly 2yrs now...and it has been itchy...is that a normal side effect or is there something wrong!?
Thanks

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HeLlPpPp!!!

i hate my stupid pacemakerrrrrrrr i just want to die....i am 26yrs old i had an unsuccessfull ablation when i was 17 for tachychardia where my doctor nicked my goodpathway cause me to have bradychardia...so instead of a fast heart rythm i now have bradychardia....im so damn frusterated....so i went to get a second opinion and been under the care of my second doctor for 9 yrs now..i held off from getting a pacemaker because my doc said i was young and i wasnt showing sighns...so in the past 2 yrs...

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anyone with a auto immune and heart block?

i was wondering if anyone with av heart block has any lung diseases or abnormal ct's? My husband is getting a second opinion,got his pacemaker 6 months ago with 2 degree heartblock now in 3rd degree heart block, during his hospital stay they found abnormal nodules and lymph nodes in his chest and lungs we went to pulmonary doc repeated the ct 3 months no change repeated it again no change possible smaller went to the 2 opinion doc he's sending us again to one of his pulmonary doc's. He didnt sa...

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You know you're wired when...

You’re a battery-operated lover.

Member Quotes

My ICD/pacer is not a burden. I still play tennis and golf.