Terrified. Possible infection in pocket

Hi all. Saw local cardiologist for redness and pain around PM site. Almost 7 weeks PO. He thinks the pocket might be infected. Ordered blood work, put me on antibiotic and he called my cardiologist in Rochester. I'm waiting to hear back Being new to all this I am terrified. What began as a strained pec seems to have morphed into a possible infection and possible surgery. Has anyone had an infection in pocket? How was it resolved? I am so distraught. Thanks Cardiac Tech and TracyE for your advice. I will keep you posted.

13 Comments

Thank you !

by Minnesota - 2013-07-29 03:07:33

TracyE - I will do what you suggest and search. I do need to get on top of this and not let it get me down. They are doing cultures. I see my doc tomorrow at 11. He will have some of the blood work results. I appreciate your support. Will update tomorrow after appointment.

infection

by Tracey_E - 2013-07-29 03:07:39

If you do a search, other members have been through this and come out of it ok. Don't be terrified! Be informed and proactive. This can be fixed. You want to treat it aggressively and quickly. If the oral antibiotics don't work quickly, they may do iv next. If that doesn't do it, then yes, they sometimes take the pm out until it heals. Did they do a culture to see exactly what you're dealing with? If not, insist on that now. You don't want to waste a week on something that may or may not work.

Good luck!!

Bull work?

by Minnesota - 2013-07-29 04:07:33

DonB. - Do you mean real bulls? Holy cow! I do nothing of the sort - just walk my dog. Glad you are doing well. I hope to find out answers tomorrow. I started oral antibiotics today. I am reading old posts for info like TracyE suggested. Some good some bad. Ugggggg. I need to keep calm and move forward. Will post tomorrow. Thanks DonB!

Type of Infection !!

by donb - 2013-07-29 04:07:53

Hi,
Tracey has it pretty well covered as I'm now on my 6th pacemaker since 1992, with my last 3 implants ranging from 3 years down to 3 months for my last implant before erosion started. I had culture tests & bloodwork showing no infection in site or in blood. So, to this day I have no actual answer for my erosion other than rejection or possible alergy. In my just recent 6th implant they found infection in my leads when lab checked. As I had Vancomycin IV with my last implants which finally phased out the C-Diff flair up & I had 7 weeks of Vanco IV with my just recent implant, it has been the only antibiotic which has worked for me & also not having any side-effects.
I also want to mention that I'm very active, always enjoy doing bull-work with lots of upper body movement which I believe contributed with my erosions. As I now have my 6th implant buried under muscle in my right abdomen & no limitations from surgeon, I'm hoping for the best as I've experienced pratically no pain & sure don't miss having my flat box in my chest. Good Luck & don't hesitate with questions !! Keep us posted !!
DonB

Hello

by mytrose43 - 2013-07-29 11:07:56

I did have a infection when i first got my PM in 2005 i did not have to have more surgery the antibiotics where started in time before it got to bad ,I actually answered your first post just minutes after you posted it telling you to get it checked ASAP and not wait the 5 days til your appt but for some reason it never showed up on the post but you got the same opinion from others and i am glad you had it checked out asap hopefully it was caught in time and you will be ok with the antibiotics, Good Luck Valerie

Envelope

by D from NYC - 2013-07-30 01:07:26

I recently got my CRT-D implanted last Thursday and one of the things my EP did during the operation was placed an AIGISRx® Antibacterial Envelope into the pocket along with the device which should cut down the chance of contacting any bacteria or "Super Bugs" while in the OR or hospital. Also I'm taking antibiotics for 7 days. So far I feel fine except for the normal healing process and hope I don't contact any infections. But as TracyE said - do your research and get proactive. Go goggle AIGISRx® Antibacterial Envelope and ask your doctor about it. Hope you feel better.
D from NYC

Hi Minnesota......................

by Tattoo Man - 2013-07-30 02:07:40


......................................yup, I had a pocket infection last year. I asked my Surgeon if he was going to hammer the problem with antibiotics with lots of blood tests.

His response was that in his experience this does not always work. The result was that in January, this year I had total PM + Leads out..pocket packed with antibiotics. I now have a completely new rig in my right shoulder and am absolutely fine.

I fully understand your fears....infections and hearts don't get on well with eachother....but I am sure that you will be ok.

Please let the group know how you get on and what was the treatment...we all need this kind of info because one persons treatment / outcome may differ from anothers.

I had my op done with a general anaesthetic because I am a lousy patient !!

Best wishes from the UK...many years ago I lived in Rochester UK where I went to Art College....happy days indeed !!

Tattoo Man

Yes it is infected. Question for Tatoo man

by Minnesota - 2013-07-30 03:07:48

I will be treated with an oral antibiotic - different one than I started yesterday. Hopefully it will succeed in killing the infection. If not I will have PM and leads removed. New PM will be implanted on right side. Doc says I should see improvement fairly quickly if it is helping. I complete the 10 day Rx then hope for no reoccurance. Tatoo man- when your PM was removed did they implant a new one same day? If not, how long did you have to wait? How bad was the wait with regards to your cardiac symptoms returning? I can't imagine feeling those symptoms all over again. I hope it doesn't come to that. Thanks Tatoo man and all. Let's see if the drugs work. More soon.

Hi Minnesota..again !!..........

by Tattoo Man - 2013-07-30 05:07:55


..........Its good that you have a good idea of what lies ahead...I have to say, 'M', that I was more than happy to get rid of the old kit and start from scratch...my personal view (NON MEDICAL) is that any possibility of lingering infection is just bad news.
'M'...yes, my new PM was installed at the same time of removal of the Dud Kit.....maybe others here might have different stories. As I have said, I had a GA so why not do the business while T-Man is spark-out and compliant ????
My cardiac condition is pretty good all-in,..so no issues whatsoever re post surgery....I really saw no difference at all,..except for a much more comfortable PM site..( part of the whole business of my infection was to do with my 'box' coming a bit adrift and making an attempt to break out of my body...)..( Yeuuuch ! )

So....lets face it....

1 Who actually wants a PM ?

2 Who actually wants a 'Box Rip Out' ?

3 Who actually would rather slump over the wheel of a car with a bradychardic episode,..swerving over the freeway and taking out that lovely family on their way to a perfect holiday....?

4................just maybe,..we have stuff done for the good of lovely people that we will never know,..or meet.

Lets look at it 'M'....this is a great Win-Win situation....you feel good and Minnesota maintains a good traffic death record !!

Tattoo Man,..just back from a 4 mile training evening with the fabulous Notfast Running Club,..here in the UK...hill sprinting this evening..a nice little warm down from last weekends Adidas 24 hour Thunder Run..so wonderful to be in a team of 8 with people old enough to be my kids and my Grandkids !!

'M'..its going to be just fine.

Valerie and D from NYC

by Minnesota - 2013-07-30 10:07:04

Hi guys. Thanks for the support. I am headed to doc soon. Valerie- you were so right. I knew something wasn't quite right. Unfortunately i think my little accident with left arm created a distraction as to the trouble brewing up inside pocket. 4wks PO I accidentally used left arm to support someone who tripped towards me. Within 2 days I was in tremendous pain. Had some swelling and diffuse redness. Saw my reg doc a week after the event who believed it was a muscle strain and my PM site was ok It continued to worsen. I called the PM clinic in Rochester where it was implanted and I saw a nurse in PM clinic last Thursday. She was convinced I had a muscle strain in Pec under PM. By the weekend the area had turned bright red. Monday(yesterday) I saw another PM clinician and doc was called in to assess. That's when the you know what hit the fan. so now I am off to Rochester to have my cardiologist assess. Don- I don't recall if they put an antibiotic envelope in . But they treated me with 2 doses of I'VE antibiotics while in surgery. Didn't get a Rx for antibiotics when discharged. But yesterday the doc gave me Rx so I'm on board ow. Hope it's not too late. You guys are so great to lend your support. I didn't realize how much it would mean to me and help me deal with this life changing event. I'll post after my doc visit. Take care all! And thank you so much!

Hi Minny Sota...................

by Tattoo Man - 2013-07-31 04:07:00


.............................hey,..thanks for your kind words ..and I am happy that the State of Minnesota can rest in their beds knowing that you are not careening across the freeway towards that 'lovely couple'...( actually a nasty pair of crack dealers..but hey...this is about the value of life...)

NOTFAST running club needs to be explained ,if you can be bothered................

N...Newark
O...Over
T...Thirty
F...Fives
A...And
S...Still
T...Trying

Yup..we are the only Vets only club in the UK...founder members are 120 years old and still staggering around......me , a mere 63 year old..still racing every week

Between you and me ,..I think NOTFAST stands for....

N...Not
O...Overly
T...That
F...Fussed
A...About
S...Serious
T...Training

But ,..last weekend we, as a club,..did our 5th Adidas Thunder Run...an epic 24 hour relay.

I guess the message is ...get a PM ..and..get a life...

TM x

NOTFAST

by Minnesota - 2013-07-31 05:07:40

Haha. I should start my own swim club - SLO-MO.

Love your post Tman!!

by Minnesota - 2013-07-31 10:07:29

Tatoo Man you have a way with words. I've read your post 3 times and enjoy it more each time. I am really glad to hear your story. I don't know how my story will play out yet. I am giving the drug a chance. If it doesn't win I too will be sporting a righty. I'm relieved to hear your switch up was same day. If I need a removal and new Device I would not want to have to wait and endure the Brady driving roulette. The state of Minnesota thanks you for your insight!
Funny you should mention your Notfast Running club. I'm in a Notfast swimming club. Swim solo though. I last hit the pool June 10. Day before PM surgery. I was hoping to get back in sooner but now I just walk my dog and wait out the PM issue. Take care Tatoo man. Keep the posts coming. Love your energy.

You know you're wired when...

Friends call you the bionic woman.

Member Quotes

Life is finally better.