Desperate for Pacemaker Replacement

I am new to the group, so I will give a brief history before asking my question. I am a 28 y/o female who had no health issues and was working hard in my 2nd year of neurosurgery residency when my whole world turned upside down. It started one day when I passed out at work. This was about 10 months ago, since then I have had alternating episodes of bradycardia and tachycardia with multiple syncopal episodes. I was unable to work and ultimately had to resign my position due to my medical position. No one gave me a hard diagnosis, but as the bradycardic episodes became worse it eventually was decided to put a pacemaker in. The pacemaker was placed Aug 22, 2011. It was like a dream come true for me. I was able to take beta blockers for the tachycardic episodes and I felt great. I was weeks from getting back to being a practicing physician when the I noticed some drainage from my incision. This was approximately 4 weeks postop. Being a surgeon, I knew this was not good. I called my doctor and he asked me to come in the next day. By the time I reached the office the skin overlying the pocket was bright red. Ultimately a few days later the pacemaker was removed.

Now here I am, sans pacemaker and miserable. Again unable to work, drive, or function. Because I have had problems with IV sites getting infected my doctor says it is probably too risky to place another pacemaker. "I may just have to live with this for a few years" Well thats unacceptable. I am 28, graduated first in my medical school class and now I am supposed to sit on the couch? I am posting this here to see if any of you have had experience with infections and have pacemakers re-implanted. I know there is always risk for re-infection, but I want my life back!

Any help you could give would be appreciated more than you know.

8 Comments

Search button

by janetinak - 2011-10-31 02:10:14

After Frank's comment above I went to the "Search" button on the upper left of this page & put in several searches in w/o any luck. I know there have been discussions here about post-op infections but nothing came up. I would suggest you try tomorrow as maybe the button is not be working tonight. Or I may have not used correct words. Just thought as a newcomer you ight not know about the search button..

Janet

Hi

by janetinak - 2011-10-31 02:10:18

& welome to the club. I have not had the same situation as you but I believe I would see another EP & also consult an Infectious Disease doc too. I would find the statement that you must "live with it" unacceptible too. You have worked so hard & have so much potential that you must fight to get better.

I have had permanet Afib since 1999 & tried every med & several cardioversions but nothing worked. So in late 2000 I took my cardio's advice & saw the EP in the practice & went the AV node ablation & PM route. It is great & gave me a life back so I sure can relate.

So keep fighting & let us know how you are doing,

Janet

Yikes

by ElectricFrank - 2011-10-31 02:10:23

It seems like someone on the forum has mentioned a plastic liner that can be used in the pacer pocket to separate the body tissue from the metal. You might look into it.

Did he leave the leads implanted and just remove the device?

Being in the medical field you have easier access to information than some of us. I would suggest contacting several of the pacemaker manufacturers and see what their experience is with reactions to the device. Medtronics has the new MRI compatible model which might use different materials in the pacemaker.

And finally, this may sound like strange advice to a doctor, but don't let professional ethics get in your way as far as second opinions and personal research. It's a risk in most professional fields.

good luck,

frank

Re: search command

by pacepal - 2011-10-31 07:10:04

I entered the words " pocket infection " & successfully found several comments regarding this query that you may find helpful.

Karen

tough one

by Tracey_E - 2011-10-31 07:10:29

So sorry to hear you're having so many problems! Have you consulted with an infectious disease specialist? Or possibly an allergist to see if it's the metal perhaps rather than an infection that is the source of the problem. We've had other members go through removal for infection but eventually be able to get a new pm successfully so don't give up hope.

Why The Infection

by SMITTY - 2011-10-31 10:10:12


Hello Wheelea,

My guess, based on what you tell us, is your first chore is to find out why you get an infection when your body, below the skin surface, is in contact with silvery metal. I know a pacemaker is made of titanium and possibly other metals. I have no idea what metal is in a hypodermic needle, but it too is silvery and I see the possibility of a connection in the metallurgy.

Whatever the cause, I hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

Good luck,

Smitty

PM Rejection

by donb - 2011-10-31 12:10:55

Hi & Welcome, Your posting is so welcome as I had somewhat simular problem which led me to this support group. I did not experience infection as my Infectious Dr ruled that out. Alergy tests showed reaction to soft plastic which is used on the lead terminals going into the PM. Also doing extensive Cardiac Rehab with arm exercise (which everyone hates) at the time also contributed to rejection.

As this was my 3rd PM and a site pocket not reuseable because of scar tissue along with an insulation break in 1 of my leads, my Cardiologist decided to go for a complete new right chest PM implant & another pair of new leads. Plastic surgery to remove scar tissue & restoration with padding on my old site was done with 2 more surgeries. The old leads terminal caps had to be removed as they eroded after a couple months hence the 2nd restoration. Also the coil of excess old leads were cut & removed. Having a right chest implant has been great this past 2 years. If you have any questions send me a Private Message!! donb

You are not alone!

by buglady - 2011-11-07 06:11:07

My story is very similiar to yours. I was having both the brady and tachy symptoms. Every doctor I went to basically told me it was all in my head. I was in my late 20's at the time and working as an ICU nurse. I chalked it up to PAT and too many night shifts and overtime. I eventually got a Job in Infection Control and woke up one day under my desk, I went down tot he emerg department where I was having back to back 7 second pauses with a few junctional beats thrown in for good measures. Eventually I ended up having a pacemaker put in and diagnosis of Sick Synus Syndrom. Still symptomatic I went through another year of not being believed about my symptoms until I finially got the right technition who kept reprossitioning me and found I had a floating lead.
I ended up getting another pacemaker and a deep pocket infection this time. 6 weeks in hospital on IV antibiotics and the eventually replanted in the other side of my chest. with no problems other than the leads moving, the wrong pacemeker for my condition, etc, and etc. 6 pacemakers later and 15 years since the infection, I have had no further problems.
I will be going in to get another pacemake in the next year, as the batery is finially wearing out.
My suggestions:

Find the best Cardiologist you can find in your area, tell him your story
Have any pacemaker put in in the or not in a "cath lab"
Bathe with CHG 2-4% prior to surgery
Also get checked to see if you are a S. aureus carrier, many health care workers are and this may be a source for your infection, in which case go through a decolonization program
And lastly, make friends with your local Infection Prevention and Control Practitioner. They may have some recommendations that are specific for the area you are in.

Hope this helps and remeber you are not alone.

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Member Quotes

Since I got my pacemaker, I don't pass out anymore! That's a blessing in itself.