Various annoyances . . .

Just wanted to say a big thank you to all you guys out in the WWW, you are a real help to me. I have had my PM 6 months now and its been quite a rollercoaster ride. I collapsed with a suspected TIA exactly one year ago tomorrow (aged 41) and the problem was eventually put down to Wenckeback's glorious heart block !!! Since having the PM I have had lots of pain around the site and worryingly sharp (jagged) type pains in the heart area / centre of my chest. Each time I'm checked I am told 'everything normal'. Good eh ! I am visiting my consultant in Jan and hoping for some answers . . .

1 Comments

Pacemaker & Problems

by SMITTY - 2011-12-19 07:12:34

Hello,

Being told "everything is normal" is about par for the course, as you can see from many of the messages posted here. Whether it is correct or not depends on whether it is the person doing the checkup or the patient that is having the problem. If it is the technician it probably means the PM is doing exactly what it is programmed to do. If it is you that tells you exactly nothing about why you are having the problems and what can be done.

Of course I can't tell you why you are having your problems, but I can list some possibilities of the cause. Pain around the site may be something leftover from the surgery and good luck on finding out what it is. I'm on my second PM and while the site of first one never gave a minutes trouble, this second one started about 6 or 7 months after the implant and I have stinging or burning pain frequently. Also the thing moves around some. All in all a big pain in the butt. When I complained to the Dr an X-ray of the site was made and I was told the PM and leads are where they are supposed to be. The only option I have is to let the Dr go back in and reposition the PM and suture it in better. I declined for right now.

As for your sharp pains that can be from some of an impulse from the PM escaping and impinging on a nerve. I have had my share of that problem, starting with my first PM. I did get the offer to have one of the leads repositioned. My thought was my leads are to old for that, so I took the other option and that was to deaden the affected nerve. While that stopped the pain it brought with it equal or worse problems.

On my second PM I'm having a similar problem and have been told that sometime, time itself will correct the problem. I'm still waiting. I did see here the other day where one of the members said time did correct a problem they were having. Hopefully the Dr will give you better news.

Good luck,

Smitty

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