pain and swelling in arm

I had my first PM place in Feb. 2011 after a sinus node ablation and junctional rhythm. This PM only had one lead, and my new EP is planning to a different procedure, and wants to be able to monitor with tow leads.

I had the PM replaced and another lead added on Jan. 13th. In the past week, I have started having pain in my left arm on the side that my PM is on. I met with my EP yesterday, and he measured my arm. My left is one inch larger than my right, and he told me that it is possibly swelling due to adding another lead, and blood flow is decreased. He did a veinogram prior to the the placement, and I had good blood flow at the time the PM and second lead was placed.

He told me that it may clear up after a few weeks, if not he wants me to start a blood thinner.

I just wanted to know if anyone else experienced this, and did it heal on its own without further treatment. It has gotten worse today, and I am going to call the office tomorrow. The problem is that I live 3 hours from my EP, and I am worried. Any info will be appreciated.

3 Comments

Arm Swelling !!

by donb - 2012-02-08 11:02:32

Hello Flash, Just read your posting and I checked back with my 20 years of 4 differant PMs'. I never had any clotting with any PM surgeries. As I had a heart stent for over 10 years I have been on Plavix & Aspirin ever since.
I had a number of PM surgeries, 3 on my left chest & the last PM (my 4th) on my right chest with another pair of leads also. I was taken off my blood thinners prior to those surgeries for a few days only. A lot of our membership are on blood thinners especially with irregular rhythm especially Atrial-Fib. I would ask your Dr. if blood thinner is in order, just to be safe instead of the "wait & see". I certainly wouldn't wait to get some action!! donb

arm swelling

by cfritza - 2012-02-09 04:02:29

Yes my left arm got bigger than my right..I noticed several months later one day when I was at work it started hurting and looked at it and noticed it was swollen. Had my Dr. look at it and had ultrasound to r/o blood clot..then later had a CT scan which did show blockage where the wire was, anyways since it's a vein not an artery it's dangerous they say. I did not like how the swelling felt or looked so went and had a lymphedema physical therapist look at it and treated it with wraping etc and it is much better today.

You were right

by Flash2010 - 2012-02-11 01:02:07

Thurs. my arm had was swollen from my sholder to my hand. It was extremely painful, and it was a purple red color. I called my doc, they sent me to the ER, and I was admitted after a doppler showed a DVT in my subclavian and another one in my arm.

I have been on a heparin drip, and now transitioned to coumadin. I am glad that I went, but is also frustrating to have so many things go wrong. Now I have to put off the ablation until the blood clot resolves.

I am hopefully getting out of the hospital today to go home with injections for 5 days, and coumadin.

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