Rash following Medtronic pacemaker implantation

I had a Medtronic dual lead pacemaker inserted on May 3, 2012, due to issues with my Sinus Node, that was not always creating the electric current to initiate the heart to pump.
Following my surgery, about a week later, a rash started in my lower abdomen and has now spread to my lower back. It’s been almost two weeks with the rash and it does not seem to be getting any better. I have a call into my Cardiologist but would like to know if anyone else has had the same problem. It may be from the antibiotics I was taking or maybe my body is responding to the foreign object (pacemaker) in my chest.

Please respond via PRIVATE MESSAGE if you have experienced the same.

Thanks,

Dick 

4 Comments

meds

by Tracey_E - 2012-05-21 03:05:40

It sounds like a reaction to medication, not the pm

Rash

by manaman - 2012-05-21 04:05:25

Please tell me it doesn't hurt!. Probably a medication reaction (not from the PM) BUT if it hursts it could be SHINGLES (I hpe that is not what it is. Shingles has a liking to pop up after things like this and it usually works it way to nerve endings aroundthe abdomin/back area.
Good luck,
Cecil

Doesn't shingles kind of stay to one side of the midline?

by kathykat11 - 2012-05-21 11:05:15

like from navel to mid back on the left. I have never had shingles and it is the one disease I most fear. My nerves are already compromised from my stroke. I don't know how they would react if I got shingles. the navy will not pay for Zostavax before 60 and my coverage runs out 1month and 10days before I turn 60. The vaccine is cost prohibitive on disability of 645.00 and medicaid does not kick in for 30 months after my disability started. I am avoiding school age kids like the plague. If you have avoided the beast of shingles, get the vaccine, if you can afford it or you have insurance that will cover it. I saw an old woman in the nursing home with it and I would n't wish that on my Ex husband. so you have to know it is reaaly bad.

Roof coverings

by donr - 2012-05-25 05:05:47

Kathy: Whoops! wrong kind of shingles.

You may associate w/ kids of all ages w/o fear. They do not give you the virus that causes shingles.

Your own body harbors it in some sort of inactive state. You picked it up when YOU had chickenpox as a kid. It will lie dormant till you celebrate some magic B'day about 60 when it awakens, stretches, turns off its calendar alarm & runs out to infect you yet again, only this time w/ a horrible vengeance.

You could live alone on a desert island & get shingles as long as you had chickenpox as a kid.

IF you can rec treatment at an active Navy med facility, they may have the vaccine there.

The first week wife & I became eligible for the vaccine by age, we went to Walter Reed Army Med Ctr in DC & got the shot. They were giving it to retirees. We drove there from GA, where we live. Stayed w/ Daughter who lived in DC. That was cheaper than getting it on civilian market - back then it was nearly $1000 a pop!

I see you live in VA Beach. Not too far from DC. Bethesda Naval Med Ctr may be giving it to dependents. Worth a try.

My B-i-L had/has shingles. Covered his head & was so bad he shaved his head. Got into one eye & he was blind in it for a while. There seemed to be no boundaries for the rash or the itching.

Don

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Member Quotes

My eight year old son had a pacemaker since he was 6 months old. He does very well, plays soccer, baseball, and rides his bike. I am so glad he is not ashamed of his pacemaker. He will proudly show his "battery" to anyone.