Scar Tissue?

I joined the PM Club a year ago but since that time have changed email address and IP so have joined again.
I am trying to decide whether to go see a doctor, primary or cardio, for the nodule, which is very sore, that I have below and to the left of my PM, clost but not in my left armpit. I got mine on 5-9-2011 and have lumps and bumps and soreness in the area around the PM. I told my cardiologist that I still had a lot of soreness six months after the surgery. He did not check it but just told me that it can sometimes take up to a year for the tenderness/soreness to go away. I have seen him twice since then but never brought up the subject again. The soreness did subside somewhat but I have discovered this very sore nodule recently. Some days I don't notice it at all and other days, like yesterday and today, it is quite sore. I am due to have an interrogation in June so wonder if I should just wait and ask the technician or is this something to be concerned about? Any information from others with pacemakers will be greatly appreciated, such as, has anybody else had a problem like this, still going on a year after placement of the pacemaker? Thanks!

3 Comments

nodule

by Alma Annie - 2012-05-21 08:05:05

Hi Jo,
This does not seem right to me. My soreness went away within weeks and I certainly don't have any nodules. I have had my pm 11 months.
I suggest you see you regular Dr, the GP. If he thinks there is a problem he will sort it either with the cardio/EP or someone else. Please don't wait, but get it seen to as soon as possible. If there is no problem then you will have peace of mind.
Let us know how you go.

Alma Annie

nodule

by Jo80 - 2012-05-22 12:05:56

Thanks for the advice, Alma Annie. I have an appointment with my Primary Care doctor tomorrow morning. I declined a mammogram this year (in March) partly because of this tender area and partly because I am 80 years old and have read and heard that mammograms after the age of 75 are not considered to be beneficial. Have had lots of radiation over the years and decided I don't want anymore unless really necessary. I have blamed this problem on the surgery to insert the pm and I hope I am right. No doubt I will now have to have a mammogram. Will let you know what I find out.

Diagnostic Mammogram and Sonogram

by Jo80 - 2012-05-31 11:05:19

Saw my PC doctor a week ago yesterday. He couldn't feel the lumps that I can feel so plainly but did have me get the tests as stated in the title of this post.. I was there for two hours today getting the procedures and then getting a final diagnosis from the radiologist who looked at the films. His report to me was that nothing at all showed up on the tests so therefor I do not have a problem. I asked him why the lumps that I can feel and that the women who did the tests could also feel didn't show up. He said he didn't know. I also asked why I have the extreme soreness on the one close to my armpit if nothing abnormal showed up in the tests. He said he didn't know. So, I still have the soreness but no answer as to why I have it. I will get my third interrogation late this month. I won't be seeing the cardiologist, just the PM technician. The lady who did the sonogram suggested that the pain and soreness may be coming from the leads. So, I plan to just ignore the whole thing and resign myself to being one of the unlucky ones that has permanent discomfort due to the PM implantation. At least it is doing its job so I can be grateful for that. I just didn't know that I am always going to have periodic pain and permanent soreness as a result of getting a PM.

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