Leads

I had mitral valve surgery four months ago and a Boston Scientific model K-173 pacemaker installed three days later. I am continually concerned about the two leads pulling out if I reach or stretch for something with my left arm.
Has anyone experienced leads pulling out?

Coolidge

2 Comments

no

by Tracey_E - 2012-11-10 09:11:06

It's not unheard of to pull out leads but it most often happens in the first day or two. After 6-8 weeks it's virtually unheard of. You are healed, get back to your life and don't worry about it! As my pm tech said when I asked if it was ok to learn to do a pull up, it would take a bulldozer to pull them out. So, I am learning to do a pull up for the first time in my lift ;o)

Add to tracey's comment

by donr - 2012-11-11 09:11:12

Coolidge: At three months, I took a hit in the right shoulder from a Jeep Cherokee doing 35 MPH. Fortunately, I was in our mini-van & the door post separated the two of us. But - I still suffered a bunch of broken ribs, collapsed lung lobe, broken collarbone, lacerated liver, bruised kidney & a suspected broken neck & concussion. After the fact, my Cardio found that I developed a small aortic aneurysm as a result of the impact.

BUT - my brand new lead, a mere 3 months old suffered not a bit. Considering the force of impact, my Cardio was quite pleasantly surprised. At high impact levels, a heart can be ripped from its moorings. Now I did not suffer that, but there must have been some trauma to them because I wound up w/ some fluid in the sac containing my heart.

Don't know about Tracey's bulldozer, but I can attest to the fact that a Cherokee did not do it!

Don

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