Clot in left arm

Dear friends: I had my pm a month ago and after 3 days I had a clot in my left arm, the Dr said that my vein where he inserted the leads was small now i am taking warfrain 5 mg and I might take it for 3-6 months if needed. Have any one had the same problem please I need some info as the Dr told me it happens 1/2% after the incession. Thank u all

3 Comments

not common, but happens

by polrbear - 2012-09-09 11:09:14

I do think the 1-2% is about right, but we're also talking about a procedure that usually require repeating in even the best of patients.

I developed a blood clot where the two leads of my dual-chamber ICD meet in my right subclavian vein (near the collar-bone). The cardiology nurse I was working with the morning I discovered my problem thought I was a bit nuts instead of actually having a problem, but she humoured me and measured my arm circumferences. She was a bit more understanding afterwards. I worked on a telemetry floor, so I caught one of the EP nurses in the hallway and had her take a look. She ordered an ultrasound (performed over my lunch break) and had a script for warfarin (coumadin or jantoven) sent in for me before I finished working. This was six days after my procedure (and two days before a big, family holiday) and I helped break a multi-year streak my EP had of no blood clots on his post-procedure patients. I wasn't the only one that day, either. He wasn't feeling the best at the end of the day, just like the two patients.

As for Baz's thoughts on what caused the clot, I would lean with the physician's assessment. A pacemaker/ICD will more likely cause an upper extremity (arm) clot than a normal angiogram (done through the groin; occasionally they're done through the wrist) while it can realistically cause a lower extremity (leg) clot.

If you're having a lot of swelling from the clot, I have two pieces of advice. First, keep your arm elevated as much as you can above the level of your shoulder. The blood clot slows down blood flow (sadly, thereby increasing the risk for growing the clot) and this position allows gravity to help the blood return. I laid on my cough, on my back, with my arm up against or over the backrest.

Second is that you consider a compression sleeve for your arm if the amount of swelling you develop during the day is enough to interfere with your "normal" activities (anything you should be able to do despite the blood clot). This is mainly things that involve lots of finger movement (typing, as one example) or bending at the elbow (lifting groceries). Most medical supply places do NOT have them in stock, as upper extremity clots are a minority of deep vein thromboses (DVTs).

Good luck. Usually, after a month or two on a blood thinner, things will feel quite normal again. Be careful if you're active, have a car accident, etc.

Dustin

blood clot's

by Acubarry - 2012-09-09 11:09:59

G'Day Mohai
I also developed a blood clot in my upper left arm. However the clot was only discovered some 4 weeks after pm surgery. As I had also had an angiogram a few days prior to the discovery I thought that it may have been that, but the cardiologists prefer to blame the pm surgery. Neither my GP or the cardiologists seemed too surprised at the problem, I got the impression that it is more common than the 1 or 2% you quoted. They do take a while to clear. I was on warfarin some 4 months.
Hope you're feeling better
Baz

Clot

by Mohai - 2012-09-10 01:09:06

Thank u dear friends I really appreciate your concerns and advices I was so worried but now I feel much better.

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