first time need advice

hi to all, I am new to the club.. I had my dual pacemaker inserted on Tuesday last - 4 days ago. I suffer from sick sinus syndrome and i was advised my quality of life with a pacemaker would be much better especially being a mum to 3 young kids.

I went in as a day case on Tuesday and I have been in bed in pain since. I was sick after the surgery due to sedation but was walking and mobile. On Wednesday morning, I woke up in extreme pain in my throat and down the core of my chest,problems with deep breathing and talking and into my back,I went back to the hospital where they checked the leads where still in place by xray, gave me stronger painkillers and sent me home.
I have been in bed since with the same pain at the base of my throat and into my back, the pain on breating has eased a bit, cannot sleep due to discomfort and pain. It hurts to move my neck and it feels like I can fell the PM and the leads as well. I was not expecting any of this. My own GP has given me an anti biotic to see if it helps in anyway. I am due back to my cardiologist on Monday and I need some advice.
Is any of what I am going though normal !! Has anyone been through any similar episodes! Any advice greatly appreciated!

6 Comments

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by ILoominatedEKG - 2012-09-01 01:09:20

I had a nightmare with the same symptoms. I had to threaten to cut the PM out with a box knife before they found the problem - a lead had pierced my heart! They had taken lots of x rays. They didn't find it until they did a CAT scan.

A little pain is normal. If it's BAD pain , don't stop raising hell untill they fix it.

I'm telling you, the box knife routine got quick results, but they gotta believe you'll really do it. LOL

go back

by Tracey_E - 2012-09-01 10:09:40

This is not normal, go back and don't let them send you home again until they figure out what's going on.

ask more questions

by ldebaugh - 2012-09-01 10:09:55

Hi Mumto3,
So sorry you are having this difficulty. Ask the doctor if you had a TEE (transesophageal echo) during the procedure. I've had it with many cardioversions and my PM procedure and believe me the skills of the different doctors vary widely--From not having any difficulty to not being able to eat for weeks because my throat was so sore. I took tylenol and turmeric (an antiinflammatory pill-actually it's a spice but get the pill at a vitamin store). Yes, after 8 months I'm still having wierd sensations, some of us are much more sensitive than others. It lessens and you will get used to it.

I would ask the doctor as many questions as you can about what he did. Tell him you want all the details to understand what just happened to you. There are no dumb questions!
Good luck,
M'Liz

Do Ask More Questions

by Many Blessings - 2012-09-01 11:09:33

I'm with M'Liz,

Ask some more questions. A TEE is a good thing to check on (like M'Liz said). Another thing that may have happened during your surgery, was they may have had to tube or intubate you. That would cause pain in your throat as well. It may have damaged something in there.

I think you'll find most of us have had weird pain here and there right after our PM's or ICDs. A lot of that is normal. But do keep asking your doctor(s), PM Tech(s), and on this site, just in case.

Everyone is different. Some breezed through this and others had a lot of difficulty. Most of us were somewhere inbetween.

Some had and have weird heart pain from leads or the electrical currents (especially 100% paced), and others feel nothing. Some have general chest pain, or random pains or strange feelings everywhere from head to toe.

My cardiologist told me he always says to his patients, nothing is normal and nothing is abnormal. Some things can be explained and some things can't. Everyone's body is different and reacts differently to what's been done to them, both device wise and surgery wise. Some things can be fixed, and others can't.

He always says, this is a mechanical device. It's not perfect. It does help, but can cause some unpleasant side effects. Just like with regular heart surgery or any other surgrey. When they fix one thing, something else usually has to give. BUT, it can also work miracles!

Someone on this site once told me it takes about 8 months for everything to calm down. I can't remember who said that, but they also said you'll feel a lot better after 3 weeks, far more better after 6, and after 8 months, you'll feel as good as new. So far, I found them to be right (I'm going into my 5th month). Hang in there!

Remember, do ask questions to your doctor, surgeon, PM Tech, and on this site, no matter how small you think it is. Everyone here is WONDERFUL!

Don't worry, some of the guys that have been out on this site for a long time will answer you too, and help you out soon.

Best of luck!



first time need advice

by mumto3 - 2012-09-02 08:09:48

Thanks for all of the advice.. i definitley feel a bit more prepared for tomorrow.
Today pain and discomfort has not eased and I will defintley wont be leaving until they give me some answers!

follow up

by mumto3 - 2012-10-12 08:10:18

Hi Thanks for all of the advice. To let you know what happened. I went in and they gave me a chest xray and a echo. They found fluid in the pericardial sack (probably spelt that wrong). Then I had a CAT scan and One of the leads had pierced my heart and lodged into my diaphragm.

So they opened me again and moved the lead and I feel slightly better. The pressure in my back is still their due to the fluid but that Is taking its time to be absorbed.
It is nearly 6 weeks later and I am still not back to full active duty. Hopefully it will settle down in time. Before my sanity leaves me for good.

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