icd implant-severe pain

20 days ago I had an ICD implant. No problems until 2 days after the surgery when I suffered severe pain just below my left breast. Went to ER. Nothing wrong. Continued to suffer. Went to ER again. Drs found nothing wrong. I don’t know where to turn. Dr. who did the implant has not contacted me. His assistant can find nothing wrong with wound site or ICD.

Tomorrow I see a Rep. from Boston Scientific who made the ICD. The pain is excruciating. I feel as if a hot poker is being shoved up under my breast . Other times it is a dull ache and sometimes I feel a nasty pain with each heart beat. No pain at the insertion site. Any comments?

I am desperate and want to have the device removed as I can’t bear the pain. If you live on Cape Cod and want the name of an uncaring doctor, I can give you one.

HELP.

4 Comments

ICD

by Hope - 2012-09-05 03:09:18

Hi! Have a BS ICD, also. Glad you have a scheduled visit with the BS rep, but a visit with a caring, quality medical doctor seems wise with your description of the location and degree of pain you are experiencing. If necessary, please, with medical records of your ICD surgery/treatment in hand, get a second opinion. You need to get help for yourself, as your ICD experience should not be going this way. Hope what you are experiencing now is just past history soon, and you are enjoying LIFE. Hopeful Heart

Scottish advice

by gulliver80 - 2012-09-05 06:09:00

Hi Poe, our mutual acquaintance Hope is baolutely right, a clear concise chat with your GP/Cardio is a must. Seeing the BS rep is great, he or ahe can tell you how wonderful the product is however they will not be able to tell you why your feeling so rubbish. I too had similar pain after my ICD was fitted, was yours placed directly under the akin or under a muscle?! (muscle for me) It may be a number of things such as rubbing against nerve endings (which line was) or the scar tissue - you really need to have a chat with your doc. As I had mine placed under the muscle, the healing time took about 6 weeks to be totally pain free, although this will alter from person to person. I know it's sore just now but please hang in there....

Best
Darren

If it's bad.....

by ILoominatedEKG - 2012-09-06 12:09:27

GIVE 'EM HELL!!! I had to threaten to cut out my PM with a box knife and a pair of vice grips before they found the problem. A cat scan revealed the ventricular lead had pierced my heart and was pacing my diaphragm. If it's BAD pain, don't let ANYBODY tell you there's nothing wrong. If all else fails, go see another cardio (or 2!!!).

They moved the bad lead and all is well now. Read my posts and comments. Let us kn ow what turns up. We care!

Best wishes - Dave

Migration

by PacerRep - 2012-09-06 12:09:36

Have you noticed the ICD has moved since implant? Is the ICD near the armpit or high (like tword your collar bone?) Sometimes the doctor does not make the "pocket" large enough for the device and when your body naturally heals it constricts on the device and causes discomfort (obviously that is a general statement I clearly have no knowledge of your personal situation). Just a few thoughts. High implants usually hurt.

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