PM related or just paranoid??

Hi all, I had my PM replaced around 6 weeks ago, now have three wires in situ but all seams to be working ok. I have been suffering from a range of symptoms over the past few week but nobody seams to know why.

A couple of weeks ago my left arm started to go numb over about a 1/4 of my forearm, it has stayed that way since. In the area of numbness there is a slight swelling that appears to follow a vein along my arm.

A few days after the numbness I started to get a 'pulling' feeling around the same area when I tried to use the arm.

There is a vein in the front of my left shoulder that is tender to touch, the PM pocket if still slightly tender to touch.

In the last few days I have started to get left shoulder tightness and a dull chest pain which comes and goes. I seam to also be slightly breathless.

I have seen an ER doc and he said because I had no swelling he wasn't worried and told me it was just a random coincidence that these things have all happened since my PM change.

Anyone any ideas or suggestions? Thanks : )

6 Comments

Not paranoid...

by sunny@heart - 2013-06-19 02:06:06

Gosh, it is hard enuff to deal with all the changes that our PM's bring and what is "normal" & what isn't!! I'm new on this site, but have had my PM for 9 years.... I think when you feel all these weird things, call your doc... talk to his nurse.... ask questions... it's ok.... it's even OK to be paranoid!! ( we seldom are, some people llke to say we are).... but it's scary to have these feelings & not know what is causing them!
Sunny

call again

by Tracey_E - 2013-06-19 04:06:43

The numbness, etc could be they hit a nerve. It should get better on its own as you heal.

The vein is what I'd keep an eye on, insist someone in the cardio's office take a look at it. Watch for red or hot spots, that is the sign of a clot.

The breathlessness could be a change in settings. Ask them if your new one has any settings which are different from your old ones. Some are more careful than others about making sure the settings are exactly the same, or the new one could have features the old one did not.

clot

by Alma Annie - 2013-06-19 06:06:05

As TraceyE comments, it could be a clot, and if that is so it needs attention NOW. Of course it might not be, but better to be safe. Please don't just watch it but get medical attention asap. Mention to cardio, GP, or ER or
whoever you see that you think it could be a clot and would they please investigate straight away.
And no you are definitely not paranoid!
Alma Annie

Thank you

by TypeR03260 - 2013-06-20 06:06:34

Thanks for all the replies, I've seen two different doctors so far, both said they won't investigate because my arm isn't very swollen. They are of course the experts but I am sure I have read in a number of places that swelling doesn't always happen and that many occlusions or clots can be assymptomatic?

Get another opinion

by jenny97 - 2013-06-20 10:06:02

It doesn't sound asymptomatic to me. If it's a clot, you definitely don't want to play with it, especially if it's accompanied with shortness of breath. I'd recommend you get another opinion.

PM related or just paranoid??

by katbell - 2013-07-03 05:07:51

Please go and get a ultrasound of your arm. I had PM implanted on 2/5/2013-I've had shortness of breath since that very day, finally 5 months later doctors admits he didn't change the settings and apologizes to me, 2 days later, a small knot comes up on my left/upper inner arm, I start getting a pulling sensation, kind of like a guitar string being tightened, I tell the doctor, sends me immediately for ultrasound, and yes its a blood clot, they prescribed xarelto meds, blood thinner, I'm very worried, oh and yes, the swelling did go down,before I even got the ultrasound down, they went over my arm where I showed them the spot and it didn't show one, they did the backside of my arm and found it. I'd get one for sure! My story sounds just like yours.

You know you're wired when...

You fondly named your implanted buddy.

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