Pocket pain and fever

Should I be concerned about recent onset of pocket pain and low grade fever? The site is not red, warm, swollen, or draining. The pm has been in for 8 weeks. I left a message with my EP about it this am. His nurse called back and said he isn't worried about it and to take Tylenol. I'd be a little less concerned if I had a cough, sore throat, earache or other symptoms that might explain a Temp of 100.1. It is so tender I couldn't wear my stethoscope around my neck at work yesterday, it's almost unbearable for anything to touch it. I delivered both of my babies without meds or epidurals, not really a wimp when it comes to pain, but I am a little concerned about this.

10 Comments

Has the device moved?

by PacerRep - 2013-08-23 02:08:45

Or have you recieved a blow or hit to the site? If not, I would schedule an appointment with your cardiologist. It doesn't matter if he is concerned about it...if you are...get it looked at. If he doesn't want to...find a new doc.

Bostonstrong.....................

by Tattoo Man - 2013-08-23 03:08:03


...................these guys are right............any infection risk really needs to be attended to asap.

A bit of sweat on an established PM should be no problem at all.

I do remember though last year before I ended up with a box change that while running I felt the PM 'bouncing' when I ran.

Get yourself checked out soon...there is nothing to lose..

Best wishes Tattoo Man UK

New doc

by Bostonstrong - 2013-08-23 03:08:09

Yeah working on the new doc thing. This one actually told to call my family doc if the fever goes up. Which would be a good move if I had other symptoms besides pocket pain but I don't. No blows to the site, it might have gotten a little irritated with sweat during a 10+ mile run Sunday. But I did 9.5 the week before and no problems.

call back

by Tracey_E - 2013-08-23 03:08:47

As PacerRep said, unless you can attribute the pain to something else, the combination with a fever is at least suspicious and I'd insist on being seen before the weekend. If there is any chance at all of infection, you want to begin treatment asap, not wait for more signs.

charming EP

by Bostonstrong - 2013-08-23 06:08:08

Since my charming EP didn't want to look at the site I'm not sure what to do. I can write prescriptions and if this gets worse will start an antibiotic. Since the site looks good I'm wondering if I really need them. Just wondering what is going on underneath in the pocket tissue. Btw I have a friend whose husband has an ICD who threw one of the EPs from this group out of his hospital room after the EP yelled "you Americans have no pain tolerance" at her husband, one day after the implant. She wrote a letter to the hospital administrator which was ignored. Apparently the EPs are rainmakers for the system and are allowed to behave like jackals with no repercussions.

possibly infected

by iheartemh - 2013-08-23 06:08:25

I agree with all that you may have a possible infection and should insist on seeing your doctor. In fact, fever of any type is listed as a concern and when to call your healthcare provider. If they shrug you off, I think you should consider changing physicians. I am positive my cardiologist or primary would want to see me ASAP if I called about a low-grade fever. Best of luck to you.

Antibiotics

by Bostonstrong - 2013-08-23 10:08:48

I'd rather not have to write my own script for that reason. Still hoping I don't need one. My staff all have colds, maybe I am just catching one if theirs.
The hospital that owns my clinic takes every complaint seriously. The CEO responds to every one personally. But it is much smaller hospital I have trained my staff to be kind and compassionate to everyone. Our patients tell us they appreciate it and are very positive and very vocal about the quality of care. I wouldn't dare not take one of my patients concerns seriously because any of us can be wrong about something. I'm always amazed by health care providers who don't like patients. Why in the world did they go into this field? I will find a good EP.

Tattoo man

by Bostonstrong - 2013-08-24 01:08:11

I am very kind to my patients so it is a little disconcerting to be treated badly. I went to the ER a few weeks ago after having some presyncope and other problems after a setting change. The Ep on call screamed at me over the phone and refused to help me because it was a Saturday. The ER doc was nice but can't change settings. The EP made clear his beliefs about Americans, females, and older people in no uncertain terms. If that conversation had been in person and I hadn't felt so bad he would have been cold cocked. If someone had treated my mother or grandmother like that at any time, but especially having problems post op when they were vulnerable I would have notified the medical board. And if he hates Americans so much why not practice in his country of origin. I won't name the country out of respect for the lovely people I know who are from there. I think it a personal problem with him being jerk face not a nationality problem. You are so right, it does beggar belief.

Hurt heart

by Bostonstrong - 2013-08-24 01:08:53

Sadly it is just a business to hospital administrators. I am just mystified by staff though who choose a profession in the health care field and don't care about anything beyond their next paycheck. I'm not real comfortable yet being on the "patient" end of health care. When I was getting an EKG in the hospital someone knocked on the door. The tech yelled come in. Two males walked in with a portable chest X-ray machine while I was exposed from the waist up. I threw them out and told the tech that was NOT cool and asked her why she did that. It's tough enough doing this without being treated like a human being. Do hospitals really need to teach respect to staff? Shouldn't they have that figured out ?

IS IT JUST ME ????.............

by Tattoo Man - 2013-08-24 12:08:37


....................So,..Bostonstrong...

You are a 'stethoscope-prescription qualified' member of the Medical Profession and you get this crap treatment ??

For..' hecks' sake ,..where does that leave the other poor suckers who are at the mercy of the greedy / useless / lazy practitioners ??

I am with Sparrow and Hurtheart.

How about checking into your local ER, with all your whites on , tag, and stethoscope..with the simple question....." I am a real person and I hurt and I'm a bit scared..having had a device has been tough enough...now give me what I truly deserve, just like any person in this country..get me fixed ASAP, so I can get back to work and help other Real People get better and go back to their loved ones"

As a Brit I will not get political....but....

This just beggars belief.

I am with you ...BostonStrong....don't take the BS...

Tattoo Man UK

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

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