infected pacer

I reported here a couple of weeks ago that my pacer implanted Aug.2nd, was infected at the incision.My pacer was working perfectly.
I was hospitalized on the 19th of Sept. hoping that bombarding the infection with antibiotics would clean up the mess after a few days.Didn't work! On the 24th my pacer was removed.They were afraid the infection would spread down the leads into my heart.They taped a temporary pacer to my neck.On the 26th they implanted a new pacer on the right side and removed the temporary.Where the infected pacer was on the left, they implanted a wound-vac ,A device that allows the wound to heal from the inside out. A tube runs down from the wound to a 3 pound, battery operated vacuum box straped to my waist to collect discharge and worn 24/7. The wound is packed with a foam pad that is changed by a home nurse M-W-F.Very painful. I'm on pain meds every 4 hours to control the pain.The wound is supposed to be healed in three- five weeks.I also have a picc line inserted in my forearm that I self-administer antibiotics every 8 hours and blood is drawn from it once/week by the home nurse and analyzed by an infectious disease lab.There was no bacteria found in previous blood draws.
Tomorrrow will be my first shower in a week.I cannot drive for 4 more days.They do not know what caused the infection.Maybe an ingrown hair or suture that didn't dissolve.Maybe they aren't telling me.
A nurse verified my name and date of birth before going into surgery.Then she said"What do your friends call you?"
I replied.."Lucky"
A word to the wise>>>
Wash your hands often & Keep an eye on your incisions!!

8 Comments

yikes

by Tracey_E - 2013-10-01 05:10:37

Wow, so sorry to hear you've been through so much! I've heard of pm's removed for infection but never the whole packing, etc, ouch. Prayers you are on the mend now.

I think they usually don't know what causes it. It's not like they're going to admit the operating room had bacteria!
Sometimes pm's that have been there for years end up infected. My understand is it's infection in our bodies from other sources that latches on to the pm.

infected pacer

by smokinjack - 2013-10-01 06:10:53

Thanks Tracey,
There have been more and more infections not only in the Denver area but nationwide.They have checked everything..air ducts,procedures,personnel. Maybe because they are doing more pacers and the %s are going up.Super Bugs??? Is it coming from the pacer manufacturer??
True about infections in our body and also bacteria on our skin.
Starting over:(

Hi smokinjack

by jane32 - 2013-10-01 07:10:34

What a terrible time you have had, and so painful. Hopefully things are on the improve. Best wishes coming your way.

I had an infection also.

by Minnesota - 2013-10-01 09:10:26

My first PM implanted in June had to be removed due to infection. My wound was debrided 3x daily for 5 or 6 days- the pain was excruciating. Wound was closed and I was in IV antibiotics 2 weeks. In August had my new PM implanted on the right side. They covered it with an antibacterial bandage that stayed on a week.
I am just over 4wks PO. So far it looks good.
We will never know for certain how I got infected but it could have come from bacteria that normally lives on the skin that found its way into the incision. I try not to dwell on the bad luck of getting an infection (1% of PM patients). It sucks. But at least we got a second chance.
When you wrote awhile back I felt so bad for you. But I was too deep in my own stuff to write.
Take it easy awhile. I don't feel nearly as good this time as with first PM. It's going to take time to recover from the assault in your immune system. Take care. Keep posting.
Minnesota

smokinjack

by lubro - 2013-10-02 07:10:21

so sorry to hear about your painful experience. I had some problems with the initial implant, but no infection... only a puncture in the heart wall which led to other procedures and resetting the leads, but fortunately no infections... hope all goes well for you from here on out...take care...

Lubro

Painful!!

by Rog - 2013-10-02 09:10:52

Sounds like you've been through a lot of pain! Wow sorry to hear that.Like was said when I run into a bad situation, I know there are a lot worse things that have happened to other people.Hang in there!! With my second pm I was allergic to the tape and when the doc ripped it off it wasn't a very pretty site! But I guess we have to go through those things.

infected pacer

by smokinjack - 2013-10-02 10:10:01

Thanks to all for your kind words. The worst part is starting back at square one.I try to be optomistic but somedays it just isn't there.The docs say everytime "you're going to be fine" Seems like it's one step forward and two steps back for me..I know there are others in worse shape than me.Summer is over..snow predicted Friday & Saturday.Summer was lost in this mess.
I wish you all the best.Thanks for your support.
Jon

Erosion-Infection

by donb - 2013-10-02 10:10:51

As I've also been through the route of infection & pacemaker site changes a "few" times. I have to be really thankfull for not having all the pain & discomfort. After reading other members with their route of medical care it just seems like "too little and to late". Having my cardiac nurse wife & grand-daughter as care givers choosing my route of medical care has saved my butt many times these past 22 years dealing with 6 pacemakers.
I want to mention also that I have been really alarmed reading of members getting the "run around" from so many Drs. I know as I've also had this experience but having my nurse wife along with trips into ER, Drs office visits, and also with her working with them at the hospital while attending me.
With my recent 3 month episode of infection & IV treatment between the hospital & care facility, a great young RN shared info with my nurse wife only to find a huge error in dosage & timing of IV infusion. Fortunately this was corrected timely. I don't know why so many of our members get the run around from our care givers but I also understand that we're just a small percentage of patients belonging to this great site which have care problems. So, I'll just keep reading between the lines & hope our members get proper care. In my case I knew I needed major changes & found Drs who specialized doing the job & also found my local Cardiologists were happy to have me choose a team to do my surgeries & treatment.
DonB

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You have a 25 year mortgage on your device.

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