Blood Clot

I had a dual pacemaker implanted on 21 nov 13 and everything was find until about a month ago my arm started swelling and my check on the same side as pacemaker turns a bluish purple color. After a venorgram 2 days ago it showed i have a blood clot where the lead is. The doctor didnt seem to worried about it and put me on Xareto for 90 days, and of course if it doesnt improve to come in sooner. I dont know i guess i'm just really worried. I'm swolloen and purple but then again i just been on xareto for 2 days. Did anybody else have this problem and if so how long did it take to correct itself. Any info i would greatly apprecitate it.

8 Comments

Blood Clot

by SMITTY - 2014-02-06 01:02:49

Hello Sappy35,

I'm no doctor and don't claim to be, but I will suggest that you get a second opinion for your problem.

Good luck,

Smitty

I know how you feel

by BillRussell - 2014-02-06 03:02:57

because my dear husband had a PM implantation on January 3, 2014. Within 7 day he had a very swollen and red/purple upper arm which gradually went into his elbow and hand. We went back to his surgeon within 3 days and an ultrasound was performed; he indeed did have a DVT and was put on Xarelto for an indefinite period of time. The surgeon also did some clotting factor studies. I thought it strange, too, that our surgeon did not seem too concerned. It is as if Xarelto is supposed to be a miracle drug and will prevent any complications. The swelling has gone down a lot but is still there, and we were told yesterday that it sometimes can remain swollen for several weeks, even months.

The triage telephone nurse at the heart center where my husband had surgery had told me signs to watch for that would indicate that the clot could move into the lungs were: elevated blood pressure (in the range of 180/90), chest pain, elevated temperature. Early in the morning two weeks after his surgery, he awakened with all of the above symptoms and was carried by ambulance to the ER where his pain became worse even going into the neck and jaws. His cardiac enzymes were negative, his chest x-rays were clear, a CT scan was clear, and he was released to home on morphine and told that it was not heart related. I didn't believe it then, still don't believe it. The ER doc was convinced it was gastro related. It is now 33 days past his implantation, and he has gradually improved, arm is still swollen some, appetite has improved, and he is moving about more every day. Yesterday at his first pacemaker interrogation, it was found that perhaps he has a lead wire that is not working correctly and he may have to have additional surgery to move it around. I am not sure how it is going to take place, but I am praying diligently that it will correct itself. Having a pacemaker implanted is not a piece of cake--as we had been told by so many beforehand. It has been very serious and life-threatening for my husband and very stressful for me. You can read a lot of material on the internet about blood clots and, yes, it can scare you badly; but from our experience in the past 4 weeks, I feel more confident now. It is hard to believe that a little tiny pill like Xarelto can perform miracles, but it apparently is working well with my husband. I would just advise you to watch very carefully for signs of a pulmonary embolism as I mentioned above. Most of all, keep in contact with your surgeon and his triage nurse and go back to the ER if you notice changes. I wish you well. AnnR.

thanks for the info

by sappy35 - 2014-02-06 08:02:12

Thanks Ann and to all of u. Like ur husband i had pain i n my neck and jaw as well. I called my doc today and feel better. If it gets worse i wll for sure go to the ER. I called my doc today and as u said above its going to take time.

Clots

by golden_snitch - 2014-02-07 04:02:28

Hi!

Blood clots in the veins where the leads are in, are quite common. As compared to deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremeties, clots in the upper extremeties very, very rarely travel to the heart and cause an embolism in the lungs or a stroke. In addition to these clots not travelling with the blood stream, veins develop collaterals - a natural bypass around the area where the clot is - in a short period of time; arteries need a long, long time for that. Therefore, one often doesn't even try to open the occluded vein up again, but just waits for collaterals to develop. So, that is why you were only put on Xarelto and send home.

I have had thrombosis/stenosis in the subclavian and innominate vein, and was first put on Warfarin which helped a lot. I have now been switched to a new oral anticoagulant, Eliquis (Apixaban).

Best wishes
Inga

Blood clotting

by Shepheart - 2014-02-07 12:02:34

My pm was implanted in oct of 2012. Two weeks later I noticed that my jugular vein was swollen. Ultra sound revealed that I had a blood clot where the wires joined the vein. Months later my arm became swollen and veins on my shoulder and arm popped up (collateral veins). I am on blood thinner for life because of Afib. First it was warfarin but now I am on xaralto.

The clot is gone but there seems to be permanent narrowing at the lead site. My jugular vein still bulges when I bend over and when I put pressure on my chest but there are no other worrisome symptoms except for a slightly swollen arm and some prominent veins. I have no problem with the use of my arm.

I was told that if the leads ever need changing that they would have to be put in from the other shoulder.

It seems everyone's experience is a little different. Take care and all the best. Shepheart

Blood clot

by Bemarie53 - 2014-02-07 12:02:50

I forgot to mention that after I clotted the second time, I had a thoracic surgeon move my pacemaker the the abdominal area. It is painful after surgery, mostly because of the incision but it doesn't last very long.

Blood clot

by Bemarie53 - 2014-02-07 12:02:52

When I first got my PM about 20 years ago, they put it in the shoulder area with the wires running through the veins. In about 6 months my arm swelled, I formed clots around the wires. They then removed the PM and place it on the opposite side and within a matter of months, the same thing happened. They removed it and placed it in my abdominal area and placed the two wires on the outside of the heart. I have never been so happy to have a epicardial pacemaker. Now my leads r worn out and is so very uncomfortable, they r 18 years old. I am scheduled for surgery next Wednesday to have the leads replaced. I have 2 years battery life on the pacemaker I have now and hoping they will change it along with the leads so I don't have to go back in 2 years. I wish they would have switched the wires when I had my new pacemaker implanted 1 1/2 years ago. All and all I have had very good luck with epicardial pacemakers.

As usual

by Moner - 2014-02-08 12:02:30

Hi Inga,

You never cease to amaze me with your knowledge, yes, I know I could "Google" this, but you really know how to summarize this in a clear and concise manner.

As Ian stated a few responses ago, English is your secondary language, I'm very impressed.

Gratefully,

Moner
>^..^<

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You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

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