Fever after PM implantation

My dear husband had pacemaker implantation on Friday, January 3, 2014, and came home the same day. He is 85 years old. He did great yesterday, hardly complained. Today his temperature is 99.2 and he thinks he feels some palpitations. This was after drinking a glass of Pepsi cola. There is no swelling or draining around the incision site; he says it is not unusually sore. He doesn't want me to take his blood pressure and/or pulse rate with my little Omron (I think that's the name) because he doesn't want me to press on his chest. I'm scared, he's scared, and I am wondering if this is abnormal just the second day after insertion. He has been eating well and drinking fluid. He has 10 pain pills, has only taken 2 since being home but is occasionally taking Tylenol 325 mg. Thanks for helping to alleviate our fears. I hesitate to call the doctor on probably is only day off, and our booklet instructions say to notify doctor if fever is above 100. By the way, I am an old lady, too, and my problem is just the opposite of his--he had low heart rate and I have A-Fib, controlled on medications most of the time.

4 Comments

Have some free advice...

by donr - 2014-01-05 08:01:57

...At age 85, you do NOT mess around w/ infections. So BOTH of you want to be cautious w/ this situation.

I'm a young sprout at 77, so I'm not exactly a spring chicken= but I've got 10 yrs + as a PM Host.

First of all, You have a right to be scared - infections at 85 are bad news. Second - you both have to grab the bull by its horns & rassle it to the ground w/a good, positive attitude about his recovery.

Third - some advice I got from a 90+ YO man who had survived pneumonia three times. "Don - when you get old & become sick - get out of that bed & WALK. If you don't, pneumonia will get you & that's NOT fun!" This man was Lew Truman, a veteran of three wars & tougher than an old boot. Also a cousin of HST!

So, my first advice to Bill is to get up & walk. Walk just as far as he can & as often as he can. Even if it's to the bathrooom & back many times as possible.

Palpitations after a PM insert are not uncommon. They are probably an arrhythmia called a PVC - Premature Ventricular Contraction. To the person experiencing it - feels like a slight pause in the heart rate. Totally benign; I have them by the thousands every month for 5 - 6 yrs now. Please do not let than get him down. Want to know more about them, let me know tonight & I'll give you more info.

No, it is NOT abnormal. Just get him up & walk - even if he does not want to because he hurts. BTW: That will also ease his breathing. Just keep him eating & drinking - & walking.

One IMPORTANT question - what is his NORMAL temp? Is he a 98.6 or something else? If he is like me, w/ a normal temp about 97.5, a 99.2 temp is time to call the Dr.

If he can stand the discomfort, being off the narcotics will help him because he can be more active & walk! BTW: if he is not taking the narcotics they gave him, he can expect to hurt in the chest area.

Let me know if you have any more questions - I'll be near my computer all evening.

Don

Temp. & BP

by SMITTY - 2014-01-05 11:01:14

Hey Folks,

I'll be 85 in May and have had a pacemaker for several years. I can guarantee you my wife (will also be 85 this year) would call my dr if I had fever as high as 99.2 for more than a few hours. Like Don said 99.2 temp would mean more for me than some people as my normal temp is 97.4. Odds are the temp increase has nothing to do with his PM, but there are too many things out there that can cause an elevated temp to be waiting to see if it going to go up or down. Let's face it, with age come additional responsibility to keep us on the straight and narrow. So tell your husband to help you out here. You need BP and heart rate when you talk to the dr even if it has not changed.

Good luck,

Smitty


Go to the ER

by gleesue - 2014-01-06 01:01:38

I came home from my implant and got a fever. My wife wouldn't took me right to the ER. I was even a little confused and they thought I may have had a Minnie stroke. I got so chilled I couldn't stop shaking. Did all kinds of tests, came up with nothing. Determined it must have been a virus picked up at the hospital. A few Tylenol and antibiotics and I was fine.

But you never know so get it.

Jerry

It shocks me...

by Harrie - 2014-01-09 05:01:46

that they would implant a pm and send an 85 year old home the same day in the care of his elderly wife! I know it's considered a minor procedure but we all know there are issues. If you are worried about anything you should speak to your doctor or clinic. Better to be safe than sorry.

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So, my advice is to go about your daily routine and forget that you have a pacemaker implanted in your body.