Burning Burning Burning...Biotronik PM

I'm posting on behalf of my 63 year old mother. She had a Biotronik PM implanted in Aug 2012. For 17 months she has been dealing with burning sensations as if her body is on fire...in her chest, up her neck, down her back, around the ears, down the legs, etc. She literally says she sometimes smell an odor like metallic. The burning has been so bad it has broken the skin. She has peeled her skin as if she had sunburn. We have been referred to several doctors..neurologist, endocrinologist, etc and finally told it was nothing wrong with her & it's all in her mind. She's had more syncope episodes since the implant than before. Has anyone ever experienced this or have any advice on what we should do next. Thanks so much in advance for any help.

7 Comments

Doesn't make sense

by Theknotguy - 2014-01-07 11:01:37

What do you mean by, "The burning has been so bad it has broken the skin." What kind of skin eruption and where? That's a pretty serious. So when you tell us the doctors have dismissed it as "in her mind" I find that very hard to believe.

The next question is your comment, " She has peeled her skin as if she had sunburn." Once again, what kind of skin eruption and where? A skin eruption is pretty serious. And it being dismissed seems very hard to believe.

Has she seen a dermatologist? What was the diagnosis? How about an allergy specialist?

I think we have had some people on this forum who have had allergies to the sterile covering on the PM but it's very rare. Hopefully someone can step forward with information on that.

Syncope episodes and the cardiologist has ignored them? If that's the case, I'd be getting another cardiologist.

Some people are more sensitive to electrical pulses than others. I used to repair 6 volt battery rechargers while they were still plugged in. Didn't feel a thing. My spouse couldn't. We've had people on this forum who have been sensitive to electrical pulses and have had the PM tech back off the voltage. But that's a discussion for the cardiologist and PM tech.

As for the mind, does she want the PM? Or does she really want to get rid of it? The mind can do some strange things when a person is forced into doing something they don't want to do.

Last question. What has she been doing to help herself? Has she done a log of symptoms? What? If she's so exhausted she can't post on this forum I can understand. If you're doing the post because she won't help herself that's another problem - one that's more serious.

Sorry about being so hard nosed about your posting, but I had to deal with a "helpless" parental figure for about 50 years. Your post is raising all sorts of red flags for me. One of the favorite things of my parental figure was to present me with unsolvable problems and then maneuver me into trying to solve them.

Hope you can get some good answers.

Theknotguy

allergy

by Alma Annie - 2014-01-08 02:01:39

I wonder if the problem could be that your mother is allergic to titanium? It is rare but seems to fit her symptoms and signs. Maybe she could get this checked out. A simple skin test should show if it is an allergy. If it is, then apparently one can have a gold plated pacemaker inserted.
It is not in her mind if her skin is peeling, there is a physical problem.
Alma Annie

Legs and Feet

by Selwyn - 2014-01-08 02:01:41

Broken skin between the legs and peeling of skin of the feet is most likely to be a fungal infection ( tinea). She should have fungal studies ( mycology).

Common things occur commonly.

Systemic allergy usually causes a generalised reaction. Fixed allergic reactions, although known, are rare.

A dermatologist would be useful.

Shingles?

by KAG - 2014-01-08 04:01:37

I've never experienced them, thank goodness, but I understand that shingles can "come out" in different places and ways over the body. Burning sensation seemed to be a common complaint.

Just a thought.

Responses to all

by Velvet - 2014-01-08 08:01:35

The skin has broken between her legs and she's been able to peel a layer of skin from the bottom of her feet. I know that's normal for some but not for her.

She just so happened to be admitted into a DIFFERENT hospital Mon night. We were in 3 different hospitals in 4 days (scheduled visit at a pain clinic, then ER next night and was told all tests were normal, lastly a DIFFERENT ER unattached to the hospital that implanted the PM & she was admitted). They conducted a stress test ( 1st time that was done & they were amazed it hadn't been done before). Her blood levels are so high & the test was so inconclusive they are performing a heart cathorization today because to see if there is a blockage. (Same thing here. .they were amazed that hadn't been done before now).

They did mention before she was admitted to maybe schedule with an appointment with an allergy specialist.

It's been a rollercoaster ride. She tries to handle it on her own because my sister and I both live out of town but when she can't get through I step in.

She has become anxious over time but I don't think it's unreasonable due to how long this has been going on. She had no problem accepting the PM initially but since these problems started after the implant she believes it has something to do with the device.

Lastly, this hospital was surprised that she received a PM only after 1 tilt table test and no further testing.

All that aside, prayerfully results today show something. Thanks all for the comments.

Hi Velvet

by jane32 - 2014-01-08 12:01:56

It sounds as if your mums condition is very distressing to her, I'm not sure why they think it is in her mind, how can you make your skin peel. She needs to be referred on until they can get an answer. Is she an anxious person because sometimes you can get a burning feeling when you are very anxious or having a panic attack. Keep on supporting her until she gets an answer.
Maybe your mum does not own a computer or use the web much and thats why you are writing for her and thats all good.

Regards Jane

Update

by Velvet - 2014-01-09 01:01:32

Just wanted to give an update of result from the cathorization. Test showed 90% blockage to the main artery and 65% blockage to the second artery. We learned this morning she will be having bypass surgery in the morning. Will continue to post her progress. Thanks for all the post thus far

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