swollen left hand and arm

Since getting my pm my left hand and sometimes my arm is swollen, went to heart dr. tested for clots every thing ok went to family dr he said he has no idea why my hand is swollen, he put me on antibotics for a week. Any one else have this problem? Thanks

3 Comments

Keep Watching It

by NiceNiecey - 2014-04-06 07:04:18

You don't mention how recently your PM was installed but keep an eye on the swelling. If you have an area that becomes red and/or painful, keep right back to the ER. Are you on a blood thinner, aspirin perhaps? It would be unusual for an US to miss a clot but stranger things have happened. I'd also make sure to keep that arm active. I hope you get to the bottom of it.
Niecey

Antibiotics?

by golden_snitch - 2014-04-07 02:04:55

Hi!

Why the antibiotics? Did your doctor even bother to check for signs of a bacterial infection in your blood? Does your heart doctor know about the antibiotics?
I'd not take the antibiotics unless your CRP level is raised, white blood cell counts are raised etc. Don't think the swolen arm has anything to do with a possible bacterial infection. It could be swolen due to the presense of the pacemaker leads in the subclavian or cephalic vein. There does not need to be a clot in there. In some patients these veins have a smaller caliber and then with one or two pacer leads inside, blood backs up a little. This will subside after a while as the veins either adjust or build collateral veins to improve the blood flow.

Inga

same thing

by divergent1 - 2014-04-07 02:04:57

They did a ultrasound on my arm because of swelling after a pacemaker was put in 3.7.2014. It was mild swelling but they did rule out any blood clots in the arm. Are your arms the same color? My left arm is decidedly redder but I'm told by my cardiologist this is normal. Not that I trust my cardiologist. An ER nurse told me that sometimes a lead in the vessels cuts off the blood flow a little until your body gets used to it. He told me he'd seen this before and to not be alarmed. I'm still alarmed Please post if you hear anything else

You know you're wired when...

You can hear your heartbeat in your cell phone.

Member Quotes

Yesterday was my first day mountain biking after my implant. I wiped out several times and everything is fine. There are sports after pacemakers!