Horrible Rash

Hello.
I had a duel lead pacer put in 8 days ago. Incision is doing well. However, I am fighting with a bad itchy rash from my shoulder the my lower neck line down my midline chest area over above my left breast and up towards shoulder again. It's red, bumpy, hot and very itchy. It is not the incision. I'm guessing it's an allergy to the drape they stuck on my during surgery that stuck to all those areas except the incision site obviously since that area was open for him to do the surgery. And then for 36 hours in the hospital had a pressure bandage on the stuck in the same places. But after 8 days the itching redness and bumps are worsening not improving. And the bumps are somewhat spreading. I've been using cortisone cream after washing the areas well. And taking benedryl.
Has anyone experienced this before post op? It's getting ridiculous. Almost worse than the actual pain from surgery.
Thanks in advance.
Shannon

16 Comments

Rash

by lisabfit - 2015-02-21 03:02:04

That sounds very similar to what happened to me - only I think it's from the iodine solution they put on to clean the area before the procedure. I too am 10 days post-procedure...and when I got home from the hospital I noticed these bumps - and they would get more red after a shower and when I was cozy warm in bed - I think heat irritates it. I waited a few days to see if it would go away on it's own - and it didn't - it's itchy off and on and especially if I touch it -But I have it like you said - my neck line, my chest, shoulders, especially on the front and back of my left arm pit...I used the hydrocorisone cream and it started helping after 1 day...I'm still using it - it's not completely gone - but much better than before...I tried a Benadryl spray that did not help at all & stung- and a Cortisone spray that also stung...so the cream has been the best choice for me. I have my first follow-up appt on Thursday - so I'm definitely going to ask them about it - and see if there is anything else I can try- but it's looking much better. I think you should definitely call your Dr and ask for some help!

Fascinating !

by IAN MC - 2015-02-21 05:02:06

It sounds as though lisabfit may have solved the problem for you. Getting to the actual cause of allergies can often be a real detective job.

Iodine is bactericidal i.e. it kills bacteria on the skin which is why it is painted so liberally on the skin before many ops . But it is apparently not the iodine which causes the allergy . It is often combined with a carrier called "povidone". This is a polyvinyl type chemical to help the iodine work better and it may be the povidone which is causing the skin reactions.

I hope your rash has disappeared by now but your doctor may want to do patch-testing so that you can avoid the problem in the future.

Let us know how you get on

Ian

???

by IAN MC - 2015-02-21 09:02:30

As Lurch says it is surprising if the adhesive on the drapes are still causing allergic reactions 8 days after their removal . How long is it since the dressings over the incision were removed ?

I see from a previous post that you are on antibiotics right now ; as you know it is not uncommon for them to cause rashes.

There have been posts on here where people were allergic to either the titanium or the silicone in the pacemaker but the pattern of your rash suggests that this is not the case with you . again I agree with Lurch , have a word with your GP. In the mean time you are doing the right thing in applying a topical steroid.

Interestingly some people develop allergies to antihistamines such as Benadryl so that is another thing to bear that in mind.
but I'm sure your doctor will work it out.


Best of luck

Ian

Somewhat

by Lurch - 2015-02-21 09:02:33

I had a reaction to the tape on the dressing they put over my incision, but it got better quickly after they removed it.

You mentioned that you are 8 days post having the dressings removed? If so, that would sound like something else.

Probably time to call your doctor and discuss it with him/her.

It's worsening

by ShanB - 2015-02-22 11:02:18

Thanks
It's been 9days since surgery. 8 days since bandage was removed. The rash is basically on my neck down between my breasts more to the left over the top area of breast over to armpit area and up onto shoulder. All on left side. It's not the antibiotic because it's restricted to the left areas I just described. It's driving me crazy. The itch is so intense. The redness and bumps and welts are spreading. And it's going towards my incision now. The incision looks okay. I'm praying it's not my body rejecting the device. I've stopped the benedryl and cortisone cream as it hasn't helped and this is only getting worse. I called the cardiologist and my dr is oncall so he immediately called me. He is off all week starting tomorrow but he is coming in the office in the morning (Monday) just to see me and assess this.
I will update here when I get back. The rash is so bad it's actually more bothersome now than the pain. But the pacer is working. And every night at 1am it kicks in and tests itself for like 90secs. Which the cardiologist told me would happen nightly. So when I finally fall sleep that wakes me up. It's a feeling I guess that will take some time to get accustomed to.
Thanks for the replies!
Shannon.

Glad

by Grateful Heart - 2015-02-22 12:02:20


Glad your getting checked out. Obviously, something isn't right.

Your Doc is coming in on his day/ week off. Wow....he's a keeper!

Let us know how it goes. I have a deep interest in this. I get welts at the incision site a few times a month for the past 4 years but nothing like you are describing.

Grateful Heart

My Mom

by Janenotarzan - 2015-02-23 02:02:45

Mom is a retired nurse; out of curiosity, I read your post & the comments to her this evening. Her opinion was that it is likely an allergy or contact dermatitis. Her insights include: 1) Iodine is a common allergen; was it used and/or are you allergic/or react to shellfish? 2) Antibiotics & antibacterials kill the normal 'good' bacteria on & in our bodies, allowing yeast to take over, so could be yeast. 3) Combinations of stress, trauma, heat, and moisture can activate shingles; the rash is easily recognized by medical personnel, esp. if the possibility it pointed.out to them. Glad the PM is working like a champ and hope the rash, whatever it is, leaves you in.peace. ~Jane

Your Mom

by IAN MC - 2015-02-23 04:02:58

Hi Jane In your mom's day it was thought that iodine is an allergen. There have been quite a few recent studies which show that iodine is not an allergen at all.

Shellfish allergies are apparently due to a protein in the fish and nothing at all to do with the iodine .

Send your mom over here to the UK and we will thrash it out !

Cheers

Ian

Seeing dr in a few hrs

by ShanB - 2015-02-23 06:02:13

Thank you
I've had many surgeries in my 41 years. Never had a reaction to the iodine or beta dine they used. Yes I'm on an antibiotic but if it was that it would not be restricted to the left chest area... The PM area. It's either I'm not accepting the device or all the sticky glue from drape in surgery and the pressure bandage for the 24 hrs post op before coming home is most likely the issue. I'm praying it's not my body rejecting the PM as it IS doing its job. Benedryl. Cortisone cream haven't work. So hoping the cardiologist will have an answer.
Will let yall know. Thank you.
Shannon

Oh I had that!!!

by Carrie - 2015-02-23 07:02:01

I had the same problem! It spread to my scalp too! Only on the left side! Dr gave me cream and everything. I finally took control and took all white stuff outa my diet and ate only fresh food and grilled chicken. Then after my site was no longer red I used coconut oil so it won't block my pours and vitamin e oil and tea tree oil. It worked for me. Everyone is different. I've had a lot of surgeries and this last one was the hardest but I think it was the Anastasia this time and being under so long. The stress ur body is going threw shows on your skin. I learned that. I sleep with a water pillow a big one....it helps. But still when I get stressed or eat wrong I get the rash. I call it a side effect from me....everyone is different. Take it day by day....it's hard to understand everything happening to your body and it's in shock as well. Get lots of rest....sleep...fatigued is the worst and never seems to go away. But have faith and breathe and less stress no matter what it can't hurt. I have a cool ice pack from a Chropractor that forms around my body too...it helps so much! I'll be praying for you!

Thanks Ian!

by Janenotarzan - 2015-02-23 10:02:18

I love it when I can teach Mom something new : ) I appreciate you setting me straight on my outdated info.
~Jane

Am on Prednisone now.

by ShanB - 2015-02-24 04:02:08

I ended up calling Cardiologist. As the rash is worsening. He put me on prednisone 30mgs for three days 20 for three days and then 10 for three days. If that doesn't knock this out I'm committing myself as this is driving me insane. All of this since the surgery.
My anxieties are thru the roof about everything.
Going to try to rest. Sleep has been impossible and rare for several weeks... But more so in the 11days post op.

And

by ShanB - 2015-02-24 08:02:19

He also said no raising my arm for 4 more weeks. That's killing my shoulder... I had major rotator cuff surgery 4yrs ago on it and the restricted motion is causing much pain. Will have to go some PT when I am able to raise it. I see my orthopedic surgeon in a month anyway.
I never imagined getting this PM surgery would cause so many complications.

Saw Dr

by ShanB - 2015-02-24 08:02:54

Hi friends,
I saw my cardiologist. He is concerned about this worsening rash as it shouldn't be getting worse ten days out... Well now 11 days. He is concerned it may be the precursor to shingles. Eeeeeeek! I hope not. And we are not going to assume that yet and we are thinking positively. For now yesterday he prescribed betamethasone dipropionate cream... A very strong corticosteroid cream. He is off this entire week. He gave me his personal cell phone number and said call him by Thursday (it's Tuesday morning here now) to let him know how it is or before if it get worse. He will then put me on oral prednisone. As of now... I applied the cream yesterday morning and night and then again this morning and will tonight. It is not better. But it also is not getting worse. So I'm praying it will start getting better. And if not I am sure the oral prednisone will help. If it does turn out to be shingles I am in a world of pain. He also said he does not believe it is my body rejecting the PM. Thank goodness because it is keeping my Heartrate more stable. He did check the readings from the ten days since surgery on the Medtronic machine and though my heart rates are running either at the low point he set it at or up in the 110 to 120 range... He is pleased. He said it will take quite a bit of time for my heart to really settle down to a more normal pace.
Not so sure about the rash. Though it's not seemingly worsening it also is not improving.
One day at a time.
Will update again soon.
Shannon

Possibly Shingles

by Grateful Heart - 2015-02-24 11:02:21


Yes, shingles is very painful.

Just to be clear for the newbies reading this thread, a PM does not cause shingles. If you have previously had chicken pox, the virus lies dormant and you can develop shingles years later.

Shannon, it's great that your Doctor is on top of this for you. I wish you well and a speedy recovery....whatever it is.

Grateful Heart

Cardiologists

by IAN MC - 2015-02-26 07:02:51

know nothing about skin conditions . I get the impression that steroids such as prednisolone are prescribed when they haven't a clue about the diagnosis.

I'm sure the rash will disappear but If it doesn't ,see a dermatologist !

Incidentally, prednisolone should NOT be taken for shingles which is a viral infection as it would make the condition get worse, this applies to other skin conditions where infection is involved.

Best of luck

Ian

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