Can you feel the leads?

i can feel them too

by techiej - 2016-06-14 14:18:13

I have a 2 lead Boston Sci and do notice & feel the leads at the top of the device.  No big deal and I do not touch/play/twiddle them....just feels weird when I do.

It's been almost 6 months and the only discomfort I get is sometimes while sleeping on my left side...that's it.

Good luck and be gentle with it while your body finishes getting used to it.

Sounds familiar.

by DampDog - 2016-06-14 14:26:17

Good to hear I'm not alone. Not sure if it's instinctive but I also try to keep my shoulder and chest warm. It definitely becomes worse when cold. I've not used heat or cold near the device for fear of, if not damaging the device, possibly affecting it's performance.

The end of the day thing is spot-on. Generally in the morning it's not so bad, but as the day progresses it does seem to get worse. Almost to the point where I feel it would be nice to take it out for an hour or two.

I hear what you say about "twiddling" but as you say occasionally clothes can touch or feel a little tight and aggravate the wound. The scar in particular feels very sensitive.

Early days then, just take it steady and give it some time.

I'm in the UK so I don't think we have Tylenol? Though I do have Co-codemol. (Paracetamol/codine)

Thanks

DD

DampDog

by IAN MC - 2016-06-14 16:18:59

Tylenol is simply an American brand name for paracetamol and that particular brand  is not available here in the UK. The majority of people in the UK  buy generic paracetamol which costs a fraction of the Tylenol price in the U.S.

If you ever have a strange desire to pay more for branded paracetamol then you can always buy "Panadol"  here .

Cheers

Ian

Suggestion

by Cabg Patch - 2016-06-15 13:14:50

Ask your EP for an X-Ray of the shoulder. It does periodically happen that the leads make contact with nerve bundles running in that area causing issues as you describe.

As for feeling the leads, yeah that's normal. After 9 years I still had the bad habit of feeling my leads to make sure they were still in place, but then one of mine had been recalled so I think subconsciously I worried about that...

Twiddling is when you really play with the device and intentionally flip it over. Intentionally is the operative word.

CabgPatch

by DampDog - 2016-06-15 14:02:17

I may well do that, or simply ask them to check previous X-Rays. I'm hoping it's just a case of "early-days" and it all being a bit tender.

I've been to cardiac rehab today and had an attempted at a little jog. Lasted about 30 seconds before it was too sore to stand anymore. Pretty disappointed if I'm honest, prior to implant I could easily manage 15-20mins. Didn't even manage long enough to see if I became breathless, so more than a little bit hacked off with life at the moment. Struggling to see the benefit of it all at the moment.

High wires

by AJ1332 - 2016-06-17 16:18:10

hi there AngrySparrow:

I also have high lead wires although I think mine moved up after a massive trip and fall I had in the first month of placement (Dec 2015). My wires feel as if they get tangled up in my clavicle area (tendons etc), and I too feel them when my arms move as I run. I just keep my shoulder mobile in other workouts, and next time I see my cardio, I'll ask her about them. I'm predicting they'll be reluctant to relocate the wires/pacer because I think otherwise all is working ok. I'm not sure I'd agree either to yet another PM-related surgery (two in two weeks last winter---that's plenty for me). 

Three months isn't that long, really, in the long view of your recovery, but I completely get your anxious hopes for moving on seamlessly into your new normal. Hang in there. Ask your cardio about the wires, but also be prepared to accept the here and now including their annoying placement. I know, though---this whole recovery/new normal is trickier than (at least I ) expected.

AJ

In the doldrums...

by DampDog - 2016-06-18 09:15:48

No argument here.  While you are always made aware of the risks and what life with a CRT-D will be like post-op, I think some aspects are under-stated.  It may well be a “routine” procedure, however it is still quite invasive and it takes its toll on body and mind.  While it's not been terrible (yet) by any means, it has been more panful/intrusive than I expected or bargained for. Getting an infection almost at day one was pretty scary.

I think the phrase used by my consultant was “some mild discomfort following implant” Yeah right! For the 2-3 weeks  I could barely move my arm or sleep. 3 months in and the swelling has subsided but the tenderness is still there. I can feel the leads, high up under my collar bone, they are a real hindrance and at least as sore if not more-so than where the generator is placed. I wouldn’t say they impede my movement but I am certainly aware that I have a range of movement that free from discomfort and a portion that is a constant reminder that I have a lump of technology sitting in my chest.

I had hoped to get back to a little jogging; however on my first attempt I lasted seconds before it became sore and tender. I have no idea whether that will pass with time or it is the way of things from now on. I used to love getting into the gym and keeping as fit as I could. In many ways it was my yardstick, if I was well enough for the gym things were generally going OK. If I’m honest now, the gym/cardiac rehab now feels like purgatory. Every time I try and do something normal I’m reminded how damaged my heart is by this clunky piece of tech that sits in my chest.  It may not be painful, but it is intrusive, uncomfortable and sore. I’m probably more cheesed off with life in general than I have been in the last 20 years or so.