Small white head at end of scar

I received my PM 12-26-17.  After a month one of the stitches at the end of the scar was still poking out and there was a whitehead. Naturally I poked and pulled it and there was a little pus.  Called Dr. and he removed stitch and put me on 500 amoxicillin for 10 days. (My grandchildren take that much). Now it’s 4 months post insertion and the same end of scar is getting another whitehead.  It has always itched but from reading the forum everyone has that issue.  Should I continue to keep clean & use hydrogen peroxide or is this significant?

3 Comments

Infection should be taken seriously

by IAN MC - 2018-05-04 13:47:01

Hi YIAYIA      It sounds as though you are aware that you were under-dosed with amoxycillin and you rightly say that you were incorrrectly given children's dosages.

An adult should be given at least 250 mg 3 times a day for simple infections and at least 500 mg 3 times a day for more severe infections i.e. a total daily dose of at least 1.5 gms !!  Any infection involving a pacemaker should be regarded as potentially serious !

It certainly sounds to me as though the infection is returning and it needs aggressive treatment to eradicate it as soon as possible even if , at the moment,it is confined to the pacemaker pocket 

Antibiotic under-dosing , as well as  not helping you much,  can also lead to the development of bacterial resistance.

You really need to challenge your Dr as he clearly doesn't understand antibiotics

Best of luck

Ian

White head

by The real Patch - 2018-05-04 16:16:26

Mine started exactly that way, an innocuous little white zit that formed at the apex of the scar.

No big deal...until suddenly it became a festering pus filled knot the size of my head, alright my fist, before bursting like an explosion of Mt Vesuvius and spewing yellow pus all over the place. After yanking the device and all three leads out of that pus filled gaping wound it took 5.5 months before we got the infection under control and I was able to get a new device in the opposite shoulder.

That was two years ago and I still have a massive divot in my shoulder where my device once resided. If you think a device looks ugly try that big pit in the shoulder. Guaranteed you'll never be on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover.

Were I you I'd get that taken care of immediately if not sooner. Then that's just me

only one thing to add

by Gotrhythm - 2018-05-05 18:09:46

As you found out, lots of doctors don't do a culture. They just give you a broad spectrum anitbiotic and hope for the best. But it has come back. Insist on a culture. You and your doctors need to know exactly what you are dealing with.

You know you're wired when...

You have a shocking personality.

Member Quotes

A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.