Update

Hi all fellow pacers.  It has been awhile since I gave been on here.  Back in October I had a pacemaker implanted. Then after having pneumonia due to Covid I had a vtach episode and landed back in the hospital in December to have it replaced with a CRT-D.  The Dr that did my first surgery did this one as well.  He put it so close to my breast that it started sinking down. I was then transferred to another hospital with more equipped Heart Dr's.  This Dr scheduled my surgery and moved it up and over and anchored it to my Collarbone.  In all I had 5 Surgeries in 2 months  ( October --back to back because of the lead dislodging.... December -1st to put in the CRT-D and take out other one and then yet again another because of the lead... It to began to move thus leading to the transfer and new Dr "correcting" Other Dr's mistake).  (Didn't leave hospital until The day after Christmas)
 

After 6 Months of having last surgery  I am Finally doing much better.  Still sharp "pin" like pain around device but other than that mostly pain free. I have had bouts of depression and anxiety but nothing like after the first implant in October.  
 

My new device is a Medtronic Cobalt and I named it R2D2


6 Comments

Great news

by Gemita - 2021-06-18 15:54:45

Lovely to hear from you again.  Thank you so much for the update.  You have been busy and you have certainly been through a great deal and I am so pleased to hear that you are in a much better place now.  Love the name R2-D2 for your device by the way!

I think you are much stronger than you think you are and I am reassured that your anxiety and depression can be well managed.  You certainly sound relieved, in control and more optimistic for the future.  You have really come far.  Now it is time to start enjoying your life again.  

I experienced sharp, intermittent stabbing/pin like pain around my device initially which seemed to shoot into my upper left back amd other areas.  My doctors felt this was nerve related in my case and I was given Pregabalin (Lyrica) low dose to help settle this down.  I hope the sharp pain settles quickly for you

Stabbing "Pin Like" pain

by Old male - 2021-06-19 00:37:40

Recently had 7 yr old ICD replaced. Have had several short episodes of the "Pin Like" pain others have mentioned.. They seem to sometimes be triggered when I bend over to pick up something from the floor.. Never remember having this before. On my 2nd Boston Scientific unit now. The old one saved me twice and had to be replaced due to battery depletion. Beeping signal every 12 hrs.

Collarbone anchoring

by Persephone - 2021-06-19 14:45:28

Hi N - Good to hear that things are improving for you and I hope you're able to access talk therapy or similar treatment for your anxiety and depression if those issues continue for you, albeit at a lower level.  I also have a question for you...maybe I've missed something and perhaps others could fill in - I don't recall hearing about collarbone anchoring before - is this routinely done during implant?

Good question Persephone

by Gemita - 2021-06-19 20:33:10

I hope NHamblin remains comfortable with the position of her device wherever it is anchored after the results of previous surgeries.  

I was told my device would be kept away from my collarbone to prevent my device from hitting it and causing discomfort during normal activites.  Anchoring to the collarbone doesn't sound right to me unless they ran out of options to find a secure place, to prevent further unwanted movement/migration to a lower position.  I suppose all that matters is comfort and security of device and that seems to have been achieved wherever it is located?

Even so, I cannot imagine feeling comfortable with a device "anchored to the collarbone", particularly on movement, so this statement would appear somewhat questionable?  Perhaps it should read "anchored beneath or close to the collarbone"?  

Thanks Gemita

by Persephone - 2021-06-20 22:20:26

I appreciate your response - will see what I can find out from my doc when I have an appt.  The top of my PM rests on the collarbone and I've wondered a bit about any long term implications - no discomfort to speak of with the positioning, though.

Collarbone anchoring

by nhamblin - 2021-06-25 23:45:04

Gemita is correct. Maybe my wording was off.  I was told He anchored it to my Collarbone.... But what she said makes sense. I'm not sure how he did it but however he did it.... It took 5 Hours for Him to fix the problem of where it was located and making sure it wouldn't move again. It was quite uncomfortable at first but has sense "Settled" in.  When I feel up there I can feel my Collarbone... A space...and then my device.  I never thought to ask... I had been in the hospital for three weeks and was there over Christmas.... I just wanted to go home. I gave an appointment next month and I can remember I will ask him exactly how he did it. 

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