Staph infection - 4 days in the hospital

What a week. Oh, wait, it's only Tuesday. So I noticed a bit of drainage at the top of my pacemaker site. I took a picture, showed it to the doctor who sent me across the street to be admitted to the hospital (Emory in ATL) and I just got out yesterday. It is not showing in my blood nor are there any indications that the infection is internal. Still, I am stressing as my pacemaker is making me feel great. I need to keep it in there! I have a CRT-P bi v.

Just sharing. Love the moral support here.

Thanks, all!

Kris


4 Comments

Hope you stay infection free

by Gemita - 2021-09-21 10:22:52

Kris, try not to stress.  It sounds to me as though they have taken every precaution to keep you safe and I feel confident that your pacemaker will continue to give you good service.  As so often happens, clinical evidence (say of a wound weeping, or of a poorly healing wound) is often the first sign that all is not well before anything shows up in the blood.  No doubt they have treated your infection aggressively while you were in hospital.

For the benefit of other members who might find themselves in a similar position, apart from seeing “a bit of drainage at the top of your pacemaker” did you notice anything else, any redness or other skin changes, was it swollen and noticeably painful?

Thank you for sharing your experience.  I hope you recover well

Staph infection - 4 days in the hospital

by Lavender411 - 2021-09-21 10:33:53

It was a bit of an open spot (looked like a little hole) at the top. The bottom looks a little swollen but I took 7 bags of antibiotics so it is probably just getting it all resolved. I do have two follow ups. Thank you, I needed this, Gemita.

Hope It Gets Better

by MinimeJer05 - 2021-09-21 17:39:59

Hello,

That sounds rather scary and uncomfortable, but as the previous poster said, you did what you're supposed to and went in -- hopefully they loaded you up with all of the good meds to get you back to normal soon.

Hopefully things start to look and feel noticeably better soon.

Take care and keep us posted.

Jer

Update -- 11 days in the hospital!

by Lavender411 - 2021-09-28 10:06:52

I just got home, pacemaker intact, after 11 total days in the hospital after a staph infection. Nervous about the PM staying in, but I am going with the flow. I can't control the situation. I was treated 3x a day with IV antibiotics. Looks good now.

 

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I am 100% pacemaker dependant and have been all my life. I try not to think about how a little metal box keeps me alive - it would drive me crazy. So I lead a very active life.