Pacemaker Hematoma

Had a pacemaker Medtronic 2 leads, put in on 11/28/ 2022. due to heart block.  I'm 72 year  old woman and have a artifical aortic valve and on warfarin. It bruised my breast and sides really bad. After 3 weeks incision started draining from a hematoma that they drained and redressed. They held warfarin for 2 days and put me on antiobiotics doxycline for  10 days. rechecked and redressed.  Put me on doxycline mono 100 mg every 12 hours for 30  days. was told hematoma was no longer draining and it didn't look as anger at the site. Not to change bandage for 10 days and not to get dressing wet for 30 days.  Hope there isn'tany infection.  Has anyone else had this experience?

3 Comments

Ouch!

by Penguin - 2023-01-12 13:29:54

Hi, 

I haven't had your experience, but I just wanted to add a comment to your thread to say how sorry I am that this happened to you.  You must feel pretty battered by it.  

I see you're on PM no. 3 from your bio. Did you get the artificial aortic valve and 3rd PM at the same time ?  Have the doctors mentioned an infection? It sounds as if they're making sure that you are well medicated against getting one by prescribing all of those antibiotics, so fingers crossed that you'll manage to avoid one. 

It will be a challenge not to get your dressing wet for 30 days - that's quite a long time isn't it? Did they provide you with anykind of 'cover' for showering / bathing?

Sending love and best wishes for a speedy recovery.  I hope that others with similar experiences can reassure you or help you further. 

xxx

Hematoma

by islandgirl - 2023-01-12 22:07:25

I just posted regarding my recent infection I experienced.  

Look through the past posts regarding infections.  

Was your wound healed?  Mine was open about 1/2-way across the incision.  

Did you have blood cultures taken?  I would ask if you should?

Good luck and keep us posted!

Hematoma at pace maker

by jgulleye - 2023-01-12 22:18:29

No the aortic valve was put in in 2003 which was a cow valve and had to be changed out in 2011 due to cow valve went bad from filling up with calcium which they say happens to some people and they replaced it with a artifical valve. This was due to I was born with a biscupid valve instead of a tricuspid valve.  The pacemakerwas put in on 11/28/2022 due to a heart block.  The pacemaker was a worse experience than the open heart surgery due to not being able to use your left arm for 6 weeks over your head and I was younger when I had those surgeries.

Thank you for your comment.  I just don't understand a lot about a pacemaker and don't hardly know what to expect.

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