New Implantee

Welcome

by Gemita - 2024-05-24 05:37:25

Monty, I am so sorry to hear about your difficulties. Having a pacemaker implanted is usually a very safe procedure with a low risk of major complications.   However as with any surgical procedure, complications can occur. 

It is reassuring that your pain following your procedure has almost gone, but your continuing cough is a concern and should be investigated as a potential complication of pacemaker implantation.  What investigations have you had done?  Other potential causes for a cough could include ongoing chest inflammation or certain medications, like an ACE inhibitor, e.g. Ramipril?  Have you started any new meds?

In the very least, I would want further pacemaker checks carried out, if these haven’t already been done, or to receive further investigations. 

A cough can be a sign of adverse effects from ventricular pacing stimulation/inadequate timing of atrial and ventricular contractions, so I would respectfully ask for further assessment.  In my opinion to say the catheter may have irritated the lung is not good enough when you are clearly suffering from sore abdominal muscles from coughing so much and need answers.

I would want to know whether pacemaker or lead settings can be adjusted to help, or to know whether other problems due to the implant have occurred, like a tiny lead perforation, a badly positioned lead or a vascular/nerve injury during lead placement?  A pacemaker settings adjustment might help, but if the cough doesn’t go away, they will perhaps need to investigate further?  Good luck

coughing

by Tracey_E - 2024-05-24 10:35:46

If the cough continues much longer, I would go back to the doctor and get them to make sure nothing else is going on. 

cough

by AgentX86 - 2024-05-24 14:06:32

How does a lung get injured implanting a pacemaker.  Oh, well.

I second the further questioning of this.  It's not right and needs to be addressed.  Being blown off like that isn't acceptable. You could give it another few days, then insist on being seen.  You don' have to see your cardiologist or EP.  His NP or PA should be able to help you. At ten days, you should be due for a "wound check". That would be a good time to raise the issue. Don't treat it as a small problem.  You want to get to the bottom of it.

I feel your pain.  I got bronchitis the day after I came home from the hospital after my CABG.  Having to cough ten days after the sternum has been cut in half is no fun. A cough was bad enough but a sneeze would bring me right to my knees. I had to carry a pillow everywhere I went, to support my chest when I coughed.  I was back in the ER twice because I couldn't breathe and the pain was so great. That's when I learned what a great drug morphine was.  I can understand getting hooked on it.

Your pain level sounds like it was bad but we're all different.  Some have it really easy (me, fortunately) and others not so much (you, evidently).  I found that sleeping in a recliner helped a lot.  I put one in our bedroom when I had my CABG, and over the last ten years, it's after I had some dental work done, my pacemaker, and a broken wrist.  That's about all it's been used for but it's not going anywhere.

Take care of that cough. It's not at all likely that it's your problem but that's how they found my blockages.  I had a persistent dry cough.  When I had my stress test, the cardiologist immediately knew what the problem was, without looking at the dest results. My point is, take care of that cough.  The fact that it started right after you PM implant, might mean something important. or not.  It's worth finding out.