Hematoma following receiving new pacemaker

• by louqueena
• 2007-12-30 03:12:10
• Surgery & Recovery
• 1800 views
• 3 comments

Hi-

I am new to the site - what a great resource! I just had my old pacemaker (implanted March 1st, 2007) removed and replaced with a new device in a new position. Since I am on Coumadin, and had to switch to Lovenox for the surgery, I developed a hemotoma at the surgical site, about the size of a half lemon. I was in the hospital a week instead of overnight, and iced the site 24/7 for that week. I have now received advice to begin hot compresses for 20 minutes 3 or 4 times a day to help the blood re-absorb. My cardio doc told me yesterday it may take a month or 2 before it returns to normal. I am concerned about wearing a bra again, hoping the strap does not hinder the healing.

What led to the old pacemaker being removed was 8 months of moderate to severe heart failure symptoms - I had no life energy, had pretty severe shortness of breath, couldn't make it through a visit to the supermarket, used the electric carts stores sometimes provide, basically was living as if I was 20 years older and in poor health. Prior to choosing the surgical option, many drugs were prescribed and taken, and I am still on them, but hope I can wean myself off of them in time.

I feel like a brand new person since receiving a bi-ventricular pacing device - my previous pm had created a dysynchrony, and the two bottom chambers of the heart (ventricles) were not beating simultaneously, apparently causing all these heart-failure symptoms, including collecting fluid in the right pulmonary pleural space, which had to be drained 3 times. (Not a treat.) My doctor believes the heart failure symptoms were caused by the dysynchony, and I sure wish I'd switched to this new type of pm much much sooner.

Here's to a better, brighter new year for us all!

Louisa