the whole lot...

got infection on one of the leads. was in hospital for 7 days receiving flucloaxcillan through a drip, and now i've to attend hospital on Wednesday 17th June for the entire device and leads to get removed.
not looking forward to this at all.
anyone any similar experiences ?

ive to get a new one put in the right side, however as i'm not 100% dependent on it, they might leave me without one until the infection has cleared.
any advice would be gratefully accepted!!!!

peter

7 Comments

Peter

by nat36 - 2009-06-14 02:06:00

I have not been in your situation but just wanted to wish you luck and a very speedy recovery! I hope it goes smoothly. Keep us posted on your recovery!

Look No PM

by donb - 2009-06-14 09:06:21

Hi pete, last Dec 8th I had my PM removed after being installed 2 years prior, Medtronic. It also started eroding and fortunately all tests showed no infection. Being this was my third implant after 17 years the inner scar tissue was a real issue and leads were left in.

Now after the removal I couldn't believe my generator was actually removed as my HR was syncronized to the quartz clock in my hospital room to 60 BPM, my bottom rate setting. This continued for 30 days and then gradually dropped to irregular 40's after 60 days. I had a second opinion at U of M at Ann Abor, MI and was told I had only 1st degree electric block.

Feb 8th I started AF and went into hosp with a new St Jude installation with new leads right chest. Might also mention I was told by some nurses to quit my Tenormin after PM removal which I did. That's a NO-NO, you should wean off gradually, luckily I caught that in time thanks to this web site. Presently I'm recovering from a clean-up of my old site by a Plastic surgeon, a little pain but doing well. Don

thanks everyone

by petethetreat - 2009-06-15 12:06:48

going in on wednesday so will let you all know the outcome when i get released....

lead infection

by Laben - 2009-06-29 03:06:04

Peter, I had leads and ICD removed account of infection several years ago. Like you I had swelling and a boil like cyst develope under some of the scar. In short , the ICD and leads were removed from my left side and two days later were replaced to the right side with no complications, in fact that was three ICDs ago. Good luck to you, Laben.

post surgery - eight days later

by petethetreat - 2009-06-30 12:06:25

thanks for the comments folks - still in a bit of pain on my right side as they've buried the device under my right pec muscle but heart feels fine
dying to get back to normal life asap but obviously limited as i'm right handed

Post surgery

by lady4law - 2009-07-01 07:07:01

So glad to read, you and they surgery went well. Did they remove all the old leads? Was the surgeon able to work through a small incision or did the surgery require a long cut? I am still trying to decide, do I let my surgeon attempt removal, or just live in pain. - Jean

post surgery

by petethetreat - 2009-07-02 11:07:17

there's a bigger scar left on my left side as the doc removed the "pocket" as well. Both leads were removed and being honest, the site was only sore for a few days. my new one is sore though as the muscle fibres were stretched so the new one could be put in under the right pectoral.
i hate pain, so if you are in any kind of pain, get it removed cause in my case, it was only sore for a couple of days

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Your pacemaker interferes with your electronic scale.

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But I think it will make me feel a lot better. My stamina to walk is already better, even right after surgery. They had me walk all around the floor before they would release me. I did so without being exhausted and winded the way I had been.