Most Recent Messages in Complications

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re sited pm

hi can i ask has anyone had the following ,hubby went for his check up and explained that he gets pain in his neck and shoulder close by pm site they looked at it and said it should have been sited a little further over he is only a small buit man so this is probly why it so close to top of arm and shoulder bone but they have said he can have it resited if he wishes to if it gives him pain has any one else had there pm re sited and was it worse than the first time he had his pm for 5 months now...

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Arrhythmia Clusters

I posted on Tuesday about low pressure because I was feeling oddly---experiencing symptoms of dizziness standing and the spins when sitting. I assumed it was low blood pressure, because I had little else to go on. On the way to my first day at my new internship yesterday, I had an arrhythmia and passed out. Since I had another episode like this only a month ago, I am wondering if it is generally accepted that these things come in clusters (electrical storms, I've heard them called), and if there...

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Bigemieny

Hi,

I received a biventricular pacemaker 12/01/08. Shortly thereafter I had my medication regimen changed in an effort to suppress my episodes of afib and thus avoid having an A/V ablation.

The medications I was put on to achieve this goal are bystolic 5 mg at hours of sleep, cartia XT 240 mg daily, digoxin 0.250 mg daily, and lotensin 20 mg daily for blood pressure. In addition I was and still am taking vytorin 10/20 at hours of sleep, coumadin 5 mg at hours of sleep, ad...

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Feeling awful

Hi everyone...
First off I just got my pacemaker implanted on 2/10/09. Since then I have felt "sick" Very bad sore throat, throwing up shortness of breath. I keep getting the run around from all my doctors. I have been sent to the emergency room once only to be sent home with cough medicine?? Yesterday was the worse felt so weak was throwing up all day. My cardiologist keeps brushing me off referring me to my Primary Care doctor. My primary keeps sending me to emergency care. I now once aga...

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Effects of Ultrasound

Has anyone had any of the "Ultrasound Tests of the Heart and Arteries" testing, where a bus drives around and does ultrasound to see how hardened your arteries are? I would like to do it, I'm not sure how it will effect my Medtronics PM. They do about 7 tests for under $200. This company is called "healthfair.com" and it's in the Denver area. Let me know what you think. I've never had these tests done, and it could be a good kick in the butt if my arteries are getting hard.
Thanks

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ICD Site Complications

I appreciate any suggestions you can provide on this matter. I have had my 2nd ICD (first one recalled after 6 mos.) for approximately 4 years. I had complications with this replacement as the first one was still quite new and shouldn't have been removed other than for the fact that it was recalled.

Although I was to have another subpectoral implant, I've had nothing but problems with a large portion of the device protruding out from my skin. Just recently, the scar area cracked...

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Using a mobile with a pacemaker

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, apologies if it's not.

I read in the booklet my cardiologist gave me that you should use a mobile on the opposite side to the PM. Is it actually likely to interfere with it if I don't? I have hearing problems in my right ear, and obviously the PM would be on my left side. Thanks for any help.

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paced 100% of the time

bobad thank you for all the infor... sounds terrifying!!! go back to surgeon on WED ... pray it goes well!!! Thnaks for the staight answers.. I am female by the way, is the breast tissue the issue with drain??? I and well endowed, and am curious...

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Dual lead PM and twitching

Hi folks

Had a dual lead PM put in 3 months ago, having had a single lead PM for a number of years. Have since had some major twitching problems caused by the new second lead and had to have it switched off a month ago ( the 2nd lead that is ). Sometimes they are able to tweak the PM to prevent the twitching but that hasn't worked with me.
I was told they might have to open up the PM site again and try to relocate the second lead. I have had new valves, AV node ablated and now h...

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still dealing wirh infection

day 3 of meds for infection... low grade fever... go back to doc on wed will decide then about iv antibiotics... if it is in the pocket and they have to go in, do they create a new pocket? anyone know what's involved and what the recovery time is?

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it just keeps getting worse!!!



woke up fri with readness and warmth over pm area... white fishline like stitches across entire wound and hole in middle of incision... went to surgeon, Dr worried about pocket infection.. back on antibiotic for 2nd time in just 4 wks with the threat of hospitaliztion for iv vanomyicin if not improved in a few days! I'd like to feel better already!!! anyone know what is involved if there is a pocket infection?

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Heart races doing small things

Well, never thought I would be posting on a Pacemaker site,but here I am. I am 56 female and got my daul pacemaker Dec.5, just 2months now. First problem ,it is so close,really past my armpit,(feels like when you are carring a book under your arm and trying to reach across for something)I went in to have it checked they said ,could not have moved but they feel it twisted.I complained of every time I moved my right arm(I am a left handed so placed it on right side).My heart beat so fast and felt...

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pain around pm

I received my pm on 11/24/08. The last couple of weeks, just every once in a while, I get a sharp pain on the right side of my pm. It's hard to describe what it feels like. I guess the closest thing would be like a shock. It's enough to bring tears to my eyes. It doesn't last long, but it's definitely noticeable.

I go next Wednesday for my first in-office interrogation. Any ideas what could be causing this pain?

Susan

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incision nad placement issues

had my pm changed out on 1/22/09. incision not healing well, very wide like its being pulled apart...(wound nurse said by "large breasts pull on it???") the area feels very taunt and pacer outline can be felt and seen, seems to close to surface.. can feel it when I move. my first one did not feel this way! should I be concerned? my first one onlyl asted 3 rs due to 100% pacing

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Less PVC's after PM Surgery and Collateral Damage

Good morning PM Gods and Goddesses,

Before my PM implant surgery, I had some pretty nasty and frequent PVC's for ~4 years. The PVC's thumped hard, and made me catch my breath. I received my PM 8 months ago, and from the moment I got out of surgery, the PVC's were 75% fewer and 75% less forceful. Frankly, I'm loving it, but it makes me go "Hmmmmm..."

Even after my PM was removed, same. PVC's much better. 8 months later, still the same. Instead of a hard thump, I just get a m...

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And Now I Have A Dangerous Staph Infection!!!

Since late September, I've suffered almost unending fevers with violent shaking chills little different from convulsions.

After repeated hospitalizations, it's been determined that it's a staphylococcus lugdunensis infection of the old pacemaker lead [which was left in place].

I understand that this is serious enough to cause endocarditis, which can have fatal consequences.

I have been put on a portable vancomycin drip until it can be removed.

I've nev...

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Pacemaker Site Repair

After two months of No PM on my left side after three replacements now I have new leads and PM on my right side. There was a lot of scar tissue and a puffy pouch from irritation which was partially repaired when my PM was removed. There were also questions as to Alergy, Infection or Irritation as the site showed erosion.

The operation removal of PM leaving the leads in still left the infection question. Tests showed negative. Now after a couple of months and an AF episode anothe...

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Heebie jeebies

Hi there, fellow bionics, can I share some concerns? In addition to reasonable heebie-jeebies at starting my new battery-operated life, I find myself with serious doubts about getting the straight scoop from my cardiologist... and even more serious doubts about the performance of my new Boston Scientific pacemaker with Guidant and Medtronic leads.
A month ago, during the PM implant procedure, I woke from up in the cath lab to hear the surgeon complaining he had lost the lead. So thu...

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computer battery?

so last night my partner and I were watching some tv on my lap-top through netflix. And I had the box portion of my battery charger laying on my stomach near to my chest. After a little while I started feeling sick and faint and we quickly removed the charger because we thought that might be the problem. I started feeling better soon. I've had similar problems when using electric heating pads. I know everything says computers and heating pads are not supposed to interfere but is it still possibl...

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Watch out for Thoracic Impedence devices

Last Nov. my now ex Cardiologist hooked me up to his brand new BioZ machine. It sends a a small dc current thru your heart/lung region and measures impedence looking for signs of fluid build up from heart failure. I have an approc 70% ejection fraction, and he knew it, and I have absolutely no symptoms associated with heart failure. I think he was putting all of his patients on this new test just so he could bill for it. As soon as the current was turned on I went into severe Atrial flutter and...

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I have an ICD which is both a pacer/defib. I have no problems with mine and it has saved my life.