Lead Extraction

Hello Everyone,

You may have read my post regarding whether or not I should I remove my pacemaker and leads. If not, here is the link to my original post:
http://www.pacemakerclub.com/public/jpage/1/p/story/a/storypage/sid/20131/content.do.

I would just like to update everyone and let them know I had the pacemaker and leads extracted by Dr. Wilkoff at the Cleveland Clinic last week. I could not be more happy with my decision. The Cleveland Clinic was absolutely fantastic...I can't say enough good things. Dr. Wilkoff was so professional and really treated me respect and kindness. I haven't had any complications. I wouldn't trust anyone but Dr. Wilkoff to perform this procedure. I had much more scar tissue than anticipated and the leads had to be removed via my femoral artery.

Thank you all so much for your help as well. I really agonized over this decision and everyone's input was extremely helpful. If anyone reads this in the future going through the same decision process, please message me. I conducted so much research and would be more than willing to help!

God bless,

Amber

3 Comments

Thanks for the update

by ElectricFrank - 2011-08-30 01:08:43

I have heard nothing but good things about the Cleveland Clinic. It's good to have more confirmation.

Sounds like you made a good informed decision about having it removed. We need more of that.

frank

Lead extraction

by BFMGAGE - 2011-09-05 11:09:32

Amber,

Thank you for posting your message and I'm glad to hear that everything worked out so well. I am thinking about having mine out. I am 46 and have had it for just a year, but it has been turned off for 8 months now and several doctors have said that it can come out. I am absolutely terrified about this, even though I'm thinking about go to CC. Like you, I don't want to die, or to suffer major complications. The pm was itself a complication of something else so I know that complications happen. But I really want it out so I don't have to face an infection down the road.

How did you find the courage to go through this? Was it painful? Were you in the hospital for long? What permitted you to make the final decision to get it done?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Its not that bad:)

by afreed - 2011-09-06 11:09:41

First off, I completely understand what you are going through! When I started the process....I wanted to sit and cry because I was so overwhelmed. So many doctors, phone calls and not knowing where to turn. I was very scared, but did extensive amounts of research. After I made my decision and mitigated my risks as much as possible, I had to let go and just pray.

Here are my thoughts....I would have the pacemaker and leads (I assume) taken out for the following reasons:

1) The longer the device and leads are in place, the harder it will be to remove them later. I am sure you have heard this….but scar tissue builds up. The sooner the better. Since your pacemaker/leads have been in such a short amount of time, they most likely will come out very easily since there is not a lot of scar tissue. My leads were in for 7 years and there was more scar tissue than anticipated because I am very active. I had to have mine lasered out.

2) Another reason I think the pacemaker is there a risk of infection anytime you have hardware in your body.

3) Even though your device is turned off, it isn’t truly off (this happened to me as well). One day, your battery will one day run out and when that happens, it will start pacing, beeping, and going AWOL like any battery operated appliance. The device will be so low on batteries that the computer won't be able to communicate with the device and you will just have to wait until the pacemaker dies. Nobody ever mentioned this could happen to me! For me, it felt like a gerbil was stuck in my chest for 3 months and I couldn’t even sleep. I went to my cardiologist and had to wear a holter monitor for 72 hours before they could figure it out….so frustrating. After the problem was identified, the doctors were very concerned the pacemaker could cause near fatal arrhythmias and the only way to stop the pacemaker was to remove it.

After living the three reasons outlined above to remove my pacemaker, the choice I had to make was clear. I know there are so scary posts about the procedure being risky (and I was scared to death), but honestly it wasn’t bad at all. I had mine done on 8/25 at the Cleveland Clinic (I’m from Denver) and today (9/4) is my first day back at work. I didn’t need pain killers after the first night. I thought the pain was LESS than getting the pacemaker in the first place. I was only in the hospital overnight. I had an amazing experience with Dr. Wilkoff. Dr. Wilkoff was so thorough and a really nice person. The nurses and staff were absolutely amazing as well, I could never say enough good things about my experience. I highly suggest going to the Cleveland Clinic.

It sounds like you may have some other issues with your heart as well…are you afraid the other issues could impact the surgery? What area of the country are you in? Did you know you can get an online second opinion from the Cleveland Clinic? I did and it was very helpful. I am so sorry you have a pacemaker you don’t need but know this too shall pass. Please email me personally ambernfreed@gmail.com or call me (303) 907-8038 if I can answer anymore questions. I know how overwhelmed you but everything is going to work out. You will be in my prayers!!!!

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