Details they... left out

Two weeks ago, Wed Feb 15, I had my pacemaker implanted (or installed)- I was on my way to a fab recovery- cooking with gas with a trip planned to Israel- Well- found out on Monday that one of my lower leads was not where it should be, which explains that why every time I laughed I was getting some electrical stim ( and I like to laugh) so I got a lot of stimulations. Needless to say, trip was cancelled and I went in for a lead revision this past Tuesday. So now I am right back to square one on the recovery. It has been a ride. When, I went into the hospital I made a placard that I showed to the doctor that said " Please use super glue, I do not want to come back here anytime soon".

So to everyone, what is lead revision? Cardio doc said that the lower lead may have been on a nerve, because I shouldn't feel anything. Please weigh in, I am still getting used to the changes in my life. Lastly, I recently read something about an electrical shock in ICD's, does that happen with pacemaker's as well.
Need your help trying to digest it all!


8 Comments

No shocks with pacer

by ElectricFrank - 2012-03-03 02:03:08

At least not the lightning bolts the ICD's deliver. The pacer only delivers a max of about 7 volts.

Definition of Revision.

Surgeon hits the Undo button and then re-does the job right.

frank

Ease up on the cooking with gas

by shockbox340 - 2012-03-03 10:03:04

Of course there is no way to know exactly what happened, but lead dislodgement is the most common post-operative complication after device implant. By far most occur because the patient does something they are not supposed to do too quickly. It could be reaching overhead, sleeping on the side their device is on, some sudden jolt like a car wreck with a seat belt on, etc.

Sometimes the patient does nothing wrong, the lead just didn't 'grab' as well as the doctor thought it did. Things happen.

Bottom line, you have had one lead come loose, try a little harder next time to leep it from happening again. I actually had one patient that pulled a new lead loose 3 times in the first couple of weeks and had to have revisions each time. Be a good patient and follow the rules.

Best of luck!

Shockbox

Leads falling

by Pookie - 2012-03-04 10:03:44

It happened to me three times all within 10 days of implant. = 4 surgeries and I was in a hospital bed the entire time, so yes, they can just fall/drop because the doctor didn't get a good "grab" on the heart. it's nothing you did.

it also can depend on the type of end they use on the lead, there are 2, one is like a screw & one is like a fish hook. my fish hook one was the one that kept falling.

Pookie

another thought...

by Pookie - 2012-03-04 10:03:45

I don't know where you live, but just before any surgery I always have to read a piece of paper specifically designed for my type of surgery (I've had numerous) and they always list the risks no matter how small....didn't you have to sign something prior to your surgery??? Just curious.

Pookie

Sorry

by Moner - 2012-03-04 12:03:58

All I can say is that I'm so sorry to hear that this happened to you.

I remember reading your first posting and I admired your spunk.

I hope your recovery period goes smoothly this time.

It sounds to me you are very atuned to your body, that's a good thing.

Hope you get to Isreal soon.

Moner
>^..^<

Hoping for a good report...

by bionicdee - 2012-03-06 08:03:20

I am expected to meet with the EP tomorrow afternoon since the lead revision. Just a note, that I really did not do anything from the first surgery- except maybe a “fall down the stairs was the problem”. I have always been graceful like that! Oooops! Although it wasn't a tumble, it was more like a slip down several steps at home. This was 2 days after the first surgery. I have been very careful this time. I was also more energetic the first time after surgery. I actually concluded that the change in medications did not help and made me sluggish- that darn “Toprol”.
Pookie, I think my leads were screw in, so I don't know what happened. I have the MRI compatible Medtronic device. OK, this may be getting a little personal - I have to know if any ladies had this problem. I had to buy front closing bras, just to make sure I wasn’t moving my arm behind me. And I thought that maybe the underwire caused a lead to move. The Medtronic guy said no. We will never know.
BTW, I don’t understand your questions about signing a paper. Hospitals have a crafty way of insuring that you sign for the surgery, they just say sign here well turn it over and after I read it, I found it has a lot of hold harmless clauses in it- protecting the hospital. FYI.

P.S. Stir crazy

by bionicdee - 2012-03-06 08:03:40

P.S. I have got to get out of here!!! The dogs and the house is too much! I never thought I would be so anxious to be back to work. Worse, I am using my vacation to rest. I don't do staycations very well.

Bionic Deb

lead revision

by ladyscorpnks - 2012-03-27 08:03:18

I have been searching for information on PM leads as my 69 year old father just had his second one implanted just a couple of weeks ago. The new one has three leads and he was told it would be better at keeping his heart from going into Afib. His first night at home after the surgery he said he felt like he was being shocked everytime he moved. He went back into the hospital the following day. The Medtronic people tested the PM and said the third lead was too close to a nerve. The surgeon who did the procedure had left on vacation shortly after surgery so the Medtronic person just turned the third lead off. They also turned the other two leads down (not sure why). My fathers heart went into Afib a couple of days later and he went in to have his heart shocked. He was told if it went back in to Afib they would not shock it again and he would have to wait until the surgeon returned from his vacation (10 days) to discuss with him what would be done to fix the problem with the lead. It is my understang that the lead did not move but was simply placed too close to a nerve. I have not been able to find anyone with this same issue. I am hoping someone finds this post and has some helpful information. My father lives in Topeka Kansas and I am in Alabama. I have tried reaching out to his doctors but so far no luck.
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