Lead Extraction & Replacement Successful

I am 53-year-old woman with AV block and have had a PM for 31 years. I posted here way back in August because EP suggested a lead replacement of my 27-year-old leads. I was freaked out (to put it mildly) and took everyone's suggestions and slowed the process down so that they would actually LOOK at my chart to determine it was medically necessary and not just something that the referring doc "thought" might be warranted.

They did an echo, chest xray, and venogram to get more data. I actually got the EP and my cardiologist to talk to each other a couple of times and asked them to verify that it was medically necessary, since my EP was new to me. After 6 weeks with an EOL battery (stressful!), the surgery was scheduled. I had it done on 10/14/14 and all went well. I give all glory and honor to God for that and for Him giving the medical team the gifts to do what they do. Without Him, I wouldn't have had the courage.

Now my question: it has been almost 4 weeks post-op. The incision looks good. I am still sore but chock that up to the mounds of scar tissue that they said they had to remove. I have, however, been feeling dizzy (mostly in the morning) for about a week now. I sent a EKG via phone (haven't done that in years--glad not to have to do office visits!) and the PM nurse left a message saying all looked well. I'm still dizzy. Can they really tell if anything is amiss from this type of EKG? If yes, then I'm wondering if maybe I have an inner ear thing or vertigo. I am esp. dizzy while lying in bed or bending forward.

Thanks to all for your very good advice. You all understand a lot more of the workings of this device than me, but I'm trying to learn. Most of the time, I just want to forget it's there, if you know what I mean. And I know you do. ;)

3 Comments

blood pressure

by vattens1 - 2014-11-08 10:11:32

Did u get your blood pressure checked signs like it might be dropping. Sounds is if it's in the morning or when you bend down.

Could be

by Theknotguy - 2014-11-08 12:11:25

Could be just your body adjusting to the trauma after the surgery. They had to go in under the clavicle with a laser cutter and remove the leads, correct? As you indicated, a lot of scar tissue, then the trauma of inserting the new leads.

Right after they inserted my PM I had pain going down my arm and up into my jaw on the PM side. If you look at an embryo during the early development period you'll see the lower jaw and upper chest area develop from pretty much the same area. So there are a lot of nerves connected through that area.

There is a lot of connection between the ear and your throat area too. That is why you'll sometimes cough when you clean out the ear canal. Nerves in the ear canal can affect your swallowing/cough reflex.

I had to have orthodontics at a later age. When they would tighten my upper jaw my chest would hurt. When they would tighten my lower jaw my back would hurt. You could almost see which muscles would cramp by which teeth were worked on. So, like I said, all of those nerves are interconnected from the embryo development time.

Post surgery everything is probably swollen so nerves are being pinched. When you lay down at night, more fluid goes into the throat/sinus area. Since they're in the sensitive areas it's causing you to feel dizzy. Effects should wear off in a few weeks. So it's not a problem due to your pacemaker. Tylenol should help because it reduces swelling.

Of course, continue to keep your doctor in the loop in case something else is going on.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

Blood pressure

by cabbie - 2014-11-09 07:11:21

Yes, please have your blood pressure and heart rate checked whenever you feel the onset of dizziness. Might see if there is a pattern there.

You know you're wired when...

You have the perfect reason to show off your chest.

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