Itching after totally healed

Hi, am on my 2nd pacer. First no problems until it quit. (Another story) 

The skin directly over my pacer itchs like craxy. NOT the scar. Totally healed - surgery was last Aug. It's is the skin directly over the pacer.

Anyone else have this? Amy solution?

Thanks in advance

Cyborg Mama

4 Comments

irching

by schoo - 2018-04-19 05:09:08

This is EXACTLY why I joined this forum today - to see if I can get some answers. I had a PM fitted 5 weeks ago and the area over the unit itches like crazy to the extent that I am beginning to wonder if I have some kind of metal allergy. It happens with joint replacements (I've had both my knees replaced and belong to a forum for that)

I have other minor allergies to some medical adhesives and cat-fur-dust and pollens but I've never had any issues with metal before. I went in for my post-op check up yesterday and the pacer technician said my unit had dealt with just two episodes of heart block so it's not like I'm in acute danger - so far as I know!  But right now, I could cheerfully rip the wretched thing out and toss it in the bin! (not really - that's just my frustration speaking!!)

Had the same problem

by Theknotguy - 2018-04-19 16:18:14

Had the same problem.  About drove me nuts.  Unless you're running a fever or having chills, It's just the nerves in the lower tissue healing.  When it got real bad I'd use the over-the-counter asper-cream stuff making sure not to put it directly on the scar.  Also took tylenol and aspirin.  (I know, I know - not supposed to take aspirin.)  When it got really bad I'd use cold compresses. Eventually it quit.  But you sure do look funny trying to scratch the area.  

Pacer Itch

by CyborgMama - 2018-04-19 17:11:22

Thank you all for your responses. I did a whole lot of research about the components in my Medtronic Pacer. And it's not only titanium, there is rubber silicon, epoxy and the leads contain chromium nickel and Cobalt. Went to a heart doctor yesterday, I say a doctor because I have been shuffled around from Doctor to doctor for the last 12 years with all this Pacer stuff. Anyway I went in and he he looked at the itching and said "you're perpetuating it" basically suggesting I caused this myself. I know I'm not crazy, because there's all of you out there with the same itching. So right now I'm using a salve on the itching, it contains aloe vera. The doctor gave me Benadryl and said this cannot be a permanent solution. It's so much fun being a woman with the Pacer talking to men without Pacers that call themselves doctors.. But I'm so thankful for this forum And for all of you here! Thank you

Strength

by CyborgMama - 2018-04-20 05:34:33

Robin1 - thanks  for your input! I'll be very happy to have more females in the medical field!!  

The spray you use, is it topical?

 

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In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.