New pain, Chills, Low Temperature

New pain, Chills, Low Temperature

After the initial wound pain seemed to mostly go away on about 11 Nov 11, I started using my left arm more, but then I started getting another pain apparently from the arm movement and movement and pulling on the pacemaker/ICD. It was more of a burning pain (as if the ICD was shorting out inside me). The pain varied in intensity.

On the morning of 24 Nov 11 I woke up, had chills, and checked my temperature. I had a temperature of 95.7 F, chills, and pain that stayed at a level of 3-5 out of 10. Since low temperatures and chills are some of the symptoms of sepsis, and my pains were getting worse, not better, I went to the local emergency room to get checked out.

The doctors, etc. did X-rays and blood work, and concluded there was no infection, but inflammation around implant site, giving me the pain. By the time I got to the hospital my temperature had gone up (through activity?) to 97.5 F.

I was told the pain could last 6-8 weeks or more after the operation.

My left arm muscle has reduced in size due to lack of use due to the pain.

I need to check wound area daily for signs of redness of infection. I prefer the pain to further injury in operation area; pain sometimes is one's body telling one not to do whatever is causing the pain (pain medications mask the pain and one can unknowingly injure something more ......).

I am happy to report that all people at the hospital were helpful and explained things to me. I also have avoided a dreaded hospital infection thus far. I am supposed to be on the mend. ......

Adrian R. Lawler,   (C) 2011 --